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Health physicist vs optical instrument specialist

The differences between health physicists and optical instrument specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a health physicist and an optical instrument specialist. Additionally, a health physicist has an average salary of $74,942, which is higher than the $64,049 average annual salary of an optical instrument specialist.

The top three skills for a health physicist include radioactive materials, oversight and ALARA. The most important skills for an optical instrument specialist are fiber optic, customer service, and schedule appointments.

Health physicist vs optical instrument specialist overview

Health PhysicistOptical Instrument Specialist
Yearly salary$74,942$64,049
Hourly rate$36.03$30.79
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs47,64022,415
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

Health physicist vs optical instrument specialist salary

Health physicists and optical instrument specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health PhysicistOptical Instrument Specialist
Average salary$74,942$64,049
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $134,000Between $40,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyUCI Health-
Best paying industryEnergy-

Differences between health physicist and optical instrument specialist education

There are a few differences between a health physicist and an optical instrument specialist in terms of educational background:

Health PhysicistOptical Instrument Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorPhysicsBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborNorthwestern University

Health physicist vs optical instrument specialist demographics

Here are the differences between health physicists' and optical instrument specialists' demographics:

Health PhysicistOptical Instrument Specialist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 76.9% Female, 23.1%Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 77.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 77.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage24%24%

Differences between health physicist and optical instrument specialist duties and responsibilities

Health physicist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the work and flow through the plant and department with regard to NDT.
  • Ensure local site regulatory compliance by providing RSO oversight.
  • Interpret and apply NRC and EPA regulations pertinent to each assignment.
  • Review verification data for compliance with EPA cleanup standards.
  • Perform all functions of outage health physics job coverage.
  • Monitor and assist RCA exit portal area as needed.
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Optical instrument specialist example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish team sales of 464K in clinical chemistry and hematology instrumentation.
  • Train for electrical assembly on resisters, transmitters, and lasers.
  • Work from conceptual design through final testing, including optical simulations, alignment and assembly of fibers and modulators.
  • Develop a novel approach for optical signal processing (relate to digital signal processing), using PWI polymer modulators.
  • Apply knowledge of telescopes, imaging sensors, and spectral instruments to phenomenology studies in support of government SETA contracts.
  • Conduct research using online federal regulations, review Medicare and Medicaid policy and guidelines to complete an accurate and well-support decision.
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Health physicist vs optical instrument specialist skills

Common health physicist skills
  • Radioactive Materials, 9%
  • Oversight, 9%
  • ALARA, 7%
  • Radiation Safety, 7%
  • Emergency Response, 5%
  • NRC, 3%
Common optical instrument specialist skills
  • Fiber Optic, 37%
  • Customer Service, 24%
  • Schedule Appointments, 14%
  • Insurance Benefits, 12%
  • Outbound Calls, 5%
  • OTDR, 4%

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