Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information engineers and engineering technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an information engineer, becoming an engineering technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an information engineer has an average salary of $105,003, which is higher than the $60,273 average annual salary of an engineering technician.
The top three skills for an information engineer include customer service, linux and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an engineering technician are technical support, data collection, and test equipment.
| Information Engineer | Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $105,003 | $60,273 |
| Hourly rate | $50.48 | $28.98 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 151,357 | 111,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
An Engineering Technician's duties vary according to the industry or company, whether mechanical, industrial, civil, agricultural, or more. However, most of the time, the responsibilities often revolve around resolving technical issues, working with and assisting Engineers in building, assembling, designing, gathering and testing data, and conducting more manual activities. Furthermore, Engineering Technicians can specialize and work in various fields after a certain training period, closely mentored or monitored by an engineer or someone with extensive expertise.
Information engineers and engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Engineer | Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $105,003 | $60,273 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $139,000 | Between $37,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Western Digital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information engineer and an engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Engineer | Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between information engineers' and engineering technicians' demographics:
| Information Engineer | Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 9.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |