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Instrument technician helper vs test technician

The differences between instrument technician helpers and test technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an instrument technician helper and a test technician. Additionally, an instrument technician helper has an average salary of $58,083, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.

The top three skills for an instrument technician helper include instrument trays, control valves and safety rules. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.

Instrument technician helper vs test technician overview

Instrument Technician HelperTest Technician
Yearly salary$58,083$43,171
Hourly rate$27.92$20.76
Growth rate--
Number of jobs28,49971,414
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

Instrument technician helper vs test technician salary

Instrument technician helpers and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Instrument Technician HelperTest Technician
Average salary$58,083$43,171
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $73,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Nokia
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between instrument technician helper and test technician education

There are a few differences between an instrument technician helper and a test technician in terms of educational background:

Instrument Technician HelperTest Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNortheastern University

Instrument technician helper vs test technician demographics

Here are the differences between instrument technician helpers' and test technicians' demographics:

Instrument Technician HelperTest Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 83.1% Female, 16.9%Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between instrument technician helper and test technician duties and responsibilities

Instrument technician helper example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage several environmental ECAS annual, monthly and weekly reports in cooperation with regional CEMS manager for federal compliance.
  • Work in MCC and in control rooms installing relays and terminal blocks.
  • Install PVC pipes for chemical processing at Intel computer factory for compact discs.
  • Assist in modifying existing transmitters, trays, struts or supports using hand or power tools.
  • Install, test and troubleshoot equipment to ensure safety and operational performance in industrial and plant environment.
  • Gain experience working on Honeywell transmitters using a Honeywell communicator and hand pump to calibrate and sell loops.
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Test technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Perform in-circuit emulation and boundary scan testing (JTAG).
  • Perform extensive testing on CVD, PVD, display and solar tooling.
  • Configure bios to better suit the operating system, motherboard and CPU's needs and requirements.
  • Use of micrometers, calipers, torque wrenches, rivet and crimping tools, electrical test equipment, drill presses.
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Instrument technician helper vs test technician skills

Common instrument technician helper skills
  • Instrument Trays, 34%
  • Control Valves, 23%
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • Stainless Steel, 8%
  • RAN, 8%
  • Instrument Stands, 7%
Common test technician skills
  • Test Procedures, 8%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Test Data, 5%
  • RF, 5%
  • Engineering Drawings, 4%

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