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The differences between instrument technicians and electronics engineering 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 and an electronics engineering technician. Additionally, an electronics engineering technician has an average salary of $67,801, which is higher than the $56,918 average annual salary of an instrument technician.
The top three skills for an instrument technician include patients, surgical instruments and cleanliness. The most important skills for an electronics engineering technician are troubleshoot, RF, and hand tools.
| Instrument Technician | Electronics Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $56,918 | $67,801 |
| Hourly rate | $27.36 | $32.60 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 45,965 | 73,798 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An instrument technician is an individual who is responsible for testing, repairing, and inspecting all manufacturing equipment to ensure proper operations of the machines. Instrument technicians collaborate with engineers to develop and produce equipment design and provide advice to process technicians about equipment operation. They remove defective equipment so that they can decontaminate and replace the damaged ones with new machines. They are also required by their employer to obtain certification in the field of instrumentation technology.
Electronics Engineering Technician helps engineers design and advance electronic devices and components, install electrical equipment, and maintain electronic systems. They usually work in product evaluation and testing. They use diagnostic and measuring devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. They ensure customer satisfaction by minimizing downtime, correcting and troubleshooting errors. Further duties include training new technicians in troubleshooting various equipment or product, giving management performance recommendations, testing the system by setting up equipment under simulated conditions, and documenting the troubleshooting process.
Instrument technicians and electronics engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrument Technician | Electronics Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $56,918 | $67,801 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $83,000 | Between $49,000 And $93,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Carlos, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Phillips 66 | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an instrument technician and an electronics engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Instrument Technician | Electronics Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between instrument technicians' and electronics engineering technicians' demographics:
| Instrument Technician | Electronics Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 8% | 8% |