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The differences between instrument technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an instrument technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an instrument technician has an average salary of $56,918, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for an instrument technician include patients, surgical instruments and cleanliness. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Instrument Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $56,918 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $27.36 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | - | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 45,965 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 50 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Instrument technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrument Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $56,918 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $83,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Phillips 66 | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an instrument technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Instrument Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | - |
Here are the differences between instrument technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Instrument Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |