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The differences between laser operators and laser technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laser operator and a laser technician. Additionally, a laser technician has an average salary of $37,370, which is higher than the $34,813 average annual salary of a laser operator.
The top three skills for a laser operator include laser cutting, calipers and laser machine. The most important skills for a laser technician are patients, customer service, and laser equipment.
| Laser Operator | Laser Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,813 | $37,370 |
| Hourly rate | $16.74 | $17.97 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 56,479 | 24,920 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Laser Operator is responsible for operating the machine and devices used for laser purposes. They do the engraving and cutting of the metal or plastic parts of the laser device. They set up and adjust the machine lens to meet the correct specification. They also ensure that there will be no issues before and after operating the laser device by routinely checking the equipment. They also need to monitor and do an inventory of instruments and tools required if there are operations or whenever they are required.
A Laser Technician or photonic technician is a trained professional responsible for operating and keeping the laser equipment in place. An experienced individual knows about running and using laser devices for medical purposes: their responsibility is to assemble, test, recalibrate, and repair laser devices or actual lasers. They have to ensure that all tools and machines are appropriately stored.
Laser operators and laser technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laser Operator | Laser Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,813 | $37,370 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $30,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oregon City, OR | West Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Kloeckner Metals | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laser operator and a laser technician in terms of educational background:
| Laser Operator | Laser Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between laser operators' and laser technicians' demographics:
| Laser Operator | Laser Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% | Male, 47.8% Female, 52.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |