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The differences between laser technicians and 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 technician and a technician. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, which is higher than the $37,370 average annual salary of a laser technician.
The top three skills for a laser technician include patients, customer service and laser equipment. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Laser Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,370 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $17.97 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 24,920 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Laser technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laser Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,370 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $46,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | West Fargo, ND | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a laser technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Laser Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | - |
Here are the differences between laser technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Laser Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.8% Female, 52.2% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 6% | 2% |