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The differences between line technicians and locators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line technician has an average salary of $39,124, which is higher than the $36,634 average annual salary of a locator.
The top three skills for a line technician include customer service, safety procedures and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a locator are necessary paperwork, working independently, and TV.
| Line Technician | Locator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,124 | $36,634 |
| Hourly rate | $18.81 | $17.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 152,694 | 2,069 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A line technician is responsible for conducting routine maintenance checks to ensure the operational efficiency of machines and equipment production. Line technicians monitor the control processes, running diagnostic tests with products and equipment, and create a comprehensive report for resolution methods. They inspect high-level machinery and observe for possible inconsistencies that may cause delays and hazards in the production, immediately notifying the management for action. A line technician must have excellent knowledge with industrial machines and the mechanical industry, as their expertise is crucial in keeping the safety and security of all production staff.
A locator or utility locator is an individual who is responsible for locating, identifying, and marking underground utilities before the start of construction or other projects in an area. Locators are required to read maps and blueprints to determine where utilities are located and protect those underground utilities from damage during excavation. They must be able to operate small or medium-sized vehicles and direct traffic away from the worksite.
Line technicians and locators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Technician | Locator | |
| Average salary | $39,124 | $36,634 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $52,000 | Between $22,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a line technician and a locator in terms of educational background:
| Line Technician | Locator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between line technicians' and locators' demographics:
| Line Technician | Locator | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6% | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |