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The differences between line technicians and process technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a process technician has an average salary of $39,462, which is higher than the $39,124 average annual salary of a line technician.
The top three skills for a line technician include customer service, safety procedures and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a process technician are basic math, patients, and OSHA.
| Line Technician | Process Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,124 | $39,462 |
| Hourly rate | $18.81 | $18.97 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 152,694 | 74,367 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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 process technician is responsible for managing the equipment and machinery used for various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering. Process technicians must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating certain equipment types and making adjustments on its features as needed, depending on the needs of the operation. They also run diagnostic tests to check a machine's working condition to ensure that it's free of any inconsistencies. A process technician also helps develop structure methods by communicating with the technical team and escalating all defective findings to the supervisor.
Line technicians and process technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,124 | $39,462 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $52,000 | Between $30,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | HP |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a line technician and a process technician in terms of educational background:
| Line Technician | Process Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between line technicians' and process technicians' demographics:
| Line Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 6% |