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The differences between machines technicians and maintenance engineers technician can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a machines technician, becoming a maintenance engineer technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a maintenance engineer technician has an average salary of $46,248, which is higher than the $39,754 average annual salary of a machines technician.
The top three skills for a machines technician include CNC, hand tools and calipers. The most important skills for a maintenance engineer technician are preventive maintenance, plumbing, and HVAC.
| Machines Technician | Maintenance Engineer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,754 | $46,248 |
| Hourly rate | $19.11 | $22.23 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 106,175 | 195,560 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A machine technician can often be seen in a manufacturing company, factories, processing centers, and machine shops. They typically work as the apprentice of machine engineers that are responsible for ensuring that all machinery and machine tools are working properly. A technician operates, installs, maintains, inspects, and repairs equipment depending on what industry they are working in, whether it may be an industrial or automotive setup. They must be keen on detail and keep the machines or equipment to the highest quality standard at all times.
A maintenance engineer technician serves as an apprentice that monitors and ensures that the machinery and equipment are working properly. Their job requires extensive knowledge and skills in fixing and repairing different equipment in an office and other facilities. They will often have to multitask, and the schedule may be flexible depending on the needs of the company.
Machines technicians and maintenance engineers technician have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machines Technician | Maintenance Engineer Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,754 | $46,248 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $52,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Des Moines, IA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | ABB | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a machines technician and a maintenance engineer technician in terms of educational background:
| Machines Technician | Maintenance Engineer Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between machines technicians' and maintenance engineers technician' demographics:
| Machines Technician | Maintenance Engineer Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |