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The differences between manufacturing process technicians and manufacturing associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a manufacturing process technician has an average salary of $43,212, which is higher than the $34,830 average annual salary of a manufacturing associate.
The top three skills for a manufacturing process technician include GMP, standard operating procedure and autoclaves. The most important skills for a manufacturing associate are basic math, cell culture, and math.
| Manufacturing Process Technician | Manufacturing Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $43,212 | $34,830 |
| Hourly rate | $20.77 | $16.75 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 85,379 | 55,540 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A manufacturing process technician, also referred to as a manufacturing operator or manufacturing associate, is responsible for all the stages of manufacturing. They work with industrial engineers to implement designs that permit the use of machines and materials effectively. They also need to prepare equipment and machine layout, plan workflow, analyze data, observe workers, and ensure the equipment in use is always in good working order.
Manufacturing associates typically have varied duties and responsibilities. These include preparing materials and equipment for production, operating manufacturing equipment such as washers, and maintaining material inventory. In addition, they are responsible for inspecting purchased equipment, parts, and components, and participating in process investigations. They also review and execute documents related to manufacturing and determine any problems in the manufacturing process. To become a successful manufacturing associate, you should have skills in good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliance, aseptic processing, and biotechnology.
Manufacturing process technicians and manufacturing associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Process Technician | Manufacturing Associate | |
| Average salary | $43,212 | $34,830 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $60,000 | Between $26,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Danaher |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing process technician and a manufacturing associate in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Process Technician | Manufacturing Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between manufacturing process technicians' and manufacturing associates' demographics:
| Manufacturing Process Technician | Manufacturing Associate | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.9% Female, 25.1% | Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 7.1% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |