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The differences between manufacturing technicians and machines 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 manufacturing technician and a machines technician. Additionally, a machines technician has an average salary of $39,754, which is higher than the $37,853 average annual salary of a manufacturing technician.
The top three skills for a manufacturing technician include GMP, continuous improvement and hand tools. The most important skills for a machines technician are CNC, hand tools, and calipers.
| Manufacturing Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,853 | $39,754 |
| Hourly rate | $18.20 | $19.11 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 76,490 | 106,175 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A manufacturing technician, or often called a manufacturing production technician, is an individual who is responsible for setting and testing manufacturing machinery or equipment. To set up the machines, manufacturing technicians will use electronic, electrical, mechanical, or computer technologies. They are responsible for gathering data from their part in the manufacturing process and reporting it to their production or manufacturing engineers. When handling machines or equipment, manufacturing technicians must strictly follow their health and safety procedures and protocols.
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.
Manufacturing technicians and machines technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,853 | $39,754 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $52,000 | Between $30,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Framingham, MA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | ABB |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing technician and a machines technician in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between manufacturing technicians' and machines technicians' demographics:
| Manufacturing Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |