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The differences between manufacturing technicians and molding technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a molding technician has an average salary of $40,696, 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 molding technician are preventative maintenance, hand tools, and auxiliary equipment.
| Manufacturing Technician | Molding Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,853 | $40,696 |
| Hourly rate | $18.20 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 76,490 | 10,231 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 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 Molding Technician specializes in molding materials such as plastic or metal. They are responsible for operating and calibrating machinery, adhering to product guidelines, conducting quality inspections on finished products, lifting heavy materials, and training new workforce members. There are also instances where they must troubleshoot equipment problems, perform basic repairs, coordinate with managers or engineers, and conduct regular maintenance checks. Molding Technicians must maintain an active communication line with staff while adhering to its safety policies and regulations.
Manufacturing technicians and molding technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Technician | Molding Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,853 | $40,696 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $52,000 | Between $32,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Framingham, MA | Kearney, NE |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | Cummins |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing technician and a molding technician in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Technician | Molding Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between manufacturing technicians' and molding technicians' demographics:
| Manufacturing Technician | Molding Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5% |
| 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, 9.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 3% |