How To Become A Manufacturing Test Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a manufacturing test technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

John Irwin EdD

The average manufacturing test technician salary is $51,360. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an electrical engineering major. It usually takes 6-12 months of experience to become a manufacturing test technician. Manufacturing test technicians with a Mobile Communications and Electronics Installer certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 0% and produce -400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a manufacturing test technician?

John Irwin EdD

Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University

Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.

ScoreManufacturing Test TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,360

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 8.05%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.43%

Unknown 4.32%

White 70.79%

Gender

female 10.33%

male 89.67%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a manufacturing test technician

Explore manufacturing test technician education requirements

Most common manufacturing test technician degrees

Associate

54.0 %

Bachelor's

30.7 %

Diploma

5.3 %

Start to develop specific manufacturing test technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Test Equipment	10.48%
RF	8.00%
Hand Tools	7.46%
Test Data	6.22%
Lean Manufacturing	4.88%

Complete relevant manufacturing test technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manufacturing test technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a manufacturing test technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manufacturing test technician resumes.

Research manufacturing test technician duties and responsibilities

Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
Test, troubleshoot analog and digital microprocessor circuits to component level, update production to meet current revision requirements.
Design and test various prototype boards incorporating PIC Microcontrollers.

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