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The differences between materials technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, which is higher than the $35,721 average annual salary of a materials technician.
The top three skills for a materials technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Materials Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,721 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $17.17 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 33,176 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A materials technician is responsible for inspecting and testing tools and materials required for production operations and manufacturing processes, ensuring its stability and efficiency to support business functions and produce high-quality outputs. Materials technicians review the production process and recommend cost-reduction resources by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. They also identify the safety and reliability of materials to prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards within the work area. A materials technician must be able to operate manufacturing equipment to develop improved techniques and write report findings.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Materials technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,721 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rahway, NJ | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a materials technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Materials Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between materials technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Materials Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.6% Female, 27.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |