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The differences between mechanical technicians and equipment technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a mechanical technician has an average salary of $51,367, which is higher than the $41,004 average annual salary of an equipment technician.
The top three skills for a mechanical technician include preventive maintenance, hand tools and electro-mechanical. The most important skills for an equipment technician are preventative maintenance, patients, and equipment maintenance.
| Mechanical Technician | Equipment Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,367 | $41,004 |
| Hourly rate | $24.70 | $19.71 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 106,997 | 127,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
The primary job of mechanical technicians is to help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices such as machines and engines. They typically do varied tasks, including evaluating design sketches for new and changing tools, discussing changes with colleagues, and reviewing blueprints and instructions for projects. As a mechanical technician, you are also responsible for estimating equipment life, plant space, and labor costs. To become successful in this role, you need to have an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology, excellent communication skills, and mechanical skills.
An equipment technician is responsible for handling the operations of company equipment and machinery, inspecting for any malfunctions, and immediately repairing defective components to prevent delays in productivity. Equipment technicians create a report of system failures, referencing documentation to develop consistency with the equipment, and suggest corrective actions. They should also analyze schematics and blueprints for guides on how to maintain the equipment's reliability. An equipment technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on enhancing equipment's performance and maximizing operational productivity.
Mechanical technicians and equipment technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Technician | Equipment Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,367 | $41,004 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a mechanical technician and an equipment technician in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Technician | Equipment Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between mechanical technicians' and equipment technicians' demographics:
| Mechanical Technician | Equipment Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.0% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |