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The differences between optics test technicians and instrument technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an optics test technician and an instrument technician. Additionally, an instrument technician has an average salary of $56,918, which is higher than the $47,494 average annual salary of an optics test technician.
The top three skills for an optics test technician include optical test, test equipment and RF. The most important skills for an instrument technician are patients, surgical instruments, and cleanliness.
| Optics Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,494 | $56,918 |
| Hourly rate | $22.83 | $27.36 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 35,869 | 45,965 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Optics test technicians and instrument technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optics Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Average salary | $47,494 | $56,918 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $68,000 | Between $38,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an optics test technician and an instrument technician in terms of educational background:
| Optics Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between optics test technicians' and instrument technicians' demographics:
| Optics Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |