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Pilot plant technician vs microbiology technician

The differences between pilot plant technicians and microbiology technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a pilot plant technician and a microbiology technician. Additionally, a pilot plant technician has an average salary of $55,161, which is higher than the $40,084 average annual salary of a microbiology technician.

The top three skills for a pilot plant technician include pilot plant equipment, safety procedures and GMP. The most important skills for a microbiology technician are lab equipment, test results, and laboratory procedures.

Pilot plant technician vs microbiology technician overview

Pilot Plant TechnicianMicrobiology Technician
Yearly salary$55,161$40,084
Hourly rate$26.52$19.27
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs23,48525,704
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

What does a pilot plant technician do?

Pilot plant technicians need relevant pilot plant experience or experience in a food manufacturing environment, as well as knowledge of operation and maintenance of pilot plant equipment. Paid salaries of $48K per year, those in this career are expected to operate experimental pilot plants, assist with experimental design, and develop new processes in chemical engineering and production.

What does a microbiology technician do?

A Microbiology Technician helps microbiologists and other scientists conduct experiments and other tests. They usually work in labs and examine microscopic subjects, such as diseases, fungi, and algae.

Pilot plant technician vs microbiology technician salary

Pilot plant technicians and microbiology technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pilot Plant TechnicianMicrobiology Technician
Average salary$55,161$40,084
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $70,000Between $29,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityBridgeport, CTCentral Islip, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyKoppersThomas Jefferson University
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between pilot plant technician and microbiology technician education

There are a few differences between a pilot plant technician and a microbiology technician in terms of educational background:

Pilot Plant TechnicianMicrobiology Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityCornell University

Pilot plant technician vs microbiology technician demographics

Here are the differences between pilot plant technicians' and microbiology technicians' demographics:

Pilot Plant TechnicianMicrobiology Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 89.0% Female, 11.0%Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 12.7% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 14.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pilot plant technician and microbiology technician duties and responsibilities

Pilot plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing technical and regulatory site visits to the laboratory and interface with QA and RA on all vendor/regulatory audits.
  • Complete daily paperwork following FDA and HACCP guidelines
  • Assist engineers in testing and adjusting production requirements as needed to meet FDA specifications.
  • Perform high voltage cable installation, testing/replacing GFCI breakers, test/repair emergency lighting, test motors and troubleshoot HVAC units.
  • Perform QC manufacturing final inspection.
  • Operate and troubleshoot experimental projects with little supervision.
  • Show more

Microbiology technician example responsibilities.

  • Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
  • Apply GMP and GLP documentation for all sample testing.
  • Prepare culture media, perform culture media QC test, and maintain appropriate inventory, perform growth promotion testing and sterility.
  • Quantify total aerobic plate count and total yeast and mold count.
  • Keep records of all tests in database and keep entries of QA checks.
  • Use of microscopes, autoclaves, carboys, manual and electric pipettes, etc.
  • Show more

Pilot plant technician vs microbiology technician skills

Common pilot plant technician skills
  • Pilot Plant Equipment, 10%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • GMP, 8%
  • R, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
Common microbiology technician skills
  • Lab Equipment, 10%
  • Test Results, 6%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 5%
  • Environmental Monitoring, 5%
  • Media Preparation, 5%
  • FDA, 4%

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