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The differences between power plant technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a power plant technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a power plant technician has an average salary of $46,681, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a power plant technician include plant equipment, preventive maintenance and gearboxes. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Power Plant Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,681 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 36,418 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Power plant technicians, paid at an average of $790K per year, must have skills in concentration, dexterity, mechanics, and problem-solving. They will need a high school diploma or GED at the very least, though some employers do prefer a college or vocational school degree, as well as strong math and science backgrounds. Those who choose this career will be called on to controlling and monitoring -power plant equipment, like boilers, turbines, and generators.
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.
Power plant technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,681 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $71,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a power plant technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between power plant technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Power Plant Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 2% | 2% |