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The differences between process control 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 process control technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a process control technician has an average salary of $52,452, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a process control technician include PLC, control systems and logic controllers. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Process Control Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,452 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $25.22 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 90,615 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Process control technicians require strong skills in PLC, process control systems, troubleshooting, calibration, and a desire for continuous improvement in addition to other skills. Those who choose this career path will be called to work with automated process control systems and assist in designing, creating, testing, and implementing process control panels.
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.
Process control technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Control Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,452 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $67,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Odessa, TX | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Stanford University | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a process control technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Process Control Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between process control technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Process Control Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.1% Female, 18.9% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |