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The differences between production test technicians and calibration technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a production test technician and a calibration technician. Additionally, a calibration technician has an average salary of $46,908, which is higher than the $41,059 average annual salary of a production test technician.
The top three skills for a production test technician include production test, hand tools and RF. The most important skills for a calibration technician are metrology, customer service, and calibration procedures.
| Production Test Technician | Calibration Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,059 | $46,908 |
| Hourly rate | $19.74 | $22.55 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 91,524 | 48,741 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Production Test Technicians are responsible for the testing and assembly of manufactured goods before releasing them internally or to the general public. They are involved in running tests in equipment and assemblies, performing instrument calibrations, examining finish products conform with specifications, using statistical methods to identify problems, and providing reports on defects. They work with investors, product developers, and other stakeholders in fixing defects and improving the quality of a product. In testing, they will perform inspections for achieving multipoint safety and efficiency.
The calibration technician's primary role in manufacturing industries is to make sure that measurements taken with the use of equipment are accurate. They are responsible for the regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment and instruments to ensure that their readings and output match the desired results. Their duties include testing, maintenance, routine inspection, as well as the repair of instruments and manufacturing equipment. Important skills required for the job include keen attention to detail, analytical skills, and coordination for conducting tests with various equipment.
Production test technicians and calibration technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Test Technician | Calibration Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,059 | $46,908 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $53,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Sanmina | Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a production test technician and a calibration technician in terms of educational background:
| Production Test Technician | Calibration Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between production test technicians' and calibration technicians' demographics:
| Production Test Technician | Calibration Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| 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% |