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The differences between reliability technicians and test 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 reliability technician and a test technician. Additionally, a reliability technician has an average salary of $50,168, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.
The top three skills for a reliability technician include troubleshoot, preventative maintenance and hand tools. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.
| Reliability Technician | Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,168 | $43,171 |
| Hourly rate | $24.12 | $20.76 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 38,743 | 71,414 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Reliability technicians are responsible for helping enhance quality, improve safety, and implement the constant development of projects to maximize output. They collaborate with engineers and lead maintenance technicians to do continuing the system development. Their duties include giving technical assistance and input in engineering project management services. Also, they systematize and direct work assigned to make certain immediate feedback to repairs, fast identification of faults, and prompt action to repairs. Additionally, they plan, establish, and coordinate work by contractors and other associates.
A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs. A test technician also analyzes the system's design processes and features to understand its complexities and identify necessary upgrades. Test technicians keep a record of system issues and resolutions for reference. A test technician must have excellent knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to perform tasks and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
Reliability technicians and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reliability Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,168 | $43,171 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Apple | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a reliability technician and a test technician in terms of educational background:
| Reliability Technician | Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between reliability technicians' and test technicians' demographics:
| Reliability Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| 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% |