Rig mechanic vs machines technician

The differences between rig mechanics and machines technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a rig mechanic and a machines technician. Additionally, a rig mechanic has an average salary of $44,088, which is higher than the $39,754 average annual salary of a machines technician.

The top three skills for a rig mechanic include hand tools, troubleshoot and mechanical equipment. The most important skills for a machines technician are CNC, hand tools, and calipers.

Rig mechanic vs machines technician overview

	Rig Mechanic	Machines Technician
Yearly salary	$44,088	$39,754
Hourly rate	$21.20	$19.11
Growth rate	14%	14%
Number of jobs	89,556	106,175
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	2	2

Rig mechanic vs machines technician salary

Rig mechanics and machines technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Rig Mechanic	Machines Technician
Average salary	$44,088	$39,754
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $66,000	Between $30,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City	-	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	ABB
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between rig mechanic and machines technician education

There are a few differences between a rig mechanic and a machines technician in terms of educational background:

	Rig Mechanic	Machines Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Rig mechanic vs machines technician demographics

Here are the differences between rig mechanics' and machines technicians' demographics:

	Rig Mechanic	Machines Technician
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%	Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between rig mechanic and machines technician duties and responsibilities

Rig mechanic example responsibilities.

Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.

Machines technician example responsibilities.

Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
Train employees on all safety practices and PPE usage.
Follow lock out/tag out protocol, practice good PPE and GMP protocol, help production when need.
Install plumbing and electrical components.
Construct various components and integrate them into submarine modules Fab.
Conduct internal ISO audits and assist external auditors with semi-annual audits.

Rig mechanic vs machines technician skills

Common rig mechanic skills

Hand Tools, 13%
Troubleshoot, 12%
Mechanical Equipment, 10%
Cranes, 9%
Preventive Maintenance, 7%
Mud Pumps, 6%

Common machines technician skills

CNC, 10%
Hand Tools, 6%
Calipers, 6%
Math, 5%
Good Communication, 5%
Safety Procedures, 5%

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Rig Mechanic
Rig Mechanic vs Machines Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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