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The differences between safety assistants and safety technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a safety assistant, becoming a safety technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a safety technician has an average salary of $38,709, which is higher than the $38,077 average annual salary of a safety assistant.
The top three skills for a safety assistant include patients, patient care and patient safety. The most important skills for a safety technician are OSHA, patients, and customer service.
| Safety Assistant | Safety Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,077 | $38,709 |
| Hourly rate | $18.31 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 13,994 | 38,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Safety assistants help safety managers create and execute safety protocols. Typical duties include examining work areas, locating hazardous elements as well as keeping up with safety manuals and guidelines. Also, they interview injured employees, maintain first aid centers, and probe work safety incidents. Additionally, they direct regular audits with safety mentors to make certain that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies and procedures are followed. Primary job qualifications include knowledge in safety protocols, detail-oriented, organizational skills, teamwork, and time management. Another important requirement in this field is training in occupational hazards.
A safety technician is responsible for inspecting the office equipment and machinery, as well as the safety of facilities, avoiding potential hazards in the workplace. Safety technicians also review the company's policies and procedures, ensuring that the operational processes adhere to the internal guidelines and state regulations. They recommend safety training and programs for all employees on safety compliance and stable work conditions. A safety technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on writing incident reports and suggesting practices to maintain a safe working environment.
Safety assistants and safety technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Assistant | Safety Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,077 | $38,709 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $53,000 | Between $28,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Bethlehem, PA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Capco | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a safety assistant and a safety technician in terms of educational background:
| Safety Assistant | Safety Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between safety assistants' and safety technicians' demographics:
| Safety Assistant | Safety Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |