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The differences between senior machinists and tool 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 senior machinist, becoming a tool technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior machinist has an average salary of $50,435, which is higher than the $42,908 average annual salary of a tool technician.
The top three skills for a senior machinist include calipers, micrometers and grinders. The most important skills for a tool technician are grinders, hand tools, and CNC.
Senior Machinist produces components, and complex R&D; prototype machined parts by programming, setting up, operating computer numerical control, lathes, traditional conventional machines, and vertical limits. They maintain safety and quality standards and maintains supplies and equipment. This type of job also supervises employees and student employees. There are duties and responsibilities that they have to take on. Senior Machinist is entitled to provide technical guidance, leadership to faculty and students regarding design, and help them build complex prototypes, frequently requiring the development of new and improved tooling, techniques, and procedure.
Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties. They must provide support for CNC operators by setting up the caliper and micrometer of all the CNC machines. Tool technicians must also assist coworkers in ordering materials and purchasing machine parts.
Senior machinists and tool technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Machinist | Tool Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,435 | $42,908 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $29,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Highest paying state | - | Indiana |
| Best paying company | - | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior machinist and a tool technician in terms of educational background:
| Senior Machinist | Tool Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between senior machinists' and tool technicians' demographics:
| Senior Machinist | Tool Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |