Senior process technician vs validation technologist

The differences between senior process technicians and validation technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior process technician and a validation technologist. Additionally, a senior process technician has an average salary of $77,354, which is higher than the $50,457 average annual salary of a validation technologist.

The top three skills for a senior process technician include OSHA, SR and management system. The most important skills for a validation technologist are troubleshoot, python, and test results.

Senior process technician vs validation technologist overview

	Senior Process Technician	Validation Technologist
Yearly salary	$77,354	$50,457
Hourly rate	$37.19	$24.26
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	49,260	48,765
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	4	4

What does a senior process technician do?

A senior process technician collects data through various experiments aimed at supporting the optimization of processes. They are tasked with testing existing technology, advising ways to boost production, and instituting new technology where necessary. Their other responsibilities include validating production equipment, planning and performing setups, monitoring and guiding production teams, conducting process test runs, and providing insights, technical assistance, and recommendations to engineering and process development personnel.

What does a validation technologist do?

A validation technologist works with a process chief and applies validation methods to complete tasks and carry out installations. They perform operational protocol duties and do reviews daily. They also analyze the validation test data to make sure it meets the necessary criteria for validation. They may have to generate and conduct all the phases in the validation process. These include IQs, OQ's and PQ's.

Senior process technician vs validation technologist salary

Senior process technicians and validation technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Process Technician	Validation Technologist
Average salary	$77,354	$50,457
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $128,000	Between $38,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	-	Frederick, MD
Highest paying state	-	Maryland
Best paying company	-	AstraZeneca
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between senior process technician and validation technologist education

There are a few differences between a senior process technician and a validation technologist in terms of educational background:

	Senior Process Technician	Validation Technologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	Purdue University	Purdue University

Senior process technician vs validation technologist demographics

Here are the differences between senior process technicians' and validation technologists' demographics:

	Senior Process Technician	Validation Technologist
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8%	Male, 74.5% Female, 25.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between senior process technician and validation technologist duties and responsibilities

Senior process technician example responsibilities.

Lead production of experimental new product in GMP environment.
Time manage to ensure equipment is prepared for process to prevent from delays or harvest discards.
Manage a team of 16 technicians on all phases of the Fab start up: from process formation to manufacturing readiness.
Provide manufacturing process improvement, troubleshoot software and hardware technical problems.
Write CNC programs using pro/e models and Mastercam.
Sign off in candeling, harvest, buffer prep, and weighing/dispensing.

Validation technologist example responsibilities.

Manage all cleaning validation schedule and coordinate activities with QA and/or external laboratories and operations.
Project coordinator, liaise with QA, QC, production, suppliers and contractors
Create HDD with Linux O.S.
Generate QC sampling schemes for cleaning validation, collect samples for airborne contaminants and surface contaminants.
Develop and write validation procedures following FDA guidelines for laboratory testing.
Perform system validation on autoclaves, ovens, refrigerator/freezers and equipment washers.

Senior process technician vs validation technologist skills

Common senior process technician skills

OSHA, 19%
SR, 13%
Management System, 9%
Pathogens, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
R, 4%

Common validation technologist skills

Troubleshoot, 6%
Python, 6%
Test Results, 6%
Data Collection, 6%
Linux, 5%
ISO, 4%

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Senior Process Technician
Senior Process Technician vs Validation Technologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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