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Senior test technician vs senior engineering technician

The differences between senior test technicians and senior engineering technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a senior test technician, becoming a senior engineering technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior engineering technician has an average salary of $88,615, which is higher than the $56,825 average annual salary of a senior test technician.

The top three skills for a senior test technician include test equipment, test procedures and test results. The most important skills for a senior engineering technician are java, SR, and emerging technologies.

Senior test technician vs senior engineering technician overview

Senior Test TechnicianSenior Engineering Technician
Yearly salary$56,825$88,615
Hourly rate$27.32$42.60
Growth rate-3%
Number of jobs37,27694,734
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age5045
Years of experience124

What does a senior test technician do?

A senior test technician inspects product functions and monitors tests. They ensure their company's products meet quality standards. They may test software with the use of a Vector Network Analyzer. They are also responsible for the preventative maintenance of equipment and systems.

What does a senior engineering technician do?

A Senior Engineering Technician uses the technical principles of engineering to create and develop a project or product. They also provide technical assistance to professional engineering staff on special projects.

Senior test technician vs senior engineering technician salary

Senior test technicians and senior engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Test TechnicianSenior Engineering Technician
Average salary$56,825$88,615
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $82,000Between $63,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CityGermantown, MDSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandIdaho
Best paying companyAppleCrowdStrike
Best paying industryManufacturingEnergy

Differences between senior test technician and senior engineering technician education

There are a few differences between a senior test technician and a senior engineering technician in terms of educational background:

Senior Test TechnicianSenior Engineering Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityPurdue University

Senior test technician vs senior engineering technician demographics

Here are the differences between senior test technicians' and senior engineering technicians' demographics:

Senior Test TechnicianSenior Engineering Technician
Average age5045
Gender ratioMale, 91.8% Female, 8.2%Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 11.3% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between senior test technician and senior engineering technician duties and responsibilities

Senior test technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
  • Perform debug and repair of in process and RMA units to the component level.
  • Work with engineers to initiate and complete ECO changes.
  • Inspect, repair, and troubleshot RMA boards from customers.
  • Provide rework solutions include solder high pin-count packages, fine-pitch components and PCB.
  • Perform test plans under engineer's specifications and debug HW & firmware, and drivers.
  • Show more

Senior engineering technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Determine and insure how statistical process control (SPC) are performed, collect, and update.
  • Test equipment utilize included DMM's, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, waveform function generators, and signal generators.
  • Demonstrate expertise in analog and digital electronic circuit design.
  • Rework and diagnose SMT PCBs.
  • Implement native and HTML5 UI.
  • Show more

Senior test technician vs senior engineering technician skills

Common senior test technician skills
  • Test Equipment, 12%
  • Test Procedures, 9%
  • Test Results, 5%
  • RF, 5%
  • Oscilloscopes, 5%
  • Test Data, 5%
Common senior engineering technician skills
  • Java, 8%
  • SR, 5%
  • Emerging Technologies, 5%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%
  • Technical Support, 4%
  • Project Management, 4%

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