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Surfacing technician vs assembly & test technician

The differences between surfacing technicians and assembly & test technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a surfacing technician and an assembly & test technician. Additionally, an assembly & test technician has an average salary of $38,774, which is higher than the $37,226 average annual salary of a surfacing technician.

The top three skills for a surfacing technician include circuit board assembly, SMT and safety regulations. The most important skills for an assembly & test technician are mechanical assembly, aerospace, and dexterity.

Surfacing technician vs assembly & test technician overview

Surfacing TechnicianAssembly & Test Technician
Yearly salary$37,226$38,774
Hourly rate$17.90$18.64
Growth rate--
Number of jobs39,79364,354
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 37%Associate Degree, 47%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

Surfacing technician vs assembly & test technician salary

Surfacing technicians and assembly & test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surfacing TechnicianAssembly & Test Technician
Average salary$37,226$38,774
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $48,000Between $30,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City-Beverly, MA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-BWX Technologies
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between surfacing technician and assembly & test technician education

There are a few differences between a surfacing technician and an assembly & test technician in terms of educational background:

Surfacing TechnicianAssembly & Test Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 37%Associate Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNortheastern University

Surfacing technician vs assembly & test technician demographics

Here are the differences between surfacing technicians' and assembly & test technicians' demographics:

Surfacing TechnicianAssembly & Test Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 75.1% Female, 24.9%Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6%
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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between surfacing technician and assembly & test technician duties and responsibilities

Surfacing technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
  • Full knowledge of VCD machine, stuffing IC's into bare PC boards.
  • Program and operates AOI machine.
  • Assemble thru-hole and surface mount PC boards.
  • Operate under ESD guidelines and according to standard operating procedures.
  • Build and maintain programs for automatic inspection machines (AOI).
  • Show more

Assembly & test technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
  • Perform inspections on transformers, electrical motors, and switches.
  • Test transformers and adapters using ac power source and power resistors.
  • Help transition from PLC and hydraulic actuation to current computer control equipment.
  • Apply and practice QA processes to ensure products are within tolerances and safe to deliver to clients.
  • Assist the test labs in the writing and maintenance of ISO documentation relate to product test work instructions.
  • Show more

Surfacing technician vs assembly & test technician skills

Common surfacing technician skills
  • Circuit Board Assembly, 15%
  • SMT, 14%
  • Safety Regulations, 8%
  • IPC, 6%
  • PCB, 4%
  • RAN, 4%
Common assembly & test technician skills
  • Mechanical Assembly, 8%
  • Aerospace, 7%
  • Dexterity, 6%
  • Calipers, 5%
  • Test Results, 5%
  • FAA, 4%

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