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The differences between technical testing engineers and test 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 technical testing engineer, becoming a test technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a technical testing engineer has an average salary of $88,367, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.
The top three skills for a technical testing engineer include test results, schematics and test procedures. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.
| Technical Testing Engineer | Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $88,367 | $43,171 |
| Hourly rate | $42.48 | $20.76 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 100,815 | 71,414 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 47% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A technical testing engineer is responsible for inspecting and reporting the quality of products across the production cycle. You will thoroughly check procedures, materials, and electrical and mechanical systems to produce high-quality products for customers. Your main job is to test various components and features of the product to identify and resolve technical issues. Other duties include organizing and conducting training for junior team members, creating test environments, and identifying the root cause of technical issues.
A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs. A test technician also analyzes the system's design processes and features to understand its complexities and identify necessary upgrades. Test technicians keep a record of system issues and resolutions for reference. A test technician must have excellent knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to perform tasks and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
Technical testing engineers and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Testing Engineer | Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $88,367 | $43,171 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $125,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Issaquah, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical testing engineer and a test technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Testing Engineer | Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 47% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between technical testing engineers' and test technicians' demographics:
| Technical Testing Engineer | Test Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 Percentage | 4% | 8% |