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The differences between test technicians and instrument 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 test technician and an instrument technician. Additionally, an instrument technician has an average salary of $56,918, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.
The top three skills for a test technician include test procedures, test results and hand tools. The most important skills for an instrument technician are patients, surgical instruments, and cleanliness.
| Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,171 | $56,918 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $27.36 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 71,414 | 45,965 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
An instrument technician is an individual who is responsible for testing, repairing, and inspecting all manufacturing equipment to ensure proper operations of the machines. Instrument technicians collaborate with engineers to develop and produce equipment design and provide advice to process technicians about equipment operation. They remove defective equipment so that they can decontaminate and replace the damaged ones with new machines. They are also required by their employer to obtain certification in the field of instrumentation technology.
Test technicians and instrument technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,171 | $56,918 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $61,000 | Between $38,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Nokia | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a test technician and an instrument technician in terms of educational background:
| Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between test technicians' and instrument technicians' demographics:
| Test Technician | Instrument Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 8% | 8% |