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The differences between tool technicians and outside machinists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a tool technician, becoming an outside machinist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a tool technician has an average salary of $42,908, which is higher than the $42,858 average annual salary of an outside machinist.
The top three skills for a tool technician include grinders, hand tools and CNC. The most important skills for an outside machinist are hand tools, calipers, and condensers.
| Tool Technician | Outside Machinist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,908 | $42,858 |
| Hourly rate | $20.63 | $20.60 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 78,258 | 24,075 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 54 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties. They must provide support for CNC operators by setting up the caliper and micrometer of all the CNC machines. Tool technicians must also assist coworkers in ordering materials and purchasing machine parts.
An outside machinist specializes in installing and repairing machinery and equipment in water vessels such as ships and submarines. They have a wide range of responsibilities, which typically include understanding blueprints and schematics, fixing and assembling parts, operating power tools, connecting pipe systems, conducting inspections, and providing support to staff as needed. They must also perform regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality and efficiency of machinery. Moreover, as an outside machinist, it is vital to maintain an active communication line with team members for a safe and efficient workflow.
Tool technicians and outside machinists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Technician | Outside Machinist | |
| Average salary | $42,908 | $42,858 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $61,000 | Between $32,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fort Wayne, IN | Bremerton, WA |
| Highest paying state | Indiana | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Oceaneering |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a tool technician and an outside machinist in terms of educational background:
| Tool Technician | Outside Machinist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tool technicians' and outside machinists' demographics:
| Tool Technician | Outside Machinist | |
| Average age | 54 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 6.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |