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Water quality technician vs technician

The differences between water quality technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a water quality technician and a technician. Additionally, a water quality technician has an average salary of $39,725, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for a water quality technician include laboratory equipment, data collection and EPA. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Water quality technician vs technician overview

Water Quality TechnicianTechnician
Yearly salary$39,725$38,045
Hourly rate$19.10$18.29
Growth rate9%1%
Number of jobs70,992596,842
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age3840
Years of experience22

What does a water quality technician do?

Water quality technicians are tasked with monitoring and testing water supplies and ensuring that a particular body of water is safe. They perform various duties, which include sampling, inspecting, and testing water. They work with surface and groundwater sources. They evaluate and report the condition and features of various water samples and sources. The main goal of this job is to ensure public safety, environmental sustainability, and data integrity.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Water quality technician vs technician salary

Water quality technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Water Quality TechnicianTechnician
Average salary$39,725$38,045
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $61,000Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Telecommunication

Differences between water quality technician and technician education

There are a few differences between a water quality technician and a technician in terms of educational background:

Water Quality TechnicianTechnician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeStanford University-

Water quality technician vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between water quality technicians' and technicians' demographics:

Water Quality TechnicianTechnician
Average age3840
Gender ratioMale, 67.2% Female, 32.8%Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%2%

Differences between water quality technician and technician duties and responsibilities

Water quality technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
  • Collect and migrate GIS data using field instrumentation such as computers, ArcPad, and GPS units.
  • Operate GPS to assure coordinates and accuracy of reporting.
  • Check network connectivity to HVAC units physically and through the end user workstation.
  • Conduct internal ISO audits of shipping/receiving, inventory, returns management and repair operations.
  • Verify part conformance to specification of injection mold components according to requirements detail on inspection cards or SPC files.
  • Show more

Technician example responsibilities.

  • Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
  • Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.
  • Show more

Water quality technician vs technician skills

Common water quality technician skills
  • Laboratory Equipment, 16%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • EPA, 7%
  • GPS, 7%
  • Water Treatment, 7%
  • Water Quality Data, 6%
Common technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Diagnosis, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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