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Water technician vs restoration technician

The differences between water technicians and restoration technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a water technician, becoming a restoration technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a water technician has an average salary of $38,723, which is higher than the $36,223 average annual salary of a restoration technician.

The top three skills for a water technician include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a restoration technician are customer service, work ethic, and demolition.

Water technician vs restoration technician overview

Water TechnicianRestoration Technician
Yearly salary$38,723$36,223
Hourly rate$18.62$17.41
Growth rate-7%4%
Number of jobs34,70227,258
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4745
Years of experience124

What does a water technician do?

Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency. They must also keep records of all operations, producing progress reports as needed. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth workflow.

What does a restoration technician do?

Restoration technicians give support to the victims of floods, fires, and other disasters by helping them to restore their homes. The technicians assess what can be saved, install new materials, and clean damaged properties. They are responsible for answering complaints, explaining job specifications, performing other customer service duties. Additionally, they adhere to personal safety standards by wearing the appropriate protective gear and using the right equipment. These technicians must have the ability to use hand tools, be physically fit, and have strong communication and listening skills.

Water technician vs restoration technician salary

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

Water TechnicianRestoration Technician
Average salary$38,723$36,223
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $53,000Between $27,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityRedmond, WATacoma, WA
Highest paying stateIdahoMaine
Best paying companyVishayStantec
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between water technician and restoration technician education

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

Water TechnicianRestoration Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Water technician vs restoration technician demographics

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

Water TechnicianRestoration Technician
Average age4745
Gender ratioMale, 91.2% Female, 8.8%Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage5%6%

Differences between water technician and restoration technician duties and responsibilities

Water technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage water usage plumbing repair electronics repair inventory control.
  • Water extraction, dry outs, roof tarps, board ups, mold clean up, demolition, fire clean up
  • mow, string trim, blow off.
  • Climb ladders, crawl, stoop, bend and work in confine spaces.
  • Use HEPA vac, antimicrobial, possibly sand, wipe studs and walls, and wear PPE.
  • Have HVAC an carpet cleaning experience.
  • Show more

Restoration technician example responsibilities.

  • Help manage the housing development; keeping it clean, in compliance with OSHA laws, and state safety laws.
  • Assist in monitoring plant health and growth status of plantings within restoration projects using handheld GPS units and qualitative descriptions.
  • Gain experience with containment of impact areas and the setup of equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers and air scrubbers.
  • Water extraction and removal of water damage materials.
  • Operate water extraction, dehumidifying & desiccant equipment to complete the restoration process.
  • Mold mitigation, water damage restoration and demolition, carpet and upholstery cleaning, sewage cleanup and decontamination.
  • Show more

Water technician vs restoration technician skills

Common water technician skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Water Samples, 6%
  • Cleanliness, 5%
  • Plumbing, 5%
Common restoration technician skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • Demolition, 10%
  • Extraction, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Mold Remediation, 5%

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