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The differences between air-conditioning mechanics and hvac-r technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an air-conditioning mechanic and a hvac-r technician. Additionally, a hvac-r technician has an average salary of $53,354, which is higher than the $44,852 average annual salary of an air-conditioning mechanic.
The top three skills for an air-conditioning mechanic include ladders, ventilation and condensers. The most important skills for a hvac-r technician are HVAC/R, ventilation, and plumbing.
| Air-Conditioning Mechanic | Hvac-R Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $44,852 | $53,354 |
| Hourly rate | $21.56 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 35,226 | 85,555 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Air-conditioning mechanics and hvac-r technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Air-Conditioning Mechanic | Hvac-R Technician | |
| Average salary | $44,852 | $53,354 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Lynnwood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Halifax Health | Better |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an air-conditioning mechanic and a hvac-r technician in terms of educational background:
| Air-Conditioning Mechanic | Hvac-R Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | Dunwoody College of Technology |
Here are the differences between air-conditioning mechanics' and hvac-r technicians' demographics:
| Air-Conditioning Mechanic | Hvac-R Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 2.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |