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Air conditioning specialist vs heating technician

The differences between air conditioning specialists and heating 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 specialist and a heating technician. Additionally, a heating technician has an average salary of $51,453, which is higher than the $50,129 average annual salary of an air conditioning specialist.

The top three skills for an air conditioning specialist include NCAA, training programs and CSCS. The most important skills for a heating technician are plumbing, ventilation, and safety procedures.

Air conditioning specialist vs heating technician overview

Air Conditioning SpecialistHeating Technician
Yearly salary$50,129$51,453
Hourly rate$24.10$24.74
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs1,63761,302
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%High School Diploma, 38%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Air conditioning specialist vs heating technician salary

Air conditioning specialists and heating technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Air Conditioning SpecialistHeating Technician
Average salary$50,129$51,453
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $74,000Between $35,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityFairfield, CTBaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyAllison TransmissionCity of Jacksonville
Best paying industryEducationConstruction

Differences between air conditioning specialist and heating technician education

There are a few differences between an air conditioning specialist and a heating technician in terms of educational background:

Air Conditioning SpecialistHeating Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%High School Diploma, 38%
Most common majorKinesiologyEnvironmental Control Technologies/Technicians
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityDuke University

Air conditioning specialist vs heating technician demographics

Here are the differences between air conditioning specialists' and heating technicians' demographics:

Air Conditioning SpecialistHeating Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 75.3% Female, 24.7%Male, 96.1% Female, 3.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.7% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between air conditioning specialist and heating technician duties and responsibilities

Air conditioning specialist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve TSA qualification and certification.
  • Design core strength, rehabilitation and conditioning programs specific for various physical conditions.
  • Design patient specific Pilates professional apparatus-post rehabilitation programs.

Heating technician example responsibilities.

  • Assemble and apply insulation material to plumbing, heating, cooling and refrigeration systems in new construction and remodel homes.
  • Change out compressor, condensers, evaporators, blower motors, condenser motor, troubleshot and replace all electrical components.
  • Assist in the installation of heating ventilation and air conditioning parts and units.
  • Repair refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, condensers, and furnaces.
  • Maintain and repair heating, ventilation, and cooling units for both commercial and residential customers.
  • Work with the owner to plan plumbing necessities for new buildings, including studying blueprint and developing logical plan for installation.
  • Show more

Air conditioning specialist vs heating technician skills

Common air conditioning specialist skills
  • NCAA, 29%
  • Training Programs, 28%
  • CSCS, 15%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • Injury Prevention, 4%
Common heating technician skills
  • Plumbing, 9%
  • Ventilation, 8%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Water Heaters, 7%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 5%
  • HVAC/R, 5%

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