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The differences between air conditioning specialists and hvac 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 hvac technician. Additionally, a hvac technician has an average salary of $54,496, 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 hvac technician are HVAC, customer service, and preventative maintenance.
| Air Conditioning Specialist | Hvac Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,129 | $54,496 |
| Hourly rate | $24.10 | $26.20 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 1,637 | 86,709 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Air conditioning is essential in many parts of the globe, especially in areas where the heat index is continuously high. An air conditioning specialist helps customers find the best air conditioning unit for their home or business. Picking the right unit is not straightforward; several factors determine which unit would be most efficient for a given building. An air conditioning specialist helps customers determine the relevant factors, calculate which units would be most efficient, and pick their best option.
An HVAC technician is qualified personnel who installs and repairs air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in both residential and commercial buildings. A technician's job may include repairing of pipe that is leaking, replacing a defective mechanical part, or adjust equipment setting for better performance. However, an HVAC technician must follow government regulations and local HVAC codes and should take the licensure examination. Some HVAC technicians are working for contractors, while others are self-employed.
Air conditioning specialists and hvac technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Air Conditioning Specialist | Hvac Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,129 | $54,496 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $74,000 | Between $36,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairfield, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Allison Transmission | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between an air conditioning specialist and a hvac technician in terms of educational background:
| Air Conditioning Specialist | Hvac Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Dunwoody College of Technology |
Here are the differences between air conditioning specialists' and hvac technicians' demographics:
| Air Conditioning Specialist | Hvac Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |