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The differences between alignment technicians and generation technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an alignment technician, becoming a generation technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a generation technician has an average salary of $40,580, which is higher than the $38,020 average annual salary of an alignment technician.
The top three skills for an alignment technician include customer service, hand tools and power steering. The most important skills for a generation technician are preventive maintenance, customer service, and safety standards.
| Alignment Technician | Generation Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,020 | $40,580 |
| Hourly rate | $18.28 | $19.51 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 143,585 | 154,565 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Alignment Technicians are responsible for the alignment process of wheels and tires of a vehicle. Their duties include completing work repair orders, driving vehicles to the wheel alignment rack, and administering regular tests of the bent axle, bent steering rods, worn ball joints, and faulty wheel alignment. They are also involved in straightening axles, adjusting shims, straightening steering rods, and joining pins to undertake new parts installation or wheel alignment. They also perform counterweights hammering, shock absorber installations, and frame straightening. Other duties may include ensuring work complies with factory standards, attending product training by the manufacturer, and safely operating equipment and tools.
A generation technician specializes in performing systems installations and maintenance, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include providing support to clients and fellow company employees, troubleshooting errors, performing repairs and replacements, and referring clients to other services when necessary. They may also perform regular maintenance checks, fixing or cleaning systems and components as needed. Furthermore, a generation technician typically works in a team setting, requiring an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Alignment technicians and generation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alignment Technician | Generation Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,020 | $40,580 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $57,000 | Between $28,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an alignment technician and a generation technician in terms of educational background:
| Alignment Technician | Generation Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between alignment technicians' and generation technicians' demographics:
| Alignment Technician | Generation Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.8% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |