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The differences between alignment technicians and instrument technician apprentices 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 an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an instrument technician apprentice has an average salary of $39,849, 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 an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Alignment Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $38,020 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $18.28 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 143,585 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
An instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles. Furthermore, there are also instances where one may liaise with clients to discuss the extent of damage or repairs, building positive relationships in the process to secure a client base.
Alignment technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alignment Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $38,020 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $57,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an alignment technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Alignment Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between alignment technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Alignment Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 8% |