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The differences between alignment technicians and valve 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 valve technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a valve technician has an average salary of $41,020, 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 valve technician are control valves, hand tools, and actuators.
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.
Valve technicians install regulating devices such as valves. They are responsible for monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting valves. Valves are essential controlling devices for plumbing in residential houses. In commercial and industrial buildings, valves may be required for regulating chemicals.
Alignment technicians and valve technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alignment Technician | Valve Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,020 | $41,020 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $57,000 | Between $28,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an alignment technician and a valve technician in terms of educational background:
| Alignment Technician | Valve Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | General Studies |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between alignment technicians' and valve technicians' demographics:
| Alignment Technician | Valve Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 2.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 9% |