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The differences between auto 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 auto technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an auto technician has an average salary of $41,435, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for an auto technician include taking care, preventive maintenance and customer vehicles. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Auto Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $41,435 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $19.92 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 131,515 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An auto technician specializes in performing inspections, repairs, and maintenance on different automotive vehicles ranging from small cars to light trucks. Their responsibilities revolve around identifying issues using various diagnostic tools to determine which course of action to take, discussing the extent of repairs to clients, and ordering car parts from suppliers. There are also instances when an auto technician may have the task of maintaining the cleanliness of the workplace, or participate in record-keeping and monitoring the inventory.
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.
Auto technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $41,435 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $59,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sterling, VA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Deloitte | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an auto technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Auto Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between auto technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Auto Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |