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The differences between automotive service 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 automotive service technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an automotive service technician has an average salary of $43,077, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for an automotive service technician include customer service, hand tools and dexterity. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Automotive Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $43,077 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $20.71 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 177,784 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment. They do test parts and systems to guarantee that they work properly and follow checklists to ensure that every critical part is examined. Performing basic care and maintenance is also part of their main tasks, including changing oil, rotating tires, and checking fluid levels.
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.
Automotive service technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $43,077 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $74,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alexandria, VA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cypress | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an automotive service technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive service technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Automotive Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.9% 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% |