Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between automotive 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 technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an automotive technician has an average salary of $40,910, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for an automotive technician include work ethic, computer system and customer service. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Automotive Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $40,910 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $19.67 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 142,840 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An automotive technician is responsible for maintaining the condition of automotive equipment. The duties of an automotive technician include repairing defective automotive components and inspecting and ensuring the auto's performance, stability, and safety. A tech is also responsible for upgrading the electrical systems to boost efficiency, conducting oil changes and tire checks, and installing batteries. An automotive technician also runs quality checks and improves system designs based on clients' specifications. An automotive technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and automotive systems to assist clients with their inquiries and concerns.
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 technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $40,910 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sheriff's Office | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an automotive technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Automotive Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% | 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, 60.8% 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% |