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The differences between certified technicians and alignment technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a certified technician and an alignment technician. Additionally, a certified technician has an average salary of $52,208, which is higher than the $38,020 average annual salary of an alignment technician.
The top three skills for a certified technician include A+, patients and patient care. The most important skills for an alignment technician are customer service, hand tools, and power steering.
| Certified Technician | Alignment Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,208 | $38,020 |
| Hourly rate | $25.10 | $18.28 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 140,083 | 143,585 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Certified technicians are technical professionals who perform technical tasks in the fields of applied science or engineering technology. These technicians are required to demonstrate their customer service skills and problem-solving abilities by resolving issues of customers immediately and efficiently. They must follow the dealership standards when performing work specified to maintenance and repair orders. They are required to work directly with customers to maximize equitable profitability for both the organization and their customers. Certified technicians must also possess detailed knowledge and experience in automobile mechanical works.
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.
Certified technicians and alignment technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Technician | Alignment Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,208 | $38,020 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $84,000 | Between $25,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Connor Group | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a certified technician and an alignment technician in terms of educational background:
| Certified Technician | Alignment Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between certified technicians' and alignment technicians' demographics:
| Certified Technician | Alignment Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |