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The differences between commercial service technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a commercial service technician and an instrument technician apprentice. Additionally, a commercial service technician has an average salary of $49,463, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a commercial service technician include OSHA, service vehicle and ladders. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Commercial Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $49,463 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 216,958 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 44 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A commercial service technician is responsible for maintaining and repairing mechanical equipment and machinery for private households and commercial establishments. Commercial service technicians inspect the conditions and stability of mechanical components to identify defects and possible part replacements. They also install and assemble equipment, requiring them to have critical analysis to follow blueprints and schematics. A commercial service technician must have excellent mechanical and organizational skills, especially in recommending efficient resources and prevent breakdown reoccurrence.
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.
Commercial service technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $49,463 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $74,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Broken Arrow, OK | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | SoCalGas | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a commercial service technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial service technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Commercial Service Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 44 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 1% | 8% |