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Heat pump installer vs air conditioning service technician

The differences between heat pump installers and air conditioning service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a heat pump installer and an air conditioning service technician. Additionally, an air conditioning service technician has an average salary of $51,938, which is higher than the $45,582 average annual salary of a heat pump installer.

The top three skills for a heat pump installer include hand tools, HVAC and . The most important skills for an air conditioning service technician are plumbing, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.

Heat pump installer vs air conditioning service technician overview

Heat Pump InstallerAir Conditioning Service Technician
Yearly salary$45,582$51,938
Hourly rate$21.91$24.97
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs15,43557,420
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 27%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Heat pump installer vs air conditioning service technician salary

Heat pump installers and air conditioning service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Heat Pump InstallerAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average salary$45,582$51,938
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $61,000Between $35,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-University of Southern California
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between heat pump installer and air conditioning service technician education

There are a few differences between a heat pump installer and an air conditioning service technician in terms of educational background:

Heat Pump InstallerAir Conditioning Service Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 27%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringHeating And Air Conditioning
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDunwoody College of Technology

Heat pump installer vs air conditioning service technician demographics

Here are the differences between heat pump installers' and air conditioning service technicians' demographics:

Heat Pump InstallerAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 96.0% Female, 4.0%Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.3% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 25.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between heat pump installer and air conditioning service technician duties and responsibilities

Heat pump installer example responsibilities.

  • Field installation of heating, ventilation and air condition equipment for residential customers.
  • Wire units, solder units, sell units and upgrades such as humidifiers, uv light systems, air filtration systems.

Air conditioning service technician example responsibilities.

  • Prepare work site (e.g., set up scaffold, ladders, stands, etc . )
  • Braze and solder pipes and cleaned/glu plastic PVC piping.
  • Place fan belt on pulleys, adjust tension and tighten bolts.
  • Prepare worksite and work from scaffolds, ladders, stands, etc.
  • Run hoses, install and hook up evaporators and hook up and install condensers.
  • Conduct trail runs before welding, soldering or brazing and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
  • Show more

Heat pump installer vs air conditioning service technician skills

Common heat pump installer skills
  • Hand Tools, 73%
  • HVAC, 27%
Common air conditioning service technician skills
  • Plumbing, 13%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Emergency Repairs, 6%
  • Ventilation, 6%
  • Air-Conditioning Systems, 5%

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