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Hvac apprentice vs ac technician

The differences between hvac apprentices and ac 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 hvac apprentice and an ac technician. Additionally, an ac technician has an average salary of $49,910, which is higher than the $34,073 average annual salary of a hvac apprentice.

The top three skills for a hvac apprentice include customer service, customer satisfaction and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for an ac technician are HVAC, safety procedures, and preventive maintenance.

Hvac apprentice vs ac technician overview

Hvac ApprenticeAC Technician
Yearly salary$34,073$49,910
Hourly rate$16.38$24.00
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs25,483101,978
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 35%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Hvac apprentice vs ac technician salary

Hvac apprentices and ac technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hvac ApprenticeAC Technician
Average salary$34,073$49,910
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $43,000Between $33,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityGaithersburg, MD-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyJohnson Controls-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between hvac apprentice and ac technician education

There are a few differences between a hvac apprentice and an ac technician in terms of educational background:

Hvac ApprenticeAC Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 35%
Most common majorHeating And Air ConditioningHeating And Air Conditioning
Most common collegeDunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody College of Technology

Hvac apprentice vs ac technician demographics

Here are the differences between hvac apprentices' and ac technicians' demographics:

Hvac ApprenticeAC Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 97.0% Female, 3.0%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 25.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between hvac apprentice and ac technician duties and responsibilities

Hvac apprentice example responsibilities.

  • Install HVAC systems in new and retrofit fashion for residential customers in the greater-Seattle area.
  • Install and repair residential heating and air units, lift heavy equipment up ladders and in small crawl spaces.
  • Perform maintenance, repair, modification, replacement and installation of centrifugal chillers and refrigeration equipment.
  • Experience with copper, cpvc, or pvc pipe work.
  • Run PVC for HVAC applications.
  • Pump down and re-cover all refrigerant within EPA regulations.
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Ac technician example responsibilities.

  • Install, maintain, and repair HVAC/R equipment and associate control systems.
  • Air conditioning technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
  • Repair and service HVAC/R and relate equipment.
  • Assist A/C technicians, check freon level and add freon as needed.
  • Replace compressors, thermal expansion valves, copper line sets, evaporators and condenser coils.
  • Utilize various tools such as nitrogen and acetylene tanks for brazing integral components of the units.
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Hvac apprentice vs ac technician skills

Common hvac apprentice skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 14%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 14%
  • Ladders, 13%
  • Ventilation, 12%
  • Air-Conditioning Systems, 8%
Common ac technician skills
  • HVAC, 18%
  • Safety Procedures, 10%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 9%
  • Plumbing, 8%
  • Service Calls, 6%
  • Air-Conditioning Systems, 5%

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