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The differences between hvac apprentices and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a hvac apprentice, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an instrument technician apprentice has an average salary of $39,849, 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 instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Hvac Apprentice | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $34,073 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $16.38 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 25,483 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apprentices are trainees who work under HVAC maintenance workers. They train under HVAC maintenance workers to gain actual, on-the-job experience. To be an apprentice, one should have a formal training background related to HVAC repair and maintenance. They may be enrolled in a technical-vocational school specializing in HVAC repair and maintenance. As such, apprenticeship is part of their curriculum or class requirements. During their apprenticeship, HVAC apprentices will experience installing, diagnosing, repair, and maintaining HVAC units firsthand.
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.
Hvac apprentices and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Apprentice | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $34,073 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $43,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Gaithersburg, MD | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Johnson Controls | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a hvac apprentice and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Apprentice | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between hvac apprentices' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Hvac Apprentice | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 6.3% 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% |