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The differences between hvac maintenance technicians and maintenance engineers 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 maintenance technician and a maintenance engineer. Additionally, a maintenance engineer has an average salary of $47,133, which is higher than the $42,676 average annual salary of a hvac maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a hvac maintenance technician include plumbing, preventative maintenance and HVAC. The most important skills for a maintenance engineer are plumbing, HVAC, and guest rooms.
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $42,676 | $47,133 |
| Hourly rate | $20.52 | $22.66 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 188,673 | 97,957 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An HVAC maintenance technician specializes in installing and repairing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. They may provide services to homes, offices, and even establishments. Their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, performing equipment inspections, troubleshooting, cleaning hardware parts, and maintaining records of all transactions. They may also provide technical advice to clients on how to take better care of their equipment and appliances. Above all, an HVAC maintenance technician must adhere to the appliance and service standards, including the health and safety regulations.
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
Hvac maintenance technicians and maintenance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $42,676 | $47,133 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $29,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Irvine, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Halliburton |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a hvac maintenance technician and a maintenance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between hvac maintenance technicians' and maintenance engineers' demographics:
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |