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The differences between hvac maintenance technicians and plant 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 maintenance technician and a plant technician. Additionally, a plant technician has an average salary of $46,164, 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 plant technician are preventive maintenance, ladders, and data collection.
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,676 | $46,164 |
| Hourly rate | $20.52 | $22.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 188,673 | 146,543 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 plant technician is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading machines and equipment, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, implementing solutions to vulnerable or problem areas, and developing strategies to optimize plant operations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures and adjustments as needed. Furthermore, a plant technician must provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Hvac maintenance technicians and plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,676 | $46,164 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Irvine, CA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a hvac maintenance technician and a plant technician in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between hvac maintenance technicians' and plant technicians' demographics:
| Hvac Maintenance Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |