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Hvac mechanic vs air conditioning service technician

The differences between hvac mechanics 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 hvac mechanic and an air conditioning service technician. Additionally, an air conditioning service technician has an average salary of $51,938, which is higher than the $50,752 average annual salary of a hvac mechanic.

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

Hvac mechanic vs air conditioning service technician overview

Hvac MechanicAir Conditioning Service Technician
Yearly salary$50,752$51,938
Hourly rate$24.40$24.97
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs73,05757,420
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%High School Diploma, 27%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Hvac mechanic vs air conditioning service technician salary

Hvac mechanics and air conditioning service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hvac MechanicAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average salary$50,752$51,938
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $73,000Between $35,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityBrookline, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyAmerican Residential ServicesUniversity of Southern California
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between hvac mechanic and air conditioning service technician education

There are a few differences between a hvac mechanic and an air conditioning service technician in terms of educational background:

Hvac MechanicAir Conditioning Service Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%High School Diploma, 27%
Most common majorHeating And Air ConditioningHeating And Air Conditioning
Most common collegeDunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody College of Technology

Hvac mechanic vs air conditioning service technician demographics

Here are the differences between hvac mechanics' and air conditioning service technicians' demographics:

Hvac MechanicAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 97.5% Female, 2.5%Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 2.6% White, 64.5% 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 hvac mechanic and air conditioning service technician duties and responsibilities

Hvac mechanic example responsibilities.

  • General maintenance include plumbing, carpentry, electrical repair and installation.
  • work on motors, belts, electrical wiring and plc programing.
  • Perform all duties within the specified safety regulations of OSHA, the company and the position.
  • Repair damage chill water coils, install air handlers, condensers and through the wall heat pumps on campus.
  • Act as part of the HazMat team to clean up and evacuate any areas of any chemical spills or leaks.
  • Experience in sheet-metal fabrication and light plumbing
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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.
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Hvac mechanic vs air conditioning service technician skills

Common hvac mechanic skills
  • Hand Tools, 15%
  • HVAC, 11%
  • Ventilation, 7%
  • Ladders, 7%
  • EPA, 6%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 4%
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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