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Hvac specialist vs ac technician

The differences between hvac specialists 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 specialist and an ac technician. Additionally, a hvac specialist has an average salary of $50,358, which is higher than the $49,910 average annual salary of an ac technician.

The top three skills for a hvac specialist include ventilation, plumbing and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an ac technician are HVAC, safety procedures, and preventive maintenance.

Hvac specialist vs ac technician overview

Hvac SpecialistAC Technician
Yearly salary$50,358$49,910
Hourly rate$24.21$24.00
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs14,299101,978
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%High School Diploma, 35%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Hvac specialist vs ac technician salary

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

Hvac SpecialistAC Technician
Average salary$50,358$49,910
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $70,000Between $33,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityWest Sacramento, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyJacobs Engineering Group-
Best paying industryConstruction-

Differences between hvac specialist and ac technician education

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

Hvac SpecialistAC Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%High School Diploma, 35%
Most common majorHeating And Air ConditioningHeating And Air Conditioning
Most common collegeDunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody College of Technology

Hvac specialist vs ac technician demographics

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

Hvac SpecialistAC Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 95.2% Female, 4.8%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.5% Asian, 2.5% White, 61.3% 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 specialist and ac technician duties and responsibilities

Hvac specialist example responsibilities.

  • Meet all state requirements and manage annual inspections regarding mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and elevator systems.
  • Install 2 to 10 ton Rheem, Ruud and Bryan condensers.
  • Develop experience with DDC controls.
  • Perform light plumbing duties such as cleaning stoppages, replace fittings and change water heater elements.
  • Repair and maintain air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems where regulate temperatures are a necessity.
  • Trouble shoot heating, ventilation and air conditioning, motor, pump and compressor, and compressor problems in buildings.
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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 specialist vs ac technician skills

Common hvac specialist skills
  • Ventilation, 12%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Troubleshoot, 9%
  • Control Systems, 8%
  • Exhaust Fans, 6%
  • Cooling Towers, 5%
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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