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Hvac specialist vs air conditioning service technician

The differences between hvac specialists 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 specialist and an air conditioning service technician. Additionally, an air conditioning service technician has an average salary of $51,938, which is higher than the $50,358 average annual salary of a hvac specialist.

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

Hvac specialist vs air conditioning service technician overview

Hvac SpecialistAir Conditioning Service Technician
Yearly salary$50,358$51,938
Hourly rate$24.21$24.97
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs14,29957,420
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%High School Diploma, 27%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Hvac specialist vs air conditioning service technician salary

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

Hvac SpecialistAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average salary$50,358$51,938
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $70,000Between $35,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityWest Sacramento, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyJacobs Engineering GroupUniversity of Southern California
Best paying industryConstructionTechnology

Differences between hvac specialist and air conditioning service technician education

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

Hvac SpecialistAir Conditioning Service Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%High School Diploma, 27%
Most common majorHeating And Air ConditioningHeating And Air Conditioning
Most common collegeDunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody College of Technology

Hvac specialist vs air conditioning service technician demographics

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

Hvac SpecialistAir Conditioning Service Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 95.2% Female, 4.8%Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%
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, 25.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between hvac specialist and air conditioning service 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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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 specialist vs air conditioning service technician skills

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