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The differences between hvac technicians and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a hvac technician, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a hvac technician has an average salary of $54,496, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for a hvac technician include HVAC, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Hvac Technician | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,496 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $26.20 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 86,709 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An HVAC technician is qualified personnel who installs and repairs air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in both residential and commercial buildings. A technician's job may include repairing of pipe that is leaking, replacing a defective mechanical part, or adjust equipment setting for better performance. However, an HVAC technician must follow government regulations and local HVAC codes and should take the licensure examination. Some HVAC technicians are working for contractors, while others are self-employed.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Hvac technicians and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Technician | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $54,496 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $81,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a hvac technician and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Technician | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between hvac technicians' and electricians' demographics:
| Hvac Technician | Electrician | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 3% |