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The differences between hvac technicians and hvac apprentices 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 technician and a hvac apprentice. Additionally, a hvac technician has an average salary of $54,496, which is higher than the $34,073 average annual salary of a hvac apprentice.
The top three skills for a hvac technician include HVAC, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a hvac apprentice are customer service, customer satisfaction, and preventative maintenance.
| Hvac Technician | Hvac Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $54,496 | $34,073 |
| Hourly rate | $26.20 | $16.38 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 86,709 | 25,483 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apprentices are trainees who work under HVAC maintenance workers. They train under HVAC maintenance workers to gain actual, on-the-job experience. To be an apprentice, one should have a formal training background related to HVAC repair and maintenance. They may be enrolled in a technical-vocational school specializing in HVAC repair and maintenance. As such, apprenticeship is part of their curriculum or class requirements. During their apprenticeship, HVAC apprentices will experience installing, diagnosing, repair, and maintaining HVAC units firsthand.
Hvac technicians and hvac apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Technician | Hvac Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $54,496 | $34,073 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $81,000 | Between $26,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Johnson Controls |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a hvac technician and a hvac apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Technician | Hvac Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | Dunwoody College of Technology |
Here are the differences between hvac technicians' and hvac apprentices' demographics:
| Hvac Technician | Hvac Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% |
| 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, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |