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The differences between instrument technician apprentices and maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an instrument technician apprentice, becoming a maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a maintenance technician has an average salary of $43,293, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for an instrument technician apprentice include hand tools, customer satisfaction and diagnosis. The most important skills for a maintenance technician are plumbing, HVAC, and hand tools.
| Instrument Technician Apprentice | Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,849 | $43,293 |
| Hourly rate | $19.16 | $20.81 |
| Growth rate | - | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 130,235 | 178,450 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
An instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles. Furthermore, there are also instances where one may liaise with clients to discuss the extent of damage or repairs, building positive relationships in the process to secure a client base.
Maintenance technicians are technicians who specialize in the preservation of office facilities. They have in-depth knowledge of how various office equipment or fixtures work so that they can immediately identify how to repair them in case of breakdowns. Maintenance technicians perform diagnostics and routine maintenance activities to ensure that everything in the office is running well. They immediately repair problems in fixtures or equipment to avoid any further damages or safety concerns. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health standards to ensure that the office is a safe place to work.
Instrument technician apprentices and maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrument Technician Apprentice | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,849 | $43,293 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $57,000 | Between $31,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hayward, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an instrument technician apprentice and a maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Instrument Technician Apprentice | Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between instrument technician apprentices' and maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Instrument Technician Apprentice | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |