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The differences between master technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a master technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a master technician has an average salary of $97,027, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a master technician include strong customer service, customer vehicles and engine performance. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Master Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $97,027 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $46.65 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 137,644 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Master Technician diagnoses and repairs vehicles accurately within a reasonable time frame and quality. Their primary duties include the maintenance of vehicles to ensure proper performance, repairing of individual parts, and replacement of entire systems.
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.
Master technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Master Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $97,027 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $150,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Teradata | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a master technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Master Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between master technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Master Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 8% |