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The differences between mechanical contractors and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a mechanical contractor, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a mechanical contractor has an average salary of $72,882, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.
The top three skills for a mechanical contractor include plumbing, CAD and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Mechanical Contractor | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $72,882 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $35.04 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 28,897 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
Mechanical contractors and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Contractor | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $72,882 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $100,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a mechanical contractor and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Contractor | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between mechanical contractors' and general contractors' demographics:
| Mechanical Contractor | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |