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The differences between refrigeration technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a refrigeration technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a refrigeration technician has an average salary of $50,701, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a refrigeration technician include preventative maintenance, hand tools and ladders. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Refrigeration Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $50,701 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $24.38 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 131,115 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A refrigeration technician is responsible for managing refrigeration and cooling systems for private households and commercial establishments. Refrigeration technicians install refrigeration components, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of blueprints and schematics. They inspect the system components and inform the household owners and management for preventive maintenance and troubleshooting for minor defects and inconsistencies, as well as calculating costs and materials for repairs. A refrigeration technician must be well-equipped with mechanical knowledge to identify failures and upgrade units as necessary.
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.
Refrigeration technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Refrigeration Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $50,701 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $75,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Micron Technology | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a refrigeration technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Refrigeration Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between refrigeration technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Refrigeration Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 40 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.2% Female, 2.8% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 2.5% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |