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The differences between repair 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 repair technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a repair technician has an average salary of $41,643, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a repair technician include customer service, hand tools and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $41,643 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $20.02 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 162,051 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A repair technician's role focuses on assessing the problem or damage of a device and implementing solutions for it to function again. Although the extent of a technician's tasks will depend on the device or industry of employment, most of it revolves around troubleshooting, providing technical support, installing and writing programs, detaching and re-attaching wirings, welding, and even thoroughly discussing problems and solutions to clients. Furthermore, there are instances when a repair technician must work in a team setting that requires coordination and communication.
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.
Repair technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $41,643 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $63,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | SoCalGas | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a repair technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between repair technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.3% Female, 11.7% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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% |