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Service and repair technician vs field service technician

The differences between service and repair technicians and field service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a service and repair technician, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $42,099 average annual salary of a service and repair technician.

The top three skills for a service and repair technician include dishwashers, test equipment and HVAC. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.

Service and repair technician vs field service technician overview

Service And Repair TechnicianField Service Technician
Yearly salary$42,099$54,339
Hourly rate$20.24$26.12
Growth rate5%8%
Number of jobs193,706167,298
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 40%
Average age4744
Years of experience412

What does a service and repair technician do?

Service and repair technicians install, maintains, or repair equipment and often travel to customer's location to provide service and maintenance. They are also known as field service technicians who have technical knowledge and skills to be able to install and conduct product testing or demo to properly instruct customers on the proper usage of the product. Also, they provide preventive maintenance procedures to prevent damage to the equipment, diagnose problems and make repairs. The job involves various services depending on the area of experience and expertise.

What does a field service technician do?

Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.

Service and repair technician vs field service technician salary

Service and repair technicians and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service And Repair TechnicianField Service Technician
Average salary$42,099$54,339
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $60,000Between $35,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyPlug PowerGoogle
Best paying industryTransportationFinance

Differences between service and repair technician and field service technician education

There are a few differences between a service and repair technician and a field service technician in terms of educational background:

Service And Repair TechnicianField Service Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Service and repair technician vs field service technician demographics

Here are the differences between service and repair technicians' and field service technicians' demographics:

Service And Repair TechnicianField Service Technician
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 89.3% Female, 10.7%Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%1%

Differences between service and repair technician and field service technician duties and responsibilities

Service and repair technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform the installation of HVAC equipment, air handlers, condensers, thermostats, ducts and piping.
  • Service calls on anything relate to anything dealing with doors, windows and glass.
  • Service and repair on small engines, generators, ridding mowers, exercise equipment, power tools, washers and dryers.
  • Perform random field warranty repairs on existing install windows.
  • Perform SMT inspection, post-wave touch-up, rework, ECO wiring, and functional test repairs.
  • Service kitchen appliances, stoves, ovens, dishwasher, trash compactors, garbage disposers and other home appliances.
  • Show more

Field service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage onsite supporting contractors to achieve customers end result to satisfaction.
  • Lead initiatives to decrease manufacturing downtime and increase QA process inspection.
  • Manage a team of 12 field engineers and 130 MRI systems in NYC.
  • Collaborate to achieve a Citrix solution for the IADC shop floor and implement the current server farm.
  • Manage and administer network security, LAN, WLAN, desktops, servers, applications, and databases.
  • Manage and service access control technology to include Honeywell's StarII and TEMA, and PCSC MicroLPM and IQ series controllers.
  • Show more

Service and repair technician vs field service technician skills

Common service and repair technician skills
  • Dishwashers, 19%
  • Test Equipment, 18%
  • HVAC, 15%
  • Dryers, 12%
  • Plumbing, 11%
  • Stoves, 11%
Common field service technician skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 3%

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