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The differences between service and 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 service and repair technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a service and repair technician has an average salary of $42,099, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a service and repair technician include dishwashers, test equipment and HVAC. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Service And Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $42,099 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $20.24 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 193,706 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
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.
Service and repair technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service And Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $42,099 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Plug Power | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a service and repair technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Service And Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service and repair technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Service And Repair Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 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% |