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The differences between service mechanical technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a service mechanical technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a service mechanical technician has an average salary of $47,820, which is higher than the $39,849 average annual salary of an instrument technician apprentice.
The top three skills for a service mechanical technician include customer service, diagnosis and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Service Mechanical Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $47,820 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $22.99 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | - |
| Number of jobs | 146,216 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A service mechanical technician specializes in installing and repairing mechanical equipment and systems. Although the extent of their responsibilities differs upon their industry of employment, it typically includes working together with engineers in developing and testing equipment, troubleshooting problems, performing adjustments and calibrations, maintaining records, and performing regular maintenance checks to ensure the equipment's quality and capacity. Moreover, a service mechanical technician may also provide technical support to clients and co-workers, all while adhering to the company's safety standards and regulations.
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 mechanical technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Mechanical Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $47,820 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $68,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oxnard, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | State Street | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a service mechanical technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Service Mechanical Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | - |
Here are the differences between service mechanical technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Service Mechanical Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.4% White, 60.4% 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 | 6% | 8% |