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The differences between service technicians and mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a service technician, becoming a mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a mechanic has an average salary of $47,149, which is higher than the $40,379 average annual salary of a service technician.
The top three skills for a service technician include plumbing, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and customer service.
| Service Technician | Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $40,379 | $47,149 |
| Hourly rate | $19.41 | $22.67 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 254,533 | 100,534 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.
Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.
Service technicians and mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Technician | Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $40,379 | $47,149 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $57,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | IBM | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a service technician and a mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Service Technician | Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service technicians' and mechanics' demographics:
| Service Technician | Mechanic | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 2% |