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The differences between service technician leads and preventive maintenance technicians 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 lead, becoming a preventive maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a service technician lead has an average salary of $104,707, which is higher than the $40,935 average annual salary of a preventive maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a service technician lead include customer service, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for a preventive maintenance technician are customer service, hand tools, and HVAC.
| Service Technician Lead | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $104,707 | $40,935 |
| Hourly rate | $50.34 | $19.68 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 144,132 | 170,517 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Service technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for installing and maintaining equipment used in the operations of an organization. These technicians are required to provide preventive maintenance on equipment and train maintenance personnel on the proper procedures to follow. They must assess customer complaints and negotiate appropriate compensation base on the severity of the situation. Service technicians must also lead a team of technicians in inspection and repair based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
A preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage. They keep the facility operating. It is their job to conduct quality assessments, maintain inventory, and schedule repairs. Also, they see to it that machines are up and running at all times. They are expected to be equipped with skills in customer service, problem-solving, reading comprehension, business operation, and mechanical aptitude.
Service technician leads and preventive maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Technician Lead | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $104,707 | $40,935 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $164,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Owatonna, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Kiewit |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a service technician lead and a preventive maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Service Technician Lead | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service technician leads' and preventive maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Service Technician Lead | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 2% |