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The differences between shop technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a shop technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an instrument technician apprentice has an average salary of $39,849, which is higher than the $36,798 average annual salary of a shop technician.
The top three skills for a shop technician include preventative maintenance, routine maintenance and diagnosis. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Shop Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $36,798 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 4% | - |
| Number of jobs | 150,349 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 30% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Shop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in. Usually, Shop Technicians work with machines in the shop. They conduct repair and maintenance work for machines that have long been in the shop. They are also in charge of installing and building new machines as well. Shop Technicians are assigned to manage records of such machines or s other mechanical items in the store. This is part of the administrative activities they may do for the shop.
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.
Shop technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $36,798 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Leandro, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a shop technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Shop Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 30% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Shop Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |