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The differences between tire technicians and general service 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 tire technician, becoming a general service technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a tire technician has an average salary of $38,376, which is higher than the $28,048 average annual salary of a general service technician.
The top three skills for a tire technician include customer service, commercial vehicles and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a general service technician are customer service, maintenance services, and strong customer service.
| Tire Technician | General Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,376 | $28,048 |
| Hourly rate | $18.45 | $13.48 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 110,586 | 163,387 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 36 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Tire technicians typically work in car dealerships and automotive repair shops to inspect, replace, install and repair tires on trucks, cars, and other vehicles. They tend to work alongside the mechanics with a focus on ensuring that tires are reliable, safe, and work with other car systems. To be qualified in this position, you should be very attentive to detail as you typically will examine for signs of tire failure and wear. Tire technicians are also responsible for giving recommendations to customers about tire care and replacement.
General service technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for performing maintenance duties for automobiles and other light vehicles. These technicians are required to interact with customers to discuss cost estimates for performing automotive maintenance services. They must conduct visual vehicle inspections and perform any necessary repairs or replacement of automotive parts. They are required to be skillful in operating machines that mount and balance the tires of vehicles. General service technicians must also check the electrical systems of vehicles and should know how to install car batteries.
Tire technicians and general service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tire Technician | General Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,376 | $28,048 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $53,000 | Between $21,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, NJ | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | State Street | All American Group |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tire technician and a general service technician in terms of educational background:
| Tire Technician | General Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tire technicians' and general service technicians' demographics:
| Tire Technician | General Service Technician | |
| Average age | 36 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 2.1% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |