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The differences between valve technicians and preventive maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a valve technician, becoming a preventive maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a valve technician has an average salary of $41,020, which is higher than the $40,935 average annual salary of a preventive maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a valve technician include control valves, hand tools and actuators. The most important skills for a preventive maintenance technician are customer service, hand tools, and HVAC.
Valve technicians install regulating devices such as valves. They are responsible for monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting valves. Valves are essential controlling devices for plumbing in residential houses. In commercial and industrial buildings, valves may be required for regulating chemicals.
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.
Valve technicians and preventive maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Valve Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,020 | $40,935 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $59,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Owatonna, MN |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Kiewit |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a valve technician and a preventive maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Valve Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | General Studies | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between valve technicians' and preventive maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Valve Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 2.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | 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 | 9% | 2% |