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The differences between aircraft electricians and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an aircraft electrician, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an aircraft electrician has an average salary of $54,605, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for an aircraft electrician include electrical systems, hazardous materials and diagnose malfunctions. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Aircraft Electrician | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,605 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $26.25 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 19,166 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An aircraft electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems in an aircraft, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically include running diagnostic tests and examinations, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing components, understanding diagrams, and keeping records. There are also instances where they must solder wires, climb up high places, and perform regular maintenance checks. Moreover, an aircraft electrician typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and safe workflow.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Aircraft electricians and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Electrician | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $54,605 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $77,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edgewood, MD | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Northrop Grumman | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an aircraft electrician and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Electrician | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between aircraft electricians' and electricians' demographics:
| Aircraft Electrician | Electrician | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 3% |