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The differences between aircraft electricians and power plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aircraft electrician and a power plant technician. Additionally, an aircraft electrician has an average salary of $54,605, which is higher than the $46,681 average annual salary of a power plant technician.
The top three skills for an aircraft electrician include electrical systems, hazardous materials and diagnose malfunctions. The most important skills for a power plant technician are plant equipment, preventive maintenance, and gearboxes.
| Aircraft Electrician | Power Plant Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,605 | $46,681 |
| Hourly rate | $26.25 | $22.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 19,166 | 36,418 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Power plant technicians, paid at an average of $790K per year, must have skills in concentration, dexterity, mechanics, and problem-solving. They will need a high school diploma or GED at the very least, though some employers do prefer a college or vocational school degree, as well as strong math and science backgrounds. Those who choose this career will be called on to controlling and monitoring -power plant equipment, like boilers, turbines, and generators.
Aircraft electricians and power plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Electrician | Power Plant Technician | |
| Average salary | $54,605 | $46,681 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $77,000 | Between $30,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edgewood, MD | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Northrop Grumman | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an aircraft electrician and a power plant technician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Electrician | Power Plant Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Aviation |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft electricians' and power plant technicians' demographics:
| Aircraft Electrician | Power Plant Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |