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The differences between apprentices and maintenance electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an apprentice and a maintenance electrician. Additionally, a maintenance electrician has an average salary of $62,112, which is higher than the $37,107 average annual salary of an apprentice.
The top three skills for an apprentice include PET, customer service and basic math. The most important skills for a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
| Apprentice | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,107 | $62,112 |
| Hourly rate | $17.84 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 13,014 | 92,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures. An apprentice must be detail-oriented, fast-learner, and enthusiastic. An apprentice should also know how to accept constructive criticisms and feedback to improve performance and skill development.
A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises. They also analyze schematics and blueprints for electrical line placements and running diagnostic tests to identify possible defects for immediate resolution. A maintenance electrician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical industry, especially on recording maintenance reports and solutions.
Apprentices and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Apprentice | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $37,107 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $51,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Worcester, MA | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an apprentice and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Apprentice | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between apprentices' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Apprentice | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |