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The differences between auto mechanics and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an auto mechanic, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $41,683 average annual salary of an auto mechanic.
The top three skills for an auto mechanic include customer vehicles, customer service and diagnosis. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Auto Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,683 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $20.04 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 95,553 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An auto mechanic's role is to repair and maintain automotive vehicles, ensuring that they function efficiently and safely. They are primarily responsible for discussing issues with clients, inspecting vehicles to identify the root of problems, performing test drives, and conducting corrective measures. Sometimes this is done in collaboration with other mechanics to ensure accuracy and speed. They can also replace oil, brakes, and even other fluids. Moreover, an auto mechanic must inform the extent of repairs to clients, letting them know which parts need replacement or fixes.
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.
Auto mechanics and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $41,683 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $59,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Government | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an auto mechanic and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Auto Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between auto mechanics' and electricians' demographics:
| Auto Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |