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Avionics technician vs electrical system specialist

The differences between avionics technicians and electrical system specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an avionics technician and an electrical system specialist. Additionally, an electrical system specialist has an average salary of $81,108, which is higher than the $55,545 average annual salary of an avionics technician.

The top three skills for an avionics technician include FAA, hand tools and electrical systems. The most important skills for an electrical system specialist are troubleshoot, test equipment, and safety regulations.

Avionics technician vs electrical system specialist overview

Avionics TechnicianElectrical System Specialist
Yearly salary$55,545$81,108
Hourly rate$26.70$38.99
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs25,60340,605
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age3333
Years of experience44

Avionics technician vs electrical system specialist salary

Avionics technicians and electrical system specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Avionics TechnicianElectrical System Specialist
Average salary$55,545$81,108
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $75,000Between $55,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityEverett, WASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew Jersey
Best paying companyAerotekThe Durst Organization
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between avionics technician and electrical system specialist education

There are a few differences between an avionics technician and an electrical system specialist in terms of educational background:

Avionics TechnicianElectrical System Specialist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common collegePurdue UniversityPurdue University

Avionics technician vs electrical system specialist demographics

Here are the differences between avionics technicians' and electrical system specialists' demographics:

Avionics TechnicianElectrical System Specialist
Average age3333
Gender ratioMale, 91.7% Female, 8.3%Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 5.4% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 26.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage14%14%

Differences between avionics technician and electrical system specialist duties and responsibilities

Avionics technician example responsibilities.

  • Work regularly on the radar and GPS for helicopters while simultaneously dealing and managing supplies by keeping track of all equipment.
  • Repair vhf, uhf, dme, lru, and radios.Uses various hand tools.
  • Maintain GPS navigation systems, flight guidance controls, radar, entertainment systems, and aircraft self defense systems.
  • Utilize aircraft technical manuals, and technical drawings to troubleshoot, and maintain aircraft systems in a flyable status.
  • Test and troubleshoot avionics systems upon completion of modification process.
  • License airframe and power plant technician responsible for aircraft avionics and electrical systems.
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Electrical system specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain clients' lawns through mowing, weed eating, and trimming bushes.
  • Design PLC and SCADA system for fuel cell/fuel processor development lab.
  • Inspect, troubleshot, repair, and replace electronic components and systems on aircraft.
  • Install, troubleshot, and repair aircraft electrical/electronic systems and associate components.
  • Install, maintain, repair, troubleshoot and engineer underground and overhead primary and secondary distribution systems.
  • Used electrical testing equipment to troubleshoot malfunctions of electrical and environmental systems and subsystems to determine extent of repair or replacement.
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Avionics technician vs electrical system specialist skills

Common avionics technician skills
  • FAA, 11%
  • Hand Tools, 10%
  • Electrical Systems, 7%
  • Engineering Drawings, 4%
  • Avionics Equipment, 4%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 4%
Common electrical system specialist skills
  • Troubleshoot, 16%
  • Test Equipment, 10%
  • Safety Regulations, 10%
  • Electrical Distribution Systems, 9%
  • Support Equipment, 4%
  • Technical Publications, 4%

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