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Construction worker vs electrician

The differences between construction workers and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $31,842 average annual salary of a construction worker.

The top three skills for a construction worker include roofing, safety rules and sheetrock. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.

Construction worker vs electrician overview

Construction WorkerElectrician
Yearly salary$31,842$48,850
Hourly rate$15.31$23.49
Growth rate4%7%
Number of jobs53,06717,245
Job satisfaction4.333.86
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age3942
Years of experience-12

What does a construction worker do?

Construction workers are part of a crew laborers responsible for a number of easy to extremely challenging and hazardous on-site constructions tasks such as preparing the area, clearing debris, building scaffolding, bracing, loading and unloading building materials, and assisting with operating heavy equipment like concrete mixers. They specialize in a variety of occupations that involve building homes and businesses, roads and highways, tearing down properties, removing high-risk materials, and in the digging of tunnels and mine shafts. They test machinery and equipment to ensure they are working properly. They may also transport stocks and materials from suppliers and vehicles to the job site.

What does an electrician do?

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.

Construction worker vs electrician salary

Construction workers and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction WorkerElectrician
Average salary$31,842$48,850
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $43,000Between $32,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkAlaska
Best paying companyCDM SmithPBF Energy
Best paying industryConstructionAutomotive

Differences between construction worker and electrician education

There are a few differences between a construction worker and an electrician in terms of educational background:

Construction WorkerElectrician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Construction worker vs electrician demographics

Here are the differences between construction workers' and electricians' demographics:

Construction WorkerElectrician
Average age3942
Gender ratioMale, 93.8% Female, 6.2%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 27.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%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 Percentage2%3%

Differences between construction worker and electrician duties and responsibilities

Construction worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage and decide all remodel activities.
  • Operate cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
  • Operate the recycle baler machine.
  • Require PPE / OSHA requirements and respirator tests perform.
  • General cleaning responsibilities; run cash register and greet customers.
  • Assist in all phases of construction, demo, and remodeling on an apprentice basis
  • Show more

Electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Diagnose malfunctioning devices including transformers, motor starters, motors, PLC's, VFD's, and light fixtures.
  • Install and repair receptacles, lights, light switches, ac motors, and panel boards.
  • Work on the civil underground team work on all the underground for the ac to dc plant.
  • Install all phases of electrical construction in according to the ADA, NEC, NFPA, as well as project specifications.
  • Terminate wires to circuit breakers, transformers and/or other components
  • Show more

Construction worker vs electrician skills

Common construction worker skills
  • Roofing, 17%
  • Safety Rules, 12%
  • Sheetrock, 5%
  • Tape Measure, 4%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Masonry, 4%
Common electrician skills
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Electrical Equipment, 9%
  • RUN Conduit, 6%
  • Transformers, 6%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Switches, 5%

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