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Control electrician vs apprentice electrician

The differences between control electricians and apprentices electrician can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a control electrician and an apprentice electrician. Additionally, a control electrician has an average salary of $59,247, which is higher than the $38,799 average annual salary of an apprentice electrician.

The top three skills for a control electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an apprentice electrician are hand tools, run conduit, and EMT.

Control electrician vs apprentice electrician overview

Control ElectricianApprentice Electrician
Yearly salary$59,247$38,799
Hourly rate$28.48$18.65
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs46,94921,335
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 44%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does a control electrician do?

A control electrician primarily installs, repairs, and maintains electrical equipment, fixtures, and wiring. Control electricians maintain serviced and programmed PLC machine and lighting systems. Their tasks may include installing or servicing intercom systems, electrical control systems, or street lights. They make sure that their work complies with the significant codes. Part of their job is to operate power hand tools as well as other electrical equipment. Also, they may work on the external and internal electrical systems including circuit breaker panels and emergency generator circuits.

What does an apprentice electrician do?

An Apprentice Electrician is responsible for conducting electrical repairs and faults under the supervision and guidelines of a Master Electrician. The duties of an Apprentice will vary while still under training; however, it will mostly revolve around assisting the Master Electrician or carrying out given tasks. Furthermore, an Apprentice Electrician may be responsible for clearing out sites, carrying or loading materials, procuring required supplies, understanding and interpreting various types of blueprints, handling wiring systems, and coordinating with multiple workers, even including the clients.

Control electrician vs apprentice electrician salary

Control electricians and apprentices electrician have different pay scales, as shown below.

Control ElectricianApprentice Electrician
Average salary$59,247$38,799
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $81,000Between $28,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City-Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Dell
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between control electrician and apprentice electrician education

There are a few differences between a control electrician and an apprentice electrician in terms of educational background:

Control ElectricianApprentice Electrician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 44%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Control electrician vs apprentice electrician demographics

Here are the differences between control electricians' and apprentices electrician' demographics:

Control ElectricianApprentice Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between control electrician and apprentice electrician duties and responsibilities

Control electrician example responsibilities.

  • Install electrical conduit (e.g., rigid and EMT piping) and commercial HVAC systems.
  • Inspect, diagnose and repair substations and motor control centers, Allen-Bradley PLC's and ac/dc drives.
  • Bend and install EMT, rigid, PVC, boxes, cabinets, and gutters.
  • Pull wire, hang cable tray, runconduit (robroy, rigid, emt).
  • Develop HMI applications using Wonderware Intouch.
  • Design motor controls to NEC code.
  • Show more

Apprentice electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Experience with underground installations and installing PVC, EMT, MC, wire pulling, trimming, device and panel makeup.
  • Pull cables on main tray from PLC to junction boxes, including motor control center to motors and on/off switches.
  • Perform grind up industrial electrical construction, running above grind EMT and rigid conduit, underground PVC conduit and pulling wire.
  • Copper & brass fitting & brazing.
  • Weather seal and caulking, around glass panes interior and exterior of buildings.
  • Show more

Control electrician vs apprentice electrician skills

Common control electrician skills
  • PLC, 14%
  • Electrical Equipment, 11%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Ac Dc, 5%
  • Control Panels, 5%
  • Delta, 5%
Common apprentice electrician skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • RUN Conduit, 12%
  • EMT, 7%
  • Electrical Systems, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Electrical Components, 5%

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