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Control electrician vs electrician helper

The differences between control electricians and electrician helpers 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 electrician helper. Additionally, a control electrician has an average salary of $59,247, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.

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

Control electrician vs electrician helper overview

Control ElectricianElectrician Helper
Yearly salary$59,247$36,733
Hourly rate$28.48$17.66
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs46,94927,886
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 47%
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 electrician helper do?

An electrician helper is responsible for performing electrical maintenance duties under the supervision of a senior electrician. Electrician helpers conduct electrical and system installations, following protocols for the safeness of the process and components. They also inspect electrical tools and equipment before use, request supplies, and ensure the adequacy of materials during electrical operations. An electrician helper must have comprehensive knowledge of the electrical industry, be a fast learner, and have excellent time-management skills, especially when following instructions from the senior electrician on making the project successful.

Control electrician vs electrician helper salary

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

Control ElectricianElectrician Helper
Average salary$59,247$36,733
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $81,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-Exelon
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between control electrician and electrician helper education

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

Control ElectricianElectrician Helper
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 47%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Control electrician vs electrician helper demographics

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

Control ElectricianElectrician Helper
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6%
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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between control electrician and electrician helper 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

Electrician helper example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of outside contractors in installing and commissioning a 300HP VFD to environmental equipment to reduce downtime.
  • Terminate primary and secondary leads of transformers.
  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Install, bend and cut PVC and EMT pipe for underground service and fire/alarm systems.
  • Perform and upgrade electrical installation such as transformers and electric panels and disconnects.
  • Wire breaker boxes, make taps in junction boxes and install fire alarms
  • Show more

Control electrician vs electrician helper skills

Common control electrician skills
  • PLC, 14%
  • Electrical Equipment, 11%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Ac Dc, 5%
  • Control Panels, 5%
  • Delta, 5%
Common electrician helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 33%
  • RUN Conduit, 16%
  • Receptacles, 10%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • EMT, 9%
  • Switches, 4%

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