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Control electrician vs industrial electrician

The differences between control electricians and industrial electricians 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 industrial electrician. Additionally, an industrial electrician has an average salary of $62,533, which is higher than the $59,247 average annual salary of a control electrician.

The top three skills for a control electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an industrial electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and ac.

Control electrician vs industrial electrician overview

Control ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Yearly salary$59,247$62,533
Hourly rate$28.48$30.06
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs46,94923,963
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 42%
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 industrial electrician do?

An Industrial Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in industrial facilities. They are usually part of a construction team to put in and check new equipment and systems.

Control electrician vs industrial electrician salary

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

Control ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Average salary$59,247$62,533
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $81,000Between $47,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City-Saint Paul, MN
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-The Washington Post
Best paying industry-Automotive

Differences between control electrician and industrial electrician education

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

Control ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 42%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Control electrician vs industrial electrician demographics

Here are the differences between control electricians' and industrial electricians' demographics:

Control ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4%
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, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 2.2% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between control electrician and industrial 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

Industrial electrician example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to retrofit outdate piece of CNC machinery to allow usage for production personnel on a new design part.
  • Install electrical services ranging from 480 volts ac to 24 volts dc.
  • Include the installation of EMT and rigid conduit for branch circuits, fire alarm systems and motor control circuits.
  • Job responsibilities include running conduit wiring transformers and terminating PLC cabinets.
  • Work with voltages ranging from 24 vdc to 2300 vac.
  • Maintain both A/C and D/C main power generation systems.
  • Show more

Control electrician vs industrial electrician skills

Common control electrician skills
  • PLC, 14%
  • Electrical Equipment, 11%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Ac Dc, 5%
  • Control Panels, 5%
  • Delta, 5%
Common industrial electrician skills
  • Electrical Equipment, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Ac, 4%
  • Dc, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 4%
  • Industrial Maintenance, 4%

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