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Control electrician vs journeyman electrician

The differences between control electricians and journeyman 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 a journeyman electrician. Additionally, a control electrician has an average salary of $59,247, which is higher than the $54,526 average annual salary of a journeyman electrician.

The top three skills for a control electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for a journeyman electrician are hand tools, electrical systems, and EMT.

Control electrician vs journeyman electrician overview

Control ElectricianJourneyman Electrician
Yearly salary$59,247$54,526
Hourly rate$28.48$26.21
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs46,94918,411
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 34%
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 a journeyman electrician do?

A journeyman electrician is responsible for performing various electrical tasks such as installation, repair, and maintenance. They have the freedom to provide services as part of a company or as an independent worker. Unlike an apprentice, a journeyman can work without any supervision from a master electrician. Furthermore, a journeyman electrician also has the responsibility to discuss the extent of repairs and explain to clients how to take better care of their appliances and electrical systems. A journeyman will also obtain the necessary supplies for a task and even train apprentices.

Control electrician vs journeyman electrician salary

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

Control ElectricianJourneyman Electrician
Average salary$59,247$54,526
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $81,000Between $35,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-MDU Resources
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between control electrician and journeyman electrician education

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

Control ElectricianJourneyman Electrician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 34%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Control electrician vs journeyman electrician demographics

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

Control ElectricianJourneyman Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 96.1% Female, 3.9%
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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between control electrician and journeyman 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

Journeyman electrician example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to retrofit outdate piece of CNC machinery to allow usage for production personnel on a new design part.
  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Rewire, install and perform preventative maintenance on electrical panels, switches and distribution systems.
  • Work on various PLC's, Allen-Bradley, GE, Omron, and Siemens.
  • Install electrical construction with in mall buildings, wiring lighting, bending EMT conduit, pulling wiring for new circuits.
  • Measure, cut, bend, thread, assemble and install electrical conduit, including EMT, rigid and PVC pipe.
  • Show more

Control electrician vs journeyman electrician skills

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

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