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The differences between control electricians and maintenance 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 maintenance electrician. Additionally, a maintenance electrician has an average salary of $62,112, 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 a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
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.
A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises. They also analyze schematics and blueprints for electrical line placements and running diagnostic tests to identify possible defects for immediate resolution. A maintenance electrician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical industry, especially on recording maintenance reports and solutions.
Control electricians and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Control Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $59,247 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $81,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a control electrician and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Control Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between control electricians' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Control Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |