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The differences between electrical controls technicians and electrical maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an electrical controls technician, becoming an electrical maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an electrical controls technician has an average salary of $61,087, which is higher than the $59,898 average annual salary of an electrical maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an electrical controls technician include PLC, allen-bradley and electrical equipment. The most important skills for an electrical maintenance technician are electrical equipment, ac dc, and industrial maintenance.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $61,087 | $59,898 |
| Hourly rate | $29.37 | $28.80 |
| Growth rate | - | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 42,521 | 206,538 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
Electrical control technicians usually assist with running equipment such as those in amusement parks and carnivals. They can also repair equipment and are responsible for maintaining robotic machinery used by factories and plants for continuity of work and production. They can also install electrical wirings, troubleshoot minor glitches, and maintain good machine performance. With enough skills, they can shut down faulty wiring without interrupting other operations. They keep records of previous malfunctions and advise on the replacement of equipment.
An electrical maintenance technician is primarily in charge of installing and repairing electrical systems. Their responsibilities often revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, examining electrical damages or defects on houses or establishments, troubleshooting, and performing fixes and replacements as needed. Aside from providing technical support, an electrical maintenance technician may also train junior technicians and monitor their progress. Furthermore, in a company setting, one must conduct regular maintenance checks on electrical systems to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
Electrical controls technicians and electrical maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $61,087 | $59,898 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $81,000 | Between $47,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls technician and an electrical maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | - |
Here are the differences between electrical controls technicians' and electrical maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 4.6% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |