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The differences between electrical controls technicians and electrical mechanical 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 mechanical technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical controls technician has an average salary of $61,087, which is higher than the $53,363 average annual salary of an electrical mechanical technician.
The top three skills for an electrical controls technician include PLC, allen-bradley and electrical equipment. The most important skills for an electrical mechanical technician are hand tools, control systems, and preventive maintenance.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Mechanical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $61,087 | $53,363 |
| Hourly rate | $29.37 | $25.66 |
| Growth rate | - | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 42,521 | 120,534 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
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 and mechanical technician specializes in the installation and maintenance of electrical systems and mechanical equipment. They may work in various industries, and they can also work as an independent contractor who provides technical services to homes and establishments. Although the extent of their duties depends on their company or industry of employment, it usually includes conducting inspections to identify issues or needs, troubleshoot problems, replace or fix systems, clean particular areas, and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency.
Electrical controls technicians and electrical mechanical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Mechanical Technician | |
| Average salary | $61,087 | $53,363 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $81,000 | Between $40,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Bunge | OMNOVA Solutions |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls technician and an electrical mechanical technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Mechanical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electrical controls technicians' and electrical mechanical technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Mechanical Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |