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The differences between electrical inspectors and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an electrical inspector, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $43,943 average annual salary of an electrical inspector.
The top three skills for an electrical inspector include inspection reports, electrical equipment and electrical code. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Electrical Inspector | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,943 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $21.13 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 42,321 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
An electrical inspector ensures that an establishment's wiring and other electrical components are working properly and hazard free for those who will occupy the space. The tasks of being an electrical inspector include determining electrical hazards and checking if there are any uncovered permanent or if there are any outdated wiring. They test the safety switches and examine the power box, and test the place's lighting and source of power. Their responsibilities may involve the evaluation of the electrical service's level especially the DIY wiring and noting and testing of smoke alarm location. Also, they make sure that all electrical items in the area comply with government regulations.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Electrical inspectors and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Inspector | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $43,943 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hollister, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical inspector and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Inspector | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between electrical inspectors' and electricians' demographics:
| Electrical Inspector | Electrician | |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 3% |