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Electrical journeyman vs apprentice

The differences between electrical journeymen and apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an electrical journeyman and an apprentice. Additionally, an electrical journeyman has an average salary of $61,940, which is higher than the $37,107 average annual salary of an apprentice.

The top three skills for an electrical journeyman include switches, hand tools and EMT. The most important skills for an apprentice are PET, customer service, and basic math.

Electrical journeyman vs apprentice overview

Electrical JourneymanApprentice
Yearly salary$61,940$37,107
Hourly rate$29.78$17.84
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs39,89813,014
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does an electrical journeyman do?

Electrical journeymen have the primary responsibility of installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical equipment. They provide their services directly to customers, explaining the extent of the equipment damage and explaining the equipment's proper usage and correct cleaning. They can also train an apprentice who aspires to be a future electrician too. A journeyman may monitor supply count, record inventories, order missing, essential supplies, and make sure the supply is safe to use.

What does an apprentice do?

An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures. An apprentice must be detail-oriented, fast-learner, and enthusiastic. An apprentice should also know how to accept constructive criticisms and feedback to improve performance and skill development.

Electrical journeyman vs apprentice salary

Electrical journeymen and apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical JourneymanApprentice
Average salary$61,940$37,107
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $87,000Between $26,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBellingham, WAWorcester, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyConstellation Energy PartnersMid-South Management
Best paying industryConstructionTransportation

Differences between electrical journeyman and apprentice education

There are a few differences between an electrical journeyman and an apprentice in terms of educational background:

Electrical JourneymanApprentice
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyBusiness
Most common college--

Electrical journeyman vs apprentice demographics

Here are the differences between electrical journeymen' and apprentices' demographics:

Electrical JourneymanApprentice
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 96.2% Female, 3.8%Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between electrical journeyman and apprentice duties and responsibilities

Electrical journeyman example responsibilities.

  • Trouble shoot, diagnose and repair GE statax 3 dc and Siemens ac drive systems.
  • Can run PVC conduit as well as Os-Cal (rubber-coat) for wet installations.
  • Perform some maintenance, tuning, and calibrations on transmitters, control loops, and control valves.
  • Identify leaking hose on hydraulic test stand, avoid $20K EPA fine and secure readiness w/ repair.
  • Work include variable frequency drives, motor starters, controls cabinets, PLC terminations, control consoles and control panels.
  • Perform quality control inspections on contract commercial travel agencies, ensuring contractors stay in compliance of all DOD travel regulations.
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Apprentice example responsibilities.

  • Perform services include but not limit to plumbing, roofing, siding, painting, tiling, and electrical work.
  • Replace asphalt shingles, and other cold application roofs, and built-up roofs and apply caulking materials and membrane waterproofing.
  • Experience with EPDM & TPO single-ply membrane, fully adhere and mechanically fasten.
  • Assist journeyman with bending pipe (EMT, PVC & rigid), pulling and installing wire, and terminating panels
  • Locate and repair leaks in asphalt, asbestos, and slate shingles, tile and built-up roofs and single-ply membranes.
  • Install and repair electrical equipment such as circuit breakers, conduit systems, fixtures, wall sockets, plugs and switches.
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Electrical journeyman vs apprentice skills

Common electrical journeyman skills
  • Switches, 16%
  • Hand Tools, 14%
  • EMT, 9%
  • Circuit Breakers, 6%
  • Electrical Equipment, 4%
  • NEC, 4%
Common apprentice skills
  • PET, 43%
  • Customer Service, 28%
  • Basic Math, 6%
  • Apprenticeship, 4%
  • Safety Procedures, 3%
  • CPR, 1%

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