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Electrical journeyman vs master electrician

The differences between electrical journeymen and master electricians 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 a master electrician. Additionally, an electrical journeyman has an average salary of $61,940, which is higher than the $52,154 average annual salary of a master electrician.

The top three skills for an electrical journeyman include switches, hand tools and EMT. The most important skills for a master electrician are electrical equipment, electrical systems, and switches.

Electrical journeyman vs master electrician overview

Electrical JourneymanMaster Electrician
Yearly salary$61,940$52,154
Hourly rate$29.78$25.07
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs39,89826,377
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
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 a master electrician do?

A Master Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in private homes or commercial properties. They also supervise the work performed by journeymen, ensure proper staffing, and monitor the quality, as well as prepare and submit work documentation.

Electrical journeyman vs master electrician salary

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

Electrical JourneymanMaster Electrician
Average salary$61,940$52,154
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $87,000Between $31,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityBellingham, WAMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateWashingtonVermont
Best paying companyConstellation Energy PartnersAllegro MicroSystems
Best paying industryConstructionEnergy

Differences between electrical journeyman and master electrician education

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

Electrical JourneymanMaster Electrician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Electrical journeyman vs master electrician demographics

Here are the differences between electrical journeymen' and master electricians' demographics:

Electrical JourneymanMaster Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 96.2% Female, 3.8%Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7%
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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between electrical journeyman and master electrician 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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Master electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Experience with PLC (e.g., industrial maintenance, computer control systems, etc .).
  • Experience in installing and maintaining motors, welding equipment, lighting fixtures, generators, circuit breakers, and transformers.
  • Snake wires through PVC, conduits, walls.
  • Work under company safety policies and maintain OSHA safe facilities.
  • Repair failures of substation breakers, transformers, and other equipment.
  • Show more

Electrical journeyman vs master electrician skills

Common electrical journeyman skills
  • Switches, 16%
  • Hand Tools, 14%
  • EMT, 9%
  • Circuit Breakers, 6%
  • Electrical Equipment, 4%
  • NEC, 4%
Common master electrician skills
  • Electrical Equipment, 8%
  • Electrical Systems, 8%
  • Switches, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Transformers, 5%
  • NEC, 5%

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