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The differences between electrical technicians and electrical maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an electrical maintenance technician has an average salary of $59,898, which is higher than the $55,215 average annual salary of an electrical technician.
The top three skills for an electrical technician include hand tools, PLC and electrical equipment. The most important skills for an electrical maintenance technician are electrical equipment, ac dc, and industrial maintenance.
| Electrical Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $55,215 | $59,898 |
| Hourly rate | $26.55 | $28.80 |
| Growth rate | - | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 127,792 | 206,538 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
An electrical technician is responsible for managing the electrical systems of an establishment, ensuring the safety of the network and cables to support daily operations. Electrical technicians analyze schematics and specifications to construct electrical systems, run diagnostic tests, and perform repairs for any defects and inconsistencies. They assemble electrical equipment, replace malfunctioning components, upgrading systems, and advising management of high-quality electrical supplies. An electrical technician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical and mechanical industry, especially with supervising electricians on their duties, as well as responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
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 technicians and electrical maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $55,215 | $59,898 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $80,000 | Between $47,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Texas Instruments | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an electrical technician and an electrical maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electrical technicians' and electrical maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Technician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% | 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% |