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The differences between electrical technicians and maintenance electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a maintenance electrician has an average salary of $62,112, 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 a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
| Electrical Technician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $55,215 | $62,112 |
| Hourly rate | $26.55 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 127,792 | 92,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises. They also analyze schematics and blueprints for electrical line placements and running diagnostic tests to identify possible defects for immediate resolution. A maintenance electrician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical industry, especially on recording maintenance reports and solutions.
Electrical technicians and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Technician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $55,215 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $80,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Texas Instruments | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical technician and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Technician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electrical technicians' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Electrical Technician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 3% |