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The differences between electrician helpers and maintenance 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 electrician helper and a maintenance electrician. Additionally, a maintenance electrician has an average salary of $62,112, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.
The top three skills for an electrician helper include hand tools, run conduit and receptacles. The most important skills for a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
| Electrician Helper | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,733 | $62,112 |
| Hourly rate | $17.66 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 27,886 | 92,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An electrician helper is responsible for performing electrical maintenance duties under the supervision of a senior electrician. Electrician helpers conduct electrical and system installations, following protocols for the safeness of the process and components. They also inspect electrical tools and equipment before use, request supplies, and ensure the adequacy of materials during electrical operations. An electrician helper must have comprehensive knowledge of the electrical industry, be a fast learner, and have excellent time-management skills, especially when following instructions from the senior electrician on making the project successful.
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.
Electrician helpers and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrician Helper | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $36,733 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $47,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Exelon | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrician helper and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Electrician Helper | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electrician helpers' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Electrician Helper | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 3% | 3% |