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The differences between electricians and electrical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an electrical technician has an average salary of $55,215, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for an electrician include hand tools, electrical equipment and run conduit. The most important skills for an electrical technician are hand tools, PLC, and electrical equipment.
| Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,850 | $55,215 |
| Hourly rate | $23.49 | $26.55 |
| Growth rate | 7% | - |
| Number of jobs | 17,245 | 127,792 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
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.
Electricians and electrical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,850 | $55,215 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $73,000 | Between $37,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Virginia |
| Best paying company | PBF Energy | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrician and an electrical technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electricians' and electrical technicians' demographics:
| Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 8% |