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The differences between electricians and journeymen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an electrician, becoming a journeyman takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a journeyman has an average salary of $57,682, 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 a journeyman are hand tools, work ethic, and HVAC.
| Electrician | Journeyman | |
| Yearly salary | $48,850 | $57,682 |
| Hourly rate | $23.49 | $27.73 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 17,245 | 13,953 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.86 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
A journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around performing manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical tasks, and other forms of trade. Furthermore, a journeyman can choose whether to work independently or to be part of a business entity. They can also recruit and train an apprentice, or even pursue to become a master in their preferred field.
Electricians and journeymen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrician | Journeyman | |
| Average salary | $48,850 | $57,682 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $73,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | PBF Energy | CVR Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Construction |
There are a few differences between an electrician and a journeyman in terms of educational background:
| Electrician | Journeyman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electricians' and journeymen' demographics:
| Electrician | Journeyman | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% |
| 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, 7.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 2% |