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The differences between electricians and master 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 and a master electrician. Additionally, a master electrician has an average salary of $52,154, 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 master electrician are electrical equipment, electrical systems, and switches.
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 Master Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in private homes or commercial properties. They also supervise the work performed by journeymen, ensure proper staffing, and monitor the quality, as well as prepare and submit work documentation.
Electricians and master electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Average salary | $48,850 | $52,154 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $73,000 | Between $31,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Vermont |
| Best paying company | PBF Energy | Allegro MicroSystems |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrician and a master electrician in terms of educational background:
| Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between electricians' and master electricians' demographics:
| Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |