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The differences between heavy equipment operators and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a heavy equipment operator, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $39,822 average annual salary of a heavy equipment operator.
The top three skills for a heavy equipment operator include loaders, backhoe and CDL. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,822 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $19.15 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 47,261 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.6 | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Heavy equipment operators are skilled workers who are trained to handle heavy equipment. They are usually in the construction industry. Some of the equipment they operate are forklifts, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, excavation machines, and mixer trucks. Heavy equipment operators are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of their equipment and are expected to be able to do basic repair and maintenance. They should also be able to recommend more complex repairs and maintenance work needed. Heavy equipment operators must adhere to health and safety protocols at all times.
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.
Heavy equipment operators and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $39,822 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $57,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Moody's | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a heavy equipment operator and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy equipment operators' and electricians' demographics:
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Electrician | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 0.9% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 3% |