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The differences between journeyman electricians and lead electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a journeyman electrician and a lead electrician. Additionally, a lead electrician has an average salary of $56,709, which is higher than the $54,526 average annual salary of a journeyman electrician.
The top three skills for a journeyman electrician include hand tools, electrical systems and EMT. The most important skills for a lead electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and electrical systems.
A journeyman electrician is responsible for performing various electrical tasks such as installation, repair, and maintenance. They have the freedom to provide services as part of a company or as an independent worker. Unlike an apprentice, a journeyman can work without any supervision from a master electrician. Furthermore, a journeyman electrician also has the responsibility to discuss the extent of repairs and explain to clients how to take better care of their appliances and electrical systems. A journeyman will also obtain the necessary supplies for a task and even train apprentices.
A Lead Electrician is the one who does the maintenance, inspection, and repair, and installation of needed equipment and other electric-related things. They are the one who supervises and monitors the job of the Electrician, plans and takes action to every happening and problem that they can encounter. They also do the planning of schedule and the process of conducting an equipment check-up and maintenance. Also, they need to be knowledgeable when it comes to repairing and installing needed material and equipment.
Journeyman electricians and lead electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Journeyman Electrician | Lead Electrician | |
| Average salary | $54,526 | $56,709 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $83,000 | Between $38,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Vermont |
| Best paying company | MDU Resources | Ameresco |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a journeyman electrician and a lead electrician in terms of educational background:
| Journeyman Electrician | Lead Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between journeyman electricians' and lead electricians' demographics:
| Journeyman Electrician | Lead Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.1% Female, 3.9% | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |