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The differences between low voltage electricians and apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a low voltage electrician and an apprentice. Additionally, a low voltage electrician has an average salary of $52,209, which is higher than the $37,107 average annual salary of an apprentice.
The top three skills for a low voltage electrician include hand tools, electrical equipment and ladders. The most important skills for an apprentice are PET, customer service, and basic math.
| Low Voltage Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $52,209 | $37,107 |
| Hourly rate | $25.10 | $17.84 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 17,589 | 13,014 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A low voltage electrician is a person who installs, repairs, upgrades, and troubleshoots the low voltage electrical systems usually seen in commercial and residential buildings. This type of electrician is in demand due to the number of residents and business owners who need low voltage electrician services. Proper electrical wiring is crucial for a building's safety. People like electricians are essential workers required by a lot of residential owners and entrepreneurs.
An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures. An apprentice must be detail-oriented, fast-learner, and enthusiastic. An apprentice should also know how to accept constructive criticisms and feedback to improve performance and skill development.
Low voltage electricians and apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Low Voltage Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $52,209 | $37,107 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $75,000 | Between $26,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Worcester, MA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Western Area Power Administration | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a low voltage electrician and an apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Low Voltage Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between low voltage electricians' and apprentices' demographics:
| Low Voltage Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |