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The differences between mechanics and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a mechanic, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $47,149 average annual salary of a mechanic.
The top three skills for a mechanic include hand tools, preventive maintenance and customer service. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,149 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $22.67 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 100,534 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.25 | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.
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.
Mechanics and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $47,149 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $63,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Anheuser-Busch | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a mechanic and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between mechanics' and electricians' demographics:
| Mechanic | Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |