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The differences between pipe fitters and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pipe fitter has an average salary of $51,055, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for a pipe fitter include carbon steel, hand tools and safety procedures. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
A pipefitter specializes in pipe systems. They are mostly responsible for cutting, assembling, installing, and maintaining the pipes' condition within homes or establishments. There are also instances when a pipe fitter has to visit sites, investigate problems, and conduct tests and repairs when necessary. Most pipefitters work in a group setting and are required to communicate and coordinate with co-workers, all while adhering to a company's standards and safety policies.
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.
Pipe fitters and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pipe Fitter | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $51,055 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Spangler Candy | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a pipe fitter and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Pipe Fitter | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pipe fitters' and electricians' demographics:
| Pipe Fitter | Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |