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The differences between plant electricians and electrical maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a plant electrician, becoming an electrical maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $59,898 average annual salary of an electrical maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an electrical maintenance technician are electrical equipment, ac dc, and industrial maintenance.
Plant electricians are electrical professionals who are responsible for maintaining equipment used in production or to generate electricity in industrial plants and factories. These electricians are required to maintain electrical equipment while providing routine repairs on their electrical components to ensure proper performance. They must inspect the electrical systems and equipment throughout the plant to identify hazards and defects. Plant electricians must also implement maintenance programs that are used to test equipment and diagnose an isolated system malfunction.
An electrical maintenance technician is primarily in charge of installing and repairing electrical systems. Their responsibilities often revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, examining electrical damages or defects on houses or establishments, troubleshooting, and performing fixes and replacements as needed. Aside from providing technical support, an electrical maintenance technician may also train junior technicians and monitor their progress. Furthermore, in a company setting, one must conduct regular maintenance checks on electrical systems to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
Plant electricians and electrical maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $59,898 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $47,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and an electrical maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and electrical maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 4.6% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 2% |