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The differences between plant electricians and electrical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $55,215 average annual salary of an electrical technician.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an electrical technician are hand tools, PLC, and electrical equipment.
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 technician is responsible for managing the electrical systems of an establishment, ensuring the safety of the network and cables to support daily operations. Electrical technicians analyze schematics and specifications to construct electrical systems, run diagnostic tests, and perform repairs for any defects and inconsistencies. They assemble electrical equipment, replace malfunctioning components, upgrading systems, and advising management of high-quality electrical supplies. An electrical technician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical and mechanical industry, especially with supervising electricians on their duties, as well as responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
Plant electricians and electrical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $55,215 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $37,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and an electrical technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and electrical technicians' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 8% |