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The differences between plant electricians and electrician helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a plant electrician and an electrician helper. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an electrician helper are hand tools, run conduit, and receptacles.
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 electrician helper is responsible for performing electrical maintenance duties under the supervision of a senior electrician. Electrician helpers conduct electrical and system installations, following protocols for the safeness of the process and components. They also inspect electrical tools and equipment before use, request supplies, and ensure the adequacy of materials during electrical operations. An electrician helper must have comprehensive knowledge of the electrical industry, be a fast learner, and have excellent time-management skills, especially when following instructions from the senior electrician on making the project successful.
Plant electricians and electrician helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $36,733 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $28,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | Exelon |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and an electrician helper in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and electrician helpers' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |