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The differences between plant electricians and electrician technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $57,813 average annual salary of an electrician technician.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an electrician technician are PLC, hand tools, and electrical systems.
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.
The main duties of an electrical technician involve the assembly, evaluation, testing, and maintenance of electronic or electrical wiring and equipment. Sometimes, electrical technicians can take the role of electrical engineers or electricians. They may perform the duties of residential, telecommunications, and inside electricians. They may also work on-site for the efficient functionality of specialty equipment and machinery. The technicians are expected to have mechanical aptitude, reading comprehension, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills.
Plant electricians and electrician technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Technician | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $57,813 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $42,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Atwater, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | Nabors Industries |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and an electrician technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and electrician technicians' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Electrician Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |