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The differences between plant electricians and journeyman electricians 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 a journeyman electrician. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $54,526 average annual salary of a journeyman electrician.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for a journeyman electrician are hand tools, electrical systems, and EMT.
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.
A journeyman electrician is responsible for performing various electrical tasks such as installation, repair, and maintenance. They have the freedom to provide services as part of a company or as an independent worker. Unlike an apprentice, a journeyman can work without any supervision from a master electrician. Furthermore, a journeyman electrician also has the responsibility to discuss the extent of repairs and explain to clients how to take better care of their appliances and electrical systems. A journeyman will also obtain the necessary supplies for a task and even train apprentices.
Plant electricians and journeyman electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Journeyman Electrician | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $54,526 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $35,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | MDU Resources |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and a journeyman electrician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Journeyman Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and journeyman electricians' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Journeyman Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 96.1% Female, 3.9% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |