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The differences between plant electricians and master 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 master electrician. Additionally, a plant electrician has an average salary of $62,953, which is higher than the $52,154 average annual salary of a master electrician.
The top three skills for a plant electrician include PLC, electrical equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for a master electrician are electrical equipment, electrical systems, and switches.
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 Master Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in private homes or commercial properties. They also supervise the work performed by journeymen, ensure proper staffing, and monitor the quality, as well as prepare and submit work documentation.
Plant electricians and master electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Average salary | $62,953 | $52,154 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $83,000 | Between $31,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Ford Motor | Allegro MicroSystems |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant electrician and a master electrician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant electricians' and master electricians' demographics:
| Plant Electrician | Master Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% | Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |