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Plumber vs apprentice electrician

The differences between plumbers and apprentices electrician can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a plumber, becoming an apprentice electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a plumber has an average salary of $55,337, which is higher than the $38,799 average annual salary of an apprentice electrician.

The top three skills for a plumber include plumbing, hand tools and plumbers. The most important skills for an apprentice electrician are hand tools, run conduit, and EMT.

Plumber vs apprentice electrician overview

PlumberApprentice Electrician
Yearly salary$55,337$38,799
Hourly rate$26.60$18.65
Growth rate2%7%
Number of jobs12,30721,335
Job satisfaction4.4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 44%
Average age4242
Years of experience412

What does a plumber do?

Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.

What does an apprentice electrician do?

An Apprentice Electrician is responsible for conducting electrical repairs and faults under the supervision and guidelines of a Master Electrician. The duties of an Apprentice will vary while still under training; however, it will mostly revolve around assisting the Master Electrician or carrying out given tasks. Furthermore, an Apprentice Electrician may be responsible for clearing out sites, carrying or loading materials, procuring required supplies, understanding and interpreting various types of blueprints, handling wiring systems, and coordinating with multiple workers, even including the clients.

Plumber vs apprentice electrician salary

Plumbers and apprentices electrician have different pay scales, as shown below.

PlumberApprentice Electrician
Average salary$55,337$38,799
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $84,000Between $28,000 And $52,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WALos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateOregonHawaii
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictDell
Best paying industryFinanceConstruction

Differences between plumber and apprentice electrician education

There are a few differences between a plumber and an apprentice electrician in terms of educational background:

PlumberApprentice Electrician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 44%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Plumber vs apprentice electrician demographics

Here are the differences between plumbers' and apprentices electrician' demographics:

PlumberApprentice Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 96.5% Female, 3.5%Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage2%3%

Differences between plumber and apprentice electrician duties and responsibilities

Plumber example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage less experience plumbers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Replace old copper and cast iron plumbing, install PEX water lines, CPVC lines and PVC lines.
  • Learned how to read blueprints, use plumbing math and read sub/spec data.
  • Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using various techniques, including caulking, soldering, and brazing.
  • Install, repair and maintain plumbing systems and components including toilets, urinals, faucets, hose bibs drains, etc.
  • Dig trenches for new pipeline.
  • Show more

Apprentice electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Experience with underground installations and installing PVC, EMT, MC, wire pulling, trimming, device and panel makeup.
  • Pull cables on main tray from PLC to junction boxes, including motor control center to motors and on/off switches.
  • Perform grind up industrial electrical construction, running above grind EMT and rigid conduit, underground PVC conduit and pulling wire.
  • Copper & brass fitting & brazing.
  • Weather seal and caulking, around glass panes interior and exterior of buildings.
  • Show more

Plumber vs apprentice electrician skills

Common plumber skills
  • Plumbing, 23%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Plumbers, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Cast Iron, 4%
  • Pipe Systems, 4%
Common apprentice electrician skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • RUN Conduit, 12%
  • EMT, 7%
  • Electrical Systems, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Electrical Components, 5%

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