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The differences between residential electricians and licensed 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 residential electrician and a licensed electrician. Additionally, a residential electrician has an average salary of $60,514, which is higher than the $56,328 average annual salary of a licensed electrician.
The top three skills for a residential electrician include work ethic, hand tools and electrical equipment. The most important skills for a licensed electrician are electrical equipment, ladders, and NEC.
Residential Electricians are skilled tradespersons responsible for inspecting, repairing, installing, and maintaining wiring and electrical systems in residential buildings. Their duties include interpreting blueprints and technical drawings, examining electrical components, diagnosing electrical systems and wiring problems as well as installing new wiring and electrical components. Besides that, they also ensure that electrical systems are installed to adhere to local and national directives. They must know about utilizing devices to detect electrical problems. Residential electricians assist in training workers in inspection, repairing, and installation work.
A licensed electrician is responsible for operating electrical equipment and installing power systems to establishments, private households, and other industrial and commercial areas. Licensed electricians assemble complex wiring and electrical cables, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of mechanical schematics and blueprints. They conduct regular maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety and stability of the systems to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. A licensed electrician must have excellent mechanical and organizational skills, especially in following strict protocols and safety procedures during operations.
Residential electricians and licensed electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Electrician | Licensed Electrician | |
| Average salary | $60,514 | $56,328 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $90,000 | Between $37,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Constellation Energy Partners | Community Health Systems |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a residential electrician and a licensed electrician in terms of educational background:
| Residential Electrician | Licensed Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between residential electricians' and licensed electricians' demographics:
| Residential Electrician | Licensed Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 2.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |