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The differences between service electricians and 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 service electrician and an electrician. Additionally, a service electrician has an average salary of $57,731, which is higher than the $48,850 average annual salary of an electrician.
The top three skills for a service electrician include customer service, ladders and electrical systems. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
A service electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems and equipment in commercial and residential areas. They typically meet with clients to identify and understand their needs, perform installations and inspections, troubleshoot problems, replace or fix wirings, and perform regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency and client safety. Most service electricians work as an independent contractor, although there are instances where they work with a team of other electricians and specialists. Moreover, they must build positive relationships with clients for a strong client base.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Service electricians and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Electrician | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $57,731 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edison, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Tesla | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a service electrician and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Service Electrician | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service electricians' and electricians' demographics:
| Service Electrician | Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |