Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between service electricians and service technicians 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 a service technician. Additionally, a service electrician has an average salary of $57,731, which is higher than the $40,379 average annual salary of a service technician.
The top three skills for a service electrician include customer service, ladders and electrical systems. The most important skills for a service technician are plumbing, customer service, and preventative maintenance.
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.
Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.
Service electricians and service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Electrician | Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $57,731 | $40,379 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $28,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edison, NJ | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Tesla | IBM |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a service electrician and a service technician in terms of educational background:
| Service Electrician | Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service electricians' and service technicians' demographics:
| Service Electrician | Service Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| 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, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 1% |