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The differences between substation electricians and apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a substation electrician and an apprentice. Additionally, a substation electrician has an average salary of $67,906, which is higher than the $37,107 average annual salary of an apprentice.
The top three skills for a substation electrician include CDL, transformers and circuit breakers. The most important skills for an apprentice are PET, customer service, and basic math.
A Substation Electrician installs control panels and wiring systems, performs emergency repairs and regular maintenance on electrical substations delivering energy to the surrounding buildings and houses. The professionals work hand-in-hand with engineers and architects to create the substation's plan and layout. After completing the blueprints, the Substation Electricians can construct and install electrical equipment and wiring cabinets. Other duties performed may include testing, calibrating, and maintaining relays. They also operate various devices and troubleshoot transformers' issues and provide the right solutions.
An apprentice is responsible for learning specialized tasks on their chosen field through actual job training under the supervision of tenured staff. An apprentice's duties include performing administrative tasks as needed, creating observation reports of daily operations, providing possible recommendations on improving productivity, and adhering to the business' safety standards and regulatory procedures. An apprentice must be detail-oriented, fast-learner, and enthusiastic. An apprentice should also know how to accept constructive criticisms and feedback to improve performance and skill development.
Substation electricians and apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substation Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $67,906 | $37,107 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $98,000 | Between $26,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Worcester, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a substation electrician and an apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Substation Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between substation electricians' and apprentices' demographics:
| Substation Electrician | Apprentice | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 2.2% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |