Post job

Substation electrician vs industrial electrician

The differences between substation electricians and industrial 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 substation electrician and an industrial electrician. Additionally, a substation electrician has an average salary of $67,906, which is higher than the $62,533 average annual salary of an industrial electrician.

The top three skills for a substation electrician include CDL, transformers and circuit breakers. The most important skills for an industrial electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and ac.

Substation electrician vs industrial electrician overview

Substation ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Yearly salary$67,906$62,533
Hourly rate$32.65$30.06
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs16,82423,963
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 38%Associate Degree, 42%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does a substation electrician do?

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.

What does an industrial electrician do?

An Industrial Electrician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in industrial facilities. They are usually part of a construction team to put in and check new equipment and systems.

Substation electrician vs industrial electrician salary

Substation electricians and industrial electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substation ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Average salary$67,906$62,533
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $98,000Between $47,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City-Saint Paul, MN
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-The Washington Post
Best paying industry-Automotive

Differences between substation electrician and industrial electrician education

There are a few differences between a substation electrician and an industrial electrician in terms of educational background:

Substation ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 38%Associate Degree, 42%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Substation electrician vs industrial electrician demographics

Here are the differences between substation electricians' and industrial electricians' demographics:

Substation ElectricianIndustrial Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 92.5% Female, 7.5%Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 2.2% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between substation electrician and industrial electrician duties and responsibilities

Substation electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Work include making connections from switches to structures to grid.
  • Perform Doble field testing and infrare thermography viewing on EHV equipment.
  • Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.
  • Measure and read DMM, Meggers, micrometers and thickness gauges using electrical and mechanical testing instruments.
  • Assist in electrical tests, TTR, Doble, core megger and resistance for transformer testing, etc.
  • Show more

Industrial electrician example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to retrofit outdate piece of CNC machinery to allow usage for production personnel on a new design part.
  • Install electrical services ranging from 480 volts ac to 24 volts dc.
  • Include the installation of EMT and rigid conduit for branch circuits, fire alarm systems and motor control circuits.
  • Job responsibilities include running conduit wiring transformers and terminating PLC cabinets.
  • Work with voltages ranging from 24 vdc to 2300 vac.
  • Maintain both A/C and D/C main power generation systems.
  • Show more

Substation electrician vs industrial electrician skills

Common substation electrician skills
  • CDL, 11%
  • Transformers, 11%
  • Circuit Breakers, 9%
  • Switches, 7%
  • Substation Equipment, 6%
  • Cranes, 5%
Common industrial electrician skills
  • Electrical Equipment, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Ac, 4%
  • Dc, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 4%
  • Industrial Maintenance, 4%

Browse construction and extraction jobs