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The differences between substation electricians and maintenance 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 a maintenance electrician. Additionally, a substation electrician has an average salary of $67,906, which is higher than the $62,112 average annual salary of a maintenance electrician.
The top three skills for a substation electrician include CDL, transformers and circuit breakers. The most important skills for a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
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.
A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises. They also analyze schematics and blueprints for electrical line placements and running diagnostic tests to identify possible defects for immediate resolution. A maintenance electrician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical industry, especially on recording maintenance reports and solutions.
Substation electricians and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substation Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $67,906 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $98,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a substation electrician and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Substation Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between substation electricians' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Substation Electrician | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |