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The differences between substation technicians and instrument technician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a substation technician, becoming an instrument technician apprentice takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an instrument technician apprentice has an average salary of $39,849, which is higher than the $39,335 average annual salary of a substation technician.
The top three skills for a substation technician include hand tools, circuit breakers and substation equipment. The most important skills for an instrument technician apprentice are hand tools, customer satisfaction, and diagnosis.
| Substation Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $39,335 | $39,849 |
| Hourly rate | $18.91 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | -1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 44,872 | 130,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 37 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Substation technicians are electrical professionals who are responsible for performing routine maintenance and emergency repairs on electrical substations. These technicians must possess skills in using basic hand tools to install or replace defective parts while assembling or disassembling electrical equipment. They are required to make professional electrical wiring and other repairs to electrical systems so that they can ensure safety to residents and other employees. Substation technicians must also work outdoors to perform maintenance on high voltage equipment that is installed in high and confined areas.
An instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles. Furthermore, there are also instances where one may liaise with clients to discuss the extent of damage or repairs, building positive relationships in the process to secure a client base.
Substation technicians and instrument technician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substation Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $39,335 | $39,849 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a substation technician and an instrument technician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Substation Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | New Mexico State University | - |
Here are the differences between substation technicians' and instrument technician apprentices' demographics:
| Substation Technician | Instrument Technician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 37 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 3.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 8% |