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The differences between wind turbine technicians and electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a wind turbine technician, becoming an electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an electrician has an average salary of $48,850, which is higher than the $42,387 average annual salary of a wind turbine technician.
The top three skills for a wind turbine technician include LOTO, CPR and perform routine maintenance. The most important skills for an electrician are hand tools, electrical equipment, and run conduit.
| Wind Turbine Technician | Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,387 | $48,850 |
| Hourly rate | $20.38 | $23.49 |
| Growth rate | 44% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 24,677 | 17,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.86 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A wind turbine technician specializes in installing and repairing wind turbine machines or systems. They typically conduct an initial assessment and troubleshoot to identify the root of any issues, perform corrective measures, and replace parts when necessary. They also perform regular maintenance checks and tests to ensure the efficiency of wind turbines and people's safety. Furthermore, as a wind turbine electrician, it is essential to devise strategies on how to maintain machines in good condition, providing technical support to clients as needed.
An electrician is a skilled tradesman in charge of wirings and systems which provide electric power to a facility. They are trained to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring systems. There are four basic types of an electrician - residential wiremen, inside wiremen, telecommunications electrician, and outside linemen. Some work on a standard 40-hour week shift while others are on-call duty. In some cases, traveling is also a vital key to their role where they would work for a few days before moving to another location.
Wind turbine technicians and electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wind Turbine Technician | Electrician | |
| Average salary | $42,387 | $48,850 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $64,000 | Between $32,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a wind turbine technician and an electrician in terms of educational background:
| Wind Turbine Technician | Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | - |
Here are the differences between wind turbine technicians' and electricians' demographics:
| Wind Turbine Technician | Electrician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 3.0% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 3% |