Electrician vs Electrical Engineer - What’s the Difference?

Ever since the invention of the humble lightbulb in the late 1800s, our dependency on electricity has skyrocketed. Most businesses and households can’t function without it, and as a result, it’s one of the most in-demand trades.

If you’re fresh into the electrical trades and are looking to apply for an apprenticeship, get prepared with our interview questions for electrical apprentices:

Electricians and electrical engineers both work in the electrical sector and their roles are sometimes confused or used interchangeably. But they’re actually very different jobs – from training and education, to what they do day-to-day. 

Once you’ve compared electricians vs electrical engineers, take a look at your other options as well:

• Electrician vs Plumber
• Carpenter vs Plumber
• Carpenter vs Electrician
• Builders vs Electricians
• Joiner vs Carpenter

Short on time? Jump ahead:

1. Understanding the basics
2. A day in the life
3. Making a crust – your earning potential
4. Education requirements
5. Entering the electrical workforce – current demand
6. Two different roles with equally bright futures

1. Understanding the basics

Put simply, electrical engineers design and create things that need electricity to operate, and electricians are tasked with putting the designs into practice. 

Here are some of their typical responsibilities:

Electrician

• Wires residential houses and commercial buildings.
• Connects electrical systems to the power supply.
• Maintains electrical equipment in large industrial plants.
• Inspects and repairs existing wiring.

Electrical engineer

• Uses computer software to design plans for new products – anything from a household appliance to a large-scale power station.
• Oversees product manufacturing.
• Evaluates products to make sure they are operating properly.
• Maintains and manages electrical products and services.

2. Exploring a day in the life

Here’s a glimpse into the lives of electricians and electrical engineers — where they’re normally based, what they do, and the hours they spend on the job.

Electricians

Electricians’ days are often varied – no two days are the same in this trade! An electrician’s work is project-based, with some jobs taking only minutes or hours while larger projects can last weeks or months. A work van becomes a mobile office for an electrician, with time spent picking up equipment and travelling between jobs. Depending on the job, an electrician could be working indoors in an office or private home, or outdoors on a construction site. 

An electrician’s hours vary but typically reflect trades hours of 7 am to 3 pm. Overtime is usually available for those who want to boost their earnings.

Learn how to be a good electrician.

Electrical engineers

Electrical engineers are typically office or lab-based but might also visit production facilities to coordinate and oversee manufacturing. Generally, they’re employed by large companies across engineering services, manufacturing, telecommunications and research and development. 

An electrical engineer’s days are filled with office-based project management tasks. These include meeting with clients, figuring out budgets and coordinating project schedules.

Electrical engineers can expect to work a standard 40-hour week and typical office hours. There might be occasional overtime (if deadlines need to be met), but it’s not the norm.

3. Making a crust – your earning potential 

Jobs in the electrical sector often make headlines thanks to their above-average wages. Of course, different specialisations, locations and levels of experience can further increase your earning potential. 

Here’s what you can expect to earn depending on your region and experience:

Average salary for electricians

• US 🇺🇸 T electricians earn an average of $60,028 a year, which works out to about $28.86 an hour. Apprentices typically start at $48,750 a year, while experienced sparkies can make up to $83,043 annually.
• UK 🇬🇧 salaries vary across the country and depend on where you’re at in your career. If you’re an apprentice, the average annual salary sits around £15,000. This rises to an average of £33,000 once you’re fully qualified.
• AU 🇦🇺 apprentice electricians start on around $18 per hour but this goes to $46 per hour once you’ve done the hard yards and are fully qualified.
• NZ 🇳🇿 while completing your apprenticeship or in the early days of your career, you’ll typically start on a minimum wage of $16-$20. This will go up to $20-$23 an hour once qualified, and with decent experience under your belt, you can expect $24-$45 an hour.