Electrician Vs. Plumber

Electrician

• Electricians are responsible for installing the wiring and power systems for buildings, which provide electricity to power lighting, appliances and other electronics. They also fix any wiring issues, upgrade out-of-date wiring systems and repair any electrical-related problems, such as a plug, light switch or light fixture.

Plumber

• Like an electrician, a plumber is another extremely important factor in maintaining a building. The plumber installs, repairs and maintains various types of plumbing, including the pipework in a building as well as sinks, faucets, showers, bath tubs and drains. This also includes maintaining waste disposals such as toilets and garbage disposals.

Education

• Plumbers receive their training through technical schools or through community college programs. However, a plumber can also receive his training via an administered apprenticeship, meaning they work together with a certified or qualified plumber to learn the tricks of the trade. An administered apprenticeship can take four to five years and also require a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction per year. Similarly, electricians may study in a secondary education program or through an apprenticeship. In addition, the electrician must complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these requirements may vary slightly from state to state, as per individual state regulations or guidelines.

Qualifications

• Simply attending school or an apprenticeship does not guarantee entry into the field. Electrical contractors who work for the public must pass a test and be granted a special license as administered by their individual state. Master electricians often are required to have a minimum of seven years experience or a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Currently, there are no national licensing requirements for plumbers. However, most states and individual cities, towns and small communities require plumbers to have their local license. To become licensed, the plumber must pass whatever administered test is required by their local and in some cases, must have anywhere from two to five years of experience.

Life Long Learning

• Entering into the field as an electrician means lifelong learning. Simply put, an electrician must regularly attend classes to learn updates on electrical codes in the United States or their individual state. This allows them to ensure the work they perform in homes and other buildings stay up to code. For a plumber, life long learning can benefit them in staying up to date with plumbing codes and restrictions, though this may need to be done on their own.

Pay Scale

• Once all training has been completed and the electrician has passed all required state tests, the pay scale can vary with opportunity for growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with less experience can expect to start out for as little as approximately $13 an hour as of 2010, with room for growth in their hourly wage up to nearly $30 an hour. The inexperienced plumber can earn expect to earn around $13 and with experience, can earn more than $37 an hour at the peak of his career.