Electrician or electrical engineer

[Maddison]

Where I'm working at the moment there are lots of " engineers ". All nice shiny iPads taking photos of work thats been carried out. nice clean shirts. and trousers up to their shoulders. Just generally think they are above the tradesmen on this site because they have a " degree ". Ohh and just to finish my rant the sparkies earn about $50.000 a year more than the engineers so the grass isn't always greener if your not time served in my opinion .

 

[Benefc123]

Thanks for the replies . I don't really want to get into the design side of it. I am interested in building and maintenance of the components like a electrical technician. What's the wage prospects of a technician and how would I be able to get the full electricians certificates

 

[Engineer54]

Where I'm working at the moment there are lots of " engineers ". All nice shiny iPads taking photos of work thats been carried out. nice clean shirts. and trousers up to their shoulders. Just generally think they are above the tradesmen on this site because they have a " degree ". Ohh and just to finish my rant the sparkies earn about $50.000 a year more than the engineers so the grass isn't always greener if your not time served in my opinion .

Heard all this sort of rubbish before!! So what sort of hours are these sparkies having to put in, to earn this extra $50K a year then, over and above the Engineers 9 to 5 / 5 days a week??

 

[Knobhead]

With high income comes high stress or nervous exhaustion. Take my word, neither are worth it.

Guess why I retired early?

 

[Silly Sausage]

Au contraire, I've generally found the complete opposite!

 

[ackbarthestar]

Hi I'm 17 and currently at college studying a level 2 qualifaction in electrical installation which I am enjoying . However I have an interview for a company who repair Industrial pcb's ,controls and drivers I was just wondering what is the best way to go should I look for electrical engineering apprenticeships or look for electricans and installation apprenticeships. I enjoy both electronics and the installation side but which is the best career. What are the pros and cons for both jobs and could I get still get an electricians qualifactions if I choosen the engineering side. Obviously you get a trade for life with being an electrcian

I've read the other answers and added a little piquancy of my own, albeit as an aside....

But they haven't got to the crux..

Engineering as a profession starts as a hands on understanding and continues for the rest of your life, as an exploration of materials and the art of practical physics, maths and Chemistry.

Some of the most entertaining Engineers spend their time building, experimenting, developing new ideas and grasping why accepted ideas exist.
The thoughts are always there in their boiler suits - and they are the best electricians, gas fitters, HVAc guys I've ever met.

If you have to turn up for a presentation one evening in someone else's Ferrari the next day you are in your work gear building a machine to prove a point the next day.

You can also roll in the muller, but the ideas have to be yours and patented.....

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

May have been answered but short on time so can't read all replies sorry.

When I was starting my apprenticeship I had same dilemma but was advised a good electrical engineer can become an electrician but it isn't do easy vise versa

After going down the engineering route I see why and it's true in my opinion anyway.

I learnt so much more in an engineering environment drilling, tapping, bits if welding, control systems, metals, pipe work and HVAC stuff. It is so much more diverse in an engineering job than doing houses all day.