The difference between truck driving and electrician as occupations are vast. It is almost hard to find the correlations between them, but there are some.
While one drives a truck, delivering freight across the city, state, country, or the world, the other works with electricity doing things such as wiring homes, making repairs when needed, and keeping the lights on. But there are things that the two occupations can say they have in common, as well.
Things that cannot be denied that these two jobs have in common are the facts that they pay well, you can be retired from either of them with a good retirement plan, and the training to acquire a position in another industry does not take as long as getting a multi-year degree. So, what exactly does it take to be one of these professions, and what are the main reasons someone might opt for one over another?
Education and Costs
Education and the cost of that education are factors to consider when you decide to become a truck driver on an electrician.
Truck Drivers
Going to truck driving school can cost anywhere from $0.00 up to $7,000 or more. For some companies, if you sign a contract to work for them for a minimum of one year, they will pay for your training through their certified school.
Companies who train drivers say that drivers will be in school learn to maneuver an 18-wheeler anywhere or adequately from four to six weeks. Once that time is over, most of the time, they will spend another two weeks to two months with an experienced driver before being allowed to drive on their own.
Electricians
The educational costs of becoming an electrician will depend on the route of training you opt for. A one to a two-year certificate or an associate’s degree can range from $1,000 to $13,000. An apprenticeship can run a couple of hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand,
The type of program one opts to go through to receive an education related to an electrician will vary widely, as well. If you go to a junior college and go through a certification program or get an associate’s degree, you can be finished in between one and two years.
However, if you opt to go through an apprenticeship, you must complete around 8.000 of training, and it usually takes four years to complete. An apprenticeship benefits you because you will get paid while training, so though it does take longer, it is not nearly as draining as other programs.
Pay Per Year
Salary is something to deeply consider when deciding between becoming a truck driver or an electrician.
Truck Drivers
On average, a trucker with no experience which is driving over the road can expect to make around $50,000 in their first year. This is salary alone and does not include any type of bonus or anything of that nature.
By the end of their career, provided they are still OTR drivers and not owner-operators, local or regional drivers, truckers can expect to make well over the $100,000 mark.
Electricians
The average new electrician can expect to make around $25,000 – $40,000 per year.
The price they are making per year will be determined whether they have a degree/certificate or if they are still a part of an apprenticeship. Obviously, apprentices will make less because they are still training.
At the ended of their career, a master electrician can expect to make between $55,000 to $90,000.
Retirement
This is an area that is going to vary based upon individuals primarily. While most trucking and electrical companies will help to invest in their employees’ retirements, it is ultimately up to the employee to also contribute to their retirement funds. It is also essential that they do not take money out of their retirement while still working.
While truck driving vs. electrician initially seem as if there is simply nothing between the two to compare. That is not the case. If you are trying to determine which of these two occupations will be the best for you and your lifestyle, several factors should be considered.
Conclusion
Before deciding which of these careers is going to right for you, you need to think about the cost of education for both, how long the education for both will take, how much you will be backing, and the retirement prospects of both.
Once all of these factors and others are considered, deciding the winner between truck driving and electricians will be a much easier choice to make. As with any life-altering decision, do your research to help determine the correct answer for you and your family.