I am undecided whether I want to become a Electrical Engineer or a Master Electrician. I know that Master Electricians can start their own business (Contractor) or take responsibility on a project. Electrical Engineers are the ones who design electrical equipment and that design the electrical projects. I am just curious of which career would have more opportunity to make more salary. I also would like to know if an Electrical Engineer can also be a contractor like the Masters electricians. Country: USA
I've been fortunate enough to be on both sides of this fence and I will say being an EE is the way to go. To become a Master Electrician you will have to go through first becoming a Journeyman Electrician. This usually requires a minimum of 4 years of work without an Associates degree, 2 years of work experience with an Associates degree or 1 year of experience with a BSEE. Then after you have had your Journeymans license for a year you can then take the test to become a Master Electrician. Thats how its done in my state, yours may be different. With any of them though you just can't come straight out of school and be a Master Electrician. I started out life wanting to be an electrician and got my Associates degree in Electrical Technology to do so. I worked as an electrician for 2 years before I went back to school and got my BSEE. Both are respectable jobs but I really like my engineering job a lot more, my back likes it a lot more too. Personally my starting salary as an EE was more than was paid to the Master Electricians at the first electrical contractor I worked for. Remember though, money isn't everything!
you beter to become a Electrical Engineer haveing knoldeg of Master Electricians can design the electrical projects.
If you are a hard working that like long hours Master electricians can make $300,000 and up ,,if you are a good business man and are willing to take risks but the same can be said for anyone that opens a business, restaurant, bakery real estate,, It is the business part that gets you the money not the electrician part But from what i have heard EE get to $100,000 with much less work If you want to say safe and only work 40 hrs per week Electricians make like$50,000
