Electrician or Mechanic: What’s Better?

Who earns more electricians or auto mechanics?

Surprisingly once qualified, the salary is very close, and you would assume the working conditions are also comparable in terms of working with other guys in open spaces.

The comparisons don’t stop with salary. Both professions are in demand even with more eclectic cars coming on to the market; most cars on the road in the UK are petrol or diesel.

Should I become a mechanic or electrician?

Both trades are manual and have a degree of physicality; you would have to decide where your interest lies, cars or electricity.

Working as an electrician is demanding and has some inherent dangers, such as the risk of electrocution and death.

The electrician works with his hands but also needs an amount of mental agility to overcome some of the problems he may face during the working day.

That’s not to degrade the auto mechanic, cars are complicated these days, and the auto mechanic almost has to be a computer engineer to understand how to use the diagnostic tools to solve issues on modern cars.

Both trades have job satisfaction, so it does come down to if you are a petrol head or a construction site person to which career you would choose.

What GCSE do you need to be a car mechanic?

Maths and English are the minimum requirements. A to C grades should be good enough for you to enrol on mechanics courses at the local technical college.

The more GCSEs you have, the better for you. Cars still fundamentally work the same as when they were invented. Still, technology and computer chips now control everything on your car, so you will need to learn the fundamentals of the internal combustion engine and how to diagnose the ancillaries.

Is an auto electrician the same as an electrician?

It’s all in the name. An auto electrician works on the electrical side of the automobile, from wiring harnesses to diagnosing why a bulb is not working.

Auto electrics may seem complicated, and they are, but there are similarities between the two trades.

As an auto electrician, you will need to follow wiring diagrams and understand what the different components in the car do, such as relay switches and sensors. In some ways, it is a little more complex than being a standard electrician.

Most of you know an electrician is the person who works on a building site or in your home. They are well trained and understand the laws regarding the job, of which there are many.

The electrician can bring power into a home and cable a house to the finished item. It’s hard physical work but very rewarding.

Is being a mechanic a good career in the UK?

Yes, mechanics are in demand as less of the public can deal with the mechanical problems of their cars.

Over the past 3 decades, cars have changed enormously in the way they are controlled, and to diagnose an issue, you need someone with the equipment and, more importantly, the knowledge.

Looking back over 3 decades, most folks could change their spark plugs and perform an oil change, but now it all seems impossible to the average to have a go home mechanic.

Like most things in demand, they command a higher price, and this is why being a mechanic is a good career choice, especially if you can become trained by a premium car manufacturer.

Is being an electrician a good career in the UK?

Yes, once you have completed your training and biome qualification, you will be off in your van every day to a different location for work. There is a lot of variety being an electrician.

The work is demanding and can be physical, and the levels of concentration can be intense at times but generally, being an electrician is an enjoyable experience.

Again with advances in technology and changing legislation, the electrician is on a constant self-improvement drive throughout their career, so the job never becomes stale.

Being self-employed

For both trades, it is possible to become self-employed and open up your earning potential. However, like most life, becoming self-employed requires some planning and often a sizable investment in either trade.

The largest hurdle to becoming self-employed for the mechanic is finding the premises in a good location and then buying the equipment.

Garages have a lot of equipment, from ramps to diagnostic equipment, and the investment is serious money.

But there is more than one way to skin a cat, and you could become a mobile mechanic, it still takes investment, but in terms of becoming self-employed, it’s more manageable and tax-deductible.

 For the electrician, the investment is less. It would be tools and a van, again all tax-deductible.

If you plan to become a big earner, this is the only real solution. When you are employed, you are only being paid for your work hours. Being self-employed, you are paid for your skill and knowledge, which can be a game-changer.

How about EVs?

Electric vehicles are an opportunity for both trades, and both trades will need to train further to understand the industry’s requirements.

The mechanic will become more specialised and command higher charges.

The electrician will be busy installing fast-changing units in homes around the country.

Should you be a mechanic or an electrician?

The earning potentials are very similar for the employed, and continual training is a fact of life if you want to stay current on technology.

It’s down to personal preferences and choices.