Electrician vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $63K vs $80K Median Pay

Electrician vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: what changes?

Consider Electrician if you want to install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (5 years or more).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Electrician and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Electrician

National median pay (2025): $63,190
Route into the job: Most enter through a four- or five-year apprenticeship with paid work and classroom instruction. Apprentice pay starts below qualified-worker pay; check local licensing requirements.
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: A four- or five-year apprenticeship usually combines paid work with classroom instruction. Licensing requirements vary by location.
Physical work: Standing, kneeling, cramped spaces, and sometimes heights. Electrical hazards require safe working procedures.
Schedule and hours: Overtime, evenings, and weekends can occur; ask about the apprenticeship's combined work and class schedule.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 72,700

Know before you choose

Compare apprentice wages and progression, not just qualified-worker medians. Check who pays for tools and classes.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 6, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

See the full Electrician brief

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

National median pay (2025): $79,920
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 67,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is at $79,920, compared with $63,190 for Electrician.

Electrician has the edge on projected growth

Electrician is at 9.2% projected growth, compared with 5% projected growth for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers.

Electrician has the edge on annual openings

Electrician is at 72,700 annual openings, compared with 67,000 annual openings for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers.

73.9/ 100

Electrician

74.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence