Career comparison
Industrial Electronics Repairer vs. Transportation Equipment Electrician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Transportation equipment electricians earn more at the median ($84,890 vs. $74,090), while transportation equipment electricians usually get to work faster (Training program plus months on the job of training). Industrial electronics repairers repair the electronic controls that run industrial machines. Transportation equipment electricians install and repair electrical systems on trains, ships, buses and other vehicles.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial Electronics Repairer | Transportation Equipment Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $74,090 ($35.62/hr) | $84,890 ($40.81/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,840 – $105,590 | $50,750 – $116,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.3% (little or no change) | +5.4% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 500 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | Training program plus a year or more on the job | Training program plus months on the job |
| Key credential | ETA Certified Electronics Technician | Electrical certificate |
| Work setting | Repairers work in factories, repair shops and field service.. | Electricians work in rail yards, transit shops, shipyards and maintenance facilities.. |
What each job does
Industrial Electronics Repairer
- Troubleshoot control systems
- Repair circuit boards
- Replace components
- Test PLCs and drives
- Calibrate equipment
Transportation Equipment Electrician
- Install wiring and electrical systems
- Troubleshoot faults
- Repair motors and controls
- Read schematics
- Test systems
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, and high-pay. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial electronics repairer if…
- I like electronics
- I solve logic puzzles
- I stay calm when lines are down
Choose transportation equipment electrician if…
- I like electrical work
- I like trains, ships or buses
- I read schematics well
Still torn? Take the Industrial Electronics Repairer fit quiz and the Transportation Equipment Electrician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial electronics repairer or transportation equipment electrician?
Transportation Equipment Electricians earn more at the median: $84,890 versus $74,090 for industrial electronics repairers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Transportation Equipment Electricians typically train faster (Training program plus months on the job) than industrial electronics repairers (Training program plus a year or more on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects transportation equipment electricians to grow +5.4% from 2025–35, compared with +0.3% for industrial electronics repairers.