Electrician Career Overview. Electricians are employed in a variety of industries throughout the United States. They work for companies that construct, install and maintain electrical systems, including residential and commercial buildings. Electricians also design, plan and supervise the electrical systems used in these facilities.
Electricians are occupational electricians and technicians who install, maintain and repair electrical equipment in various industries. With the right certification, training and experience, an electrician can earn an annual salary of roughly $45,000. Salary increases with seniority and additional skills.
Starting Salary For Electrician Overview
If you’re wanting to add a spark to your life, maybe you should become an electrician. They work with electrical power, communications, light and control systems. And as long as they do it right, they don’t literally add a spark.
Electricians typically start out as apprentices, but there are some who choose to attend technical school. Since they have such an important job, electricians usually work full-time with some evenings and weekends thrown in there. If you’re looking for a path that will include some overtime pay, you’ve found the right career.
How To Become an Electrician
Although most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, some start out by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to be licensed. For more information, contact your local or state electrical licensing board.
Education
A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
Some electricians start out by attending a technical school. Many technical schools offer programs related to circuitry, safety practices, and basic electrical information. Graduates usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.
After completing their initial training, electricians may be required to take continuing education courses. These courses are usually related to safety practices, changes to the electrical code, and training from manufacturers in specific products.
Training
Most electricians learn their trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship program. For each year of the program, apprentices must complete at least 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.
In the classroom, apprentices learn electrical theory, blueprint reading, mathematics, electrical code requirements, and safety and first-aid practices. They also may receive specialized training related to soldering, communications, fire alarm systems, and elevators.
Several groups, including unions and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs. Many apprenticeship programs have preferred entry for veterans. The basic qualifications to enter an apprenticeship program are as follows:
- Minimum age of 18
- High school education or equivalent
- One year of algebra
- Qualifying score on an aptitude test
- Pass substance abuse screening
Some electrical contractors have their own training programs, which are not recognized apprenticeship programs but include both classroom and on-the-job training. Although most workers enter apprenticeships directly, some electricians enter apprenticeship programs after working as a helper. The Home Builders Institute offers a preapprenticeship certificate training (PACT) program for eight construction trades, including electricians.
After completing an apprenticeship program, electricians are considered to be journey workers and may perform duties on their own, subject to any local or state licensing requirements. Because of this comprehensive training, those who complete apprenticeship programs qualify to do both construction and maintenance work.
Some states may require a master electrician to either perform or supervise the work.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. Requirements vary by state. For more information, contact your local or state electrical licensing board. Many of the requirements can be found on the National Electrical Contractors Association’s website.
The tests have questions related to the National Electrical Code, and state and local electrical codes, all of which set standards for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment.
Important Qualities
Business skills. Self-employed electricians must be able to bid on new jobs, track inventory, and plan payroll and work assignments.
Color vision. Electricians must identify electrical wires by color.
Critical-thinking skills. Electricians perform tests and use the results to diagnose problems. For example, when an outlet is not working, they may use a multimeter to check the voltage, amperage, or resistance to determine the best course of action.
Customer-service skills. Residential electricians work with people on a regular basis. They should be friendly and be able to address customers’ questions.
Physical stamina. Electricians often need to move around all day while running wire and connecting fixtures to the wire.
Physical strength. Electricians need to be strong enough to move heavy components, which may weigh up to 50 pounds.
Troubleshooting skills. Electricians find, diagnose, and repair problems. For example, if a motor stops working, they perform tests to determine the cause of its failure and then, depending on the results, fix or replace the motor.
Electrician Career Opportunities and Job Growth
Aging buildings all over the country need ongoing maintenance, and new construction requires work to install wiring and connect to power grids. Because of this, electricians are always in demand. The BLS projects these jobs will grow by 8% through 2029. That’s twice the projected growth rate for all positions.
National policies influence the growth of this trade. For example, the recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework encourages more solar and wind power and greater access to high-speed internet in rural areas. These types of projects require trained electricians, electrical contractors, and installers.
BLS data from 2020 revealed that electricians could find work could all over the country:
States with the highest average wage for electricians included:
- Illinois ($81,650)
- New York ($81,340)
- Hawaii ($79,280)
States with the highest pay potential, or where electricians in the 90th percentile for wages earned the most, were:
- New York ($132,520)
- California ($124,290)
- New Jersey ($122,550)
The highest employment levels for electricians were in major metropolitan areas — New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth — but the top-paying cities were:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
- Trenton, New Jersey ($90,210)
- Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
Salary for Self-Employed Electricians
If you are a self-employed electrician or electrical contractor, you determine what you earn based on the contracts you negotiate and how much you work. For one, you may miss out on commercial contracts taken up by unions.
Additionally, as a self-employed electrician, you are responsible for:
- Marketing to customers
- Negotiating contracts
- Doing administrative work, invoicing, and billing
- Paying for your own health insurance and providing it for anyone you hire
- Paying for liability insurance in case of accidents
Many electrical contractors only become self-employed after many years of working as part of a union. This allows them to earn a more predictable income at first and pay into a retirement savings fund.
Benefits of Becoming an Electrician
Benefits
If you become a union member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), you may qualify for several benefits. The IBEW offers union members in several states benefits, including:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision benefits
- Prescription drug benefits
- Supplemental retirement plans
- A pension plan
If you do not join a union, you can still be part of a community of electrical workers, such as your local chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC). This organization advocates for issues on behalf of self-employed electrical contractors, such as keeping healthcare costs low for small-business owners.
Perks
Electrical work can be rewarding for people who seek challenge and variety in their careers. Being an electrician means you:
- Solve complex puzzles
- Collaborate with others — engineers, planners, and homeowners
- Put your technical expertise to work in practical scenarios
Protection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide electrical workers with protective equipment, such as rubber insulating gloves.
Schedule
If you are self-employed, you get the added perk of setting your own schedule.
Prominent Electrician Employers
As a trained electrician, you can find work at companies, in the military, or through the union.
Manufacturers, transportation, and construction companies employ electricians.
- According to Glassdoor, Tesla electricians reported average earnings of $36 per hour.
- Electricians at railroad company Union Pacific reported being paid $34 per hour.
The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy are top employers of electricians.
- U.S. Army electricians reported earning just under $47,000 on average.
- U.S. Navy electricians reported $50,841 average pay.
By joining the IBEW, the union negotiates your wage and benefits. According to a BLS report analyzing union wages for all professions (not just electricians), nonunion workers earned just 84% of what union workers made.