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What Does it Take to Be an Electrician?
Electrician Example Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
A Day in the Life of an Electrician
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects.
- Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
- Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.
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Things an Electrician Should Know How to Do
Electricians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Other Electrician Job Titles
- Lightning Rod Installer
- Neon Sign Servicer
- Sign Wirer
- Diesel Electrician
- Journeyman Wireman
Is There Job Demand for Electricians?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 666,900 jobs in the United States for Electrician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 59,600 new jobs for Electrician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 82,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Electrician are Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Electricians Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Electricians is somewhere between $32,940 and $94,620.
Electricians who work in Illinois, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Electricians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,590 |
| Alaska | $76,330 |
| Arizona | $47,950 |
| Arkansas | $43,650 |
| California | $69,320 |
| Colorado | $55,500 |
| Connecticut | $59,500 |
| Delaware | $58,890 |
| District of Columbia | $76,030 |
| Florida | $45,240 |
| Georgia | $50,540 |
| Hawaii | $75,810 |
| Idaho | $50,170 |
| Illinois | $75,820 |
| Indiana | $59,060 |
| Iowa | $53,360 |
| Kansas | $54,940 |
| Kentucky | $53,060 |
| Louisiana | $52,200 |
| Maine | $53,670 |
| Maryland | $56,960 |
| Massachusetts | $68,030 |
| Michigan | $59,090 |
| Minnesota | $70,410 |
| Mississippi | $49,540 |
| Missouri | $60,860 |
| Montana | $58,990 |
| Nebraska | $50,470 |
| Nevada | $62,420 |
| New Hampshire | $54,610 |
| New Jersey | $71,660 |
| New Mexico | $51,050 |
| New York | $77,810 |
| North Carolina | $44,140 |
| North Dakota | $63,260 |
| Ohio | $53,130 |
| Oklahoma | $53,030 |
| Oregon | $69,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,890 |
| Rhode Island | $57,620 |
| South Carolina | $44,720 |
| South Dakota | $45,490 |
| Tennessee | $50,610 |
| Texas | $50,980 |
| Utah | $54,120 |
| Vermont | $51,440 |
| Virginia | $51,290 |
| Washington | $68,640 |
| West Virginia | $53,440 |
| Wisconsin | $60,130 |
| Wyoming | $59,400 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Electricians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Electricians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Spreadsheet software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Database software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
- Insight Direct ServiceCEO
- Wonderware InTouch
- Craftsman CD Estimator
How do I Become an Electrician?
What education or degrees do I need to become an Electrician?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Electrician?
Where Electricians Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Electricians employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Electrician might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Fran Hogan via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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