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Earnings

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), the median electrician salary is $60,240.** The top 10 percent of earners in this trade make more than $102,300 a year.

Job Openings & Outlook for Electricians

Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the number of electrician jobs could grow six percent from 2022 to 2032.**

What a Professional Electrician Does

Depending on their particular jobs and areas of focus, electricians can take on several different responsibilities. But for many people in the trade, the day-to-day work often involves tasks such as:

• Planning the layout and installation of electrical systems with consideration for safety and code compliance
• Reading blueprints
• Installing new electrical components (such as wiring, fuses, etc.)
• Repairing and maintaining existing electrical infrastructure
• Inspecting existing electrical systems, components, and equipment to safeguard against hazards and ensure code compliance
• Connecting wires to various components within electrical systems (such as transformers, circuit breakers, etc.)
• Working with power and hand tools to repair or replace equipment, wiring, and lighting fixtures
• Assembling, installing, and testing electrical equipment, fixtures, and appliances
• Using ohmmeters, oscilloscopes, and voltmeters to identify problems and test electrical systems
• Training and supervising apprentices, electrical helpers, or less experienced electricians
• Consulting and collaborating with architects, engineers, or specialists in other skilled trades who are working on the same projects

Journeyman Electrician Jobs

Journeyperson electricians have completed all of their training and have obtained licensing or certification as per their state's requirements. Note that every state has different regulations on whether licensing or certification is required and what type and length of education is accepted, so it is important to check the requirements within your state.

Once you have advanced from the apprentice to the journeyperson level, you will likely be qualified to complete most electrical work independently. You can carry out the duties you performed as an apprentice and, in many instances, will not require supervision or approval. Depending on the type of work and the state you're in, you may still need to work under a master electrician.

You may also be able to pursue self-employment opportunities and bid on your own contracts. Again, you will need to check your state's laws and regulations regarding the type of work that a journeyperson is legally allowed to complete on their own.

Master Electrician Jobs

A master electrician is essentially the lead electrician. They oversee all the work that is completed by journeypersons and apprentices. Master electricians design plans, create layouts, identify the wiring and connections to be used, and obtain necessary permits. You could be responsible for the following:

• Performing install, repair, maintenance, test, and inspection services
• Planning and executing every aspect of electrical projects
• Establishing and upholding safety measures and quality-control practices
• Ensuring the profitability of projects
• Handling customer service and client and contractor relations
• Reading, interpreting, and executing plans
• Maintaining all required documentation and paperwork
• Ensuring that licensing requirements, National Electric Code requirements, and other regulations are being met
• Training apprentice and journeyperson electricians

Every state has different requirements for becoming a master electrician, but they often include the need to possess a minimum of three to eight years of journeyperson experience and to pass a test to become certified. Master electricians can also be required to have an electrical engineering degree or similar education.

Master electrician jobs can be found in the same settings as apprenticeships and journeyperson jobs. Their skills are valued across countless industries, and many master electricians run their own companies. And since they are more experienced and often have a higher education level, master electricians typically secure much higher-paying positions.

Work Settings

Electricians use their skills in a wide variety of environments, both indoors and outdoors. Depending on their specific jobs and qualifications, those settings can include places like:

• Construction sites
• Homes
• Businesses
• Factories
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Airports
• Entertainment venues
• Government buildings
• Utility sites
• Oil rigs
• Repair shops
• Mining or drilling sites
• Roadways

Electrician Jobs: What are the Main Categories and Specializations?

People in the electrical trade can pursue many different areas of focus. Some electricians prefer to specialize in installation (such as for new construction or renovations). In contrast, others choose to focus on maintenance and repair. And some electricians decide to branch out into very particular industries that often require additional training, certification, and other qualifications. Here are the four main areas of electrical work, plus some additional electrician specialties worth noting:

1. Residential work: Residential electrician jobs focus solely on the electrical systems within people's homes, including new homes under construction. You could be responsible for installing new electrical systems or troubleshooting, repairing, and servicing existing systems. Specific responsibilities could include:

• Installing lighting systems
• Inspecting and repairing circuit breakers
• Using test equipment like ohmmeters and voltmeters to identify problems
• Measuring, assembling, and installing electrical conduit
• Installing electrical fittings and boxes
• Splicing and terminating cables and wires
• Installing outlet boxes and conductors
• Connecting wires to circuit breakers and transformers
• Installing, programming, and testing fire alarms as well as control, security, communication, and sound systems

2. Commercial work: Commercial electrician jobs tend to focus on the electrical systems within office buildings, restaurants, shopping malls, retail stores, and other commercial spaces. Safety is of utmost importance since they are working in areas that are generally accessible by the public. Timeliness and cost-effectiveness are also essential considerations since, frequently, commercial electricians work for clients with tight operational budgets.

Throughout your career as a commercial electrician, you could spend your time:

• Working on electrical systems that control the power, light, and heat within a building
• Installing or repairing the wiring for air conditioning and refrigeration systems
• Ensuring that current wiring is safe and up-to-code
• Using electrical test equipment to locate shorts and breaks

3. Industrial work: Industrial electricians have to possess knowledge specific to manufacturing facilities, power plants, and other industrial settings. And they must be confident working with high-voltage and direct-current power systems. Many companies have intensive in-house training programs so that their electricians have the specialized knowledge that is required to work within their facilities.

Depending on the industry, industrial electrician jobs could have you carrying out any of the following tasks:

• Installing, maintaining, testing, and repairing generators, motors, and other electrical controls and devices
• Interpreting complex blueprints and drawings
• Installing, repairing, and servicing reactors, regulators, switchgears, and transformers
• Performing preventive maintenance on electronic equipment
• Installing and programming robots
• Troubleshooting and repairing fire-detection and HVAC systems as well as programmable logic controllers
• Installing and replacing electrical conduit and raceway systems

Some of the places that you could find industrial electrician jobs include construction companies, mining companies, steel producers, manufacturers, and power companies. And with the growing use of robotics within many manufacturing facilities, electricians with robotics knowledge may have increased access to higher-paying jobs.

4. Maintenance Work: Maintenance electrician jobs focus strictly on working with existing electrical systems in many settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial. They identify problems and replace or repair electrical components as needed. They must identify and fix problems as quickly as possible since it could mean that a family cannot live in their home or a factory cannot operate until the repairs are completed.

Some of the tasks you may carry out within a maintenance electrician job include:

• Installing new light fixtures
• Repairing faulty fuse boxes
• Rewiring an entire house or building
• Maintaining commercial air conditioning and heating systems
• Repairing power generators in factory settings
• Managing the electrical network within a manufacturing facility

Offshore electrical work: Find these positions within the energy sector in areas like offshore oil and gas operations or wind farms. Many positions will require you to have advanced education in electrical engineering and specialized knowledge about the types of equipment used in the field. This could include knowledge of electromechanical, electronic, and programmable equipment as well as hydraulic and pneumatic systems and analog and digital transmitters.

Lineman work: Work for power companies on outdoor high-power transmission and distribution lines and systems. Lineworker jobs typically exist with major electric utility companies, and you could find yourself working on overhead and underground power lines as well as other electrical subsystems and components. Electrical safety and fall protection are critical concerns in these positions since linemen often work at great heights on high-voltage lines.

Marine technology: Secure a job in which you work on the electrical systems and equipment on boats and ships. You could take care of anything related to installation, maintenance, and emergency repairs. Marine electricians must be aware of the extra precautions needed to conduct electrical repairs with water present. Marine electrician jobs can be found within the military, government agencies, ship and boat builders, ship and boatyards and docks, and maintenance companies.

Signage and highway systems: Help fix, maintain or install traffic lights, pole lighting along streets, airport runway lights, or lighted signs or awnings on buildings or detached structures.

Fire alarm and security systems: Focus on installing or repairing low-voltage systems that help protect buildings and their occupants from blazes, theft, acts of vandalism, or other threats.

Telecommunications: Contribute to the installation and repair of underground or overhead cable, Internet, or phone lines used for transmitting video, data, and voice calls.

Solar energy: Play a vital role in the nation's transition to renewable sources of electricity by gaining skills for installing and maintaining solar photovoltaic panels and related systems.

An electrician program or training at a solar energy school can help prepare you to pursue careers in the renewable energy sector.

Wind energy: As a wind turbine technician, you could help install and maintain massive outdoor turbines that generate clean electrical power from the air's natural movement.

Electrical inspection: Closely examine the wiring and other electrical components in buildings that are being constructed, renovated, or sold to ensure that everything is safe and up to code.

Aviation technology: Play a part in the manufacturing, repair, or refurbishment of aircraft by working on the vital electrical systems in airplanes or helicopters.

Automotive technology: Troubleshoot and fix a wide variety of electrical components and systems used in motor vehicles.

Electrical and light work for filmmaking (gaffer): You could be responsible for designing, setting up, controlling, and maintaining the lighting systems for productions. You would likely oversee all of the other lighting personnel as well.

Electrician FAQs and Answers

What is the median electrician salary?

According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage in the United States was estimated at $28.96, or $60,240 annually in 2022.

What is the average apprentice electrician salary?

Salary or wages for an apprentice electrician are usually paid based on an hourly rate. In a 2019 article, BLS states apprentice electricians typically earned about half of what an experienced, fully qualified electrician made. But your wage increases as you gain more skills.

What's the difference between an electrician and an electrical technician?

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the roles are often different:

• Electricians are mostly involved in maintaining and installing wiring and electrical systems for structures.
• Electrical technicians are frequently more involved with maintaining and repairing equipment, machines, or devices that use electricity. The term "electrical technician" is also sometimes used for:
  • People who assist electrical engineers with the design, testing, and production of devices powered by electricity
  • Apprentices in the electrical trade who are under the supervision of journeyman electricians
  • Tradespeople who primarily work with low-voltage electrical systems

Is being an electrician dangerous?

The trade does have some inherent risks. Injuries can occur due to falling from ladders or scaffolding or being burned or shocked by electricity. But most professionals can perform their work safely by taking precautions, utilizing their electrician training, and following occupational best practices. While often considered a dangerous job, 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that this trade's occupational fatality rate is only about 0.01 percent.

According to BLS data, the top three causes of workplace fatalities were:

• Exposure to harmful substances or environments
• Transportation incidents
• Falls, trips, and slips

An essential part of making sure you are safe on the job when you're first starting is picking the right company, contractor, or union to affiliate with. Your employer should have very high standards for following protocols and conducting ongoing training to ensure workers' safety. Your apprenticeship allows a generous amount of time to train under the direction and supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician. Both you and the journeyman supervising and teaching you will be responsible for your safety.

Where can I work after graduating from an electrician school?

Electrical contractors employ the majority of qualified workers. Other opportunities exist in industries, such as oil and gas, manufacturing, local government, construction, or power generation and distribution. It's also possible to work independently or start your own business.

What personal qualities can help me succeed in the electrical trade?

Many of the best electricians share these traits:

• Honesty
• Friendliness
• Patience
• Trustworthiness
• Adaptability
• Self-directedness
• Attention to detail
• The ability to communicate clearly
• Good vision (with no color-blindness)
• Physical strength, flexibility, and stamina
• The ability to think logically
• Good hand-eye coordination

What are the top-paying industries and regions for electricians?

According to 2022 OEWS program estimates, the industries with the highest average electrician pay (per year):***

• Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events: $115,920
• Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers: $110,350
• Natural gas distribution: $107,920

The same estimates show that electricians earn the highest average wages in these regions:***

• New York: $81,740
• California: $78,140
• Michigan: $62,850

Is there a demand for people who have completed electrician training?

Yes, consistently. The opportunities are often best for those diversifying their skills to include voice, data, and video wiring. Alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, are also driving demand for qualified workers. Some of the factors generating the need for electricians include:

• A growing population equals more homes, schools, and businesses that require power.
• Aging structures will need upgrades to meet current safety regulations.
• A growing reliance on electronic equipment and appliances means an increasing need for power.