What Does it Take to Be an Electrician?
Occupation Description 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.
Electrician Responsibilities
- 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.
- Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.
- Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.
- Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
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Electrician Required Skills
These are the skills Electricians say are the most useful in their careers:
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Antenna Installer
- Electrician
- Wiring Mechanic
- Wirer
- Searchlight Operator
Electrician Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 666,900 jobs for Electrician in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 82,000 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Electrician Salary
Electricians make between $32,940 and $94,620 a year.
Electricians who work in Illinois, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Electricians make 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 to Become an Electrician
Are there Electricians education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become an Electrician?
Where do Electricians Work?
Below are examples of industries where Electricians work:
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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