Electricians: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Electricians Take On?
Typical responsibilities of electricians span:
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- 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.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
- Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
- Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top electricians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Airport Electrician
- Antenna Installer
- Antenna Rigger
- Commercial Electrician
- Conduit Installer
- Conduit Mechanic
- Construction Electrician
- Control Electrician
Job Outlook
There are about 267,745 electricians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.9% over the projection horizon.
Electricians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $57,376 |
| Hourly median | $27.59 |
| 10th percentile | $31,669 |
| 25th percentile | $44,523 |
| 75th percentile | $70,230 |
| 90th percentile | $83,084 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Electricians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $97,320 |
| Washington | $96,530 |
| Illinois | $96,360 |
| Hawaii | $83,200 |
| Massachusetts | $82,120 |
| District of Columbia | $81,950 |
| Alaska | $81,860 |
| Minnesota | $81,430 |
| New York | $77,460 |
| Connecticut | $76,790 |
| California | $76,540 |
| Wisconsin | $75,090 |
| Wyoming | $73,450 |
| New Jersey | $73,090 |
| Michigan | $72,680 |
| Missouri | $70,950 |
| Rhode Island | $70,160 |
| Montana | $68,980 |
| Maine | $67,820 |
| North Dakota | $65,820 |
| Maryland | $65,650 |
| Indiana | $65,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,400 |
| Nevada | $64,950 |
| West Virginia | $63,850 |
| Ohio | $63,560 |
| Virgin Islands | $63,020 |
| Delaware | $62,970 |
| Iowa | $62,880 |
| Colorado | $62,090 |
| New Hampshire | $61,990 |
| Kansas | $61,830 |
| Virginia | $61,610 |
| Utah | $61,430 |
| Idaho | $60,670 |
| Oklahoma | $60,050 |
| Nebraska | $60,020 |
| Vermont | $59,670 |
| Louisiana | $59,590 |
| Kentucky | $59,490 |
| Arizona | $59,480 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 |
| Georgia | $58,860 |
| South Dakota | $58,550 |
| South Carolina | $58,260 |
| Mississippi | $57,300 |
| Texas | $56,920 |
| New Mexico | $56,890 |
| North Carolina | $54,070 |
| Florida | $53,100 |
| Alabama | $52,420 |
| Arkansas | $49,420 |
| Guam | $41,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,370 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for electricians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $80,905 | 15.4% | 0.93 |
| New England | $75,856 | 4.6% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $74,586 | 14.0% | 1.01 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,002 | 13.0% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $68,924 | 7.0% | 1.05 |
| Rocky Mountains | $62,981 | 5.3% | 1.33 |
| Southwest | $57,679 | 14.3% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $56,582 | 25.9% | 1.07 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $108,740 | 970 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $103,270 | 520 |
| Decatur, IL | IL | $102,960 | 440 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | WA | $102,160 | 450 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $102,070 | 7,290 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $101,600 | 9,160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $99,540 | 16,690 |
| Corvallis, OR | OR | $97,320 | 70 |
Top Industries Employing Electricians
The bulk of electricians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 582,130 | $61,420 |
| Manufacturing | 50,920 | $71,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 31,650 | $58,070 |
| Educational Services | 9,200 | $64,870 |
| Utilities | 8,720 | $104,010 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7,470 | $64,220 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 6,160 | $81,990 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 4,880 | $79,320 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of electricians reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level electricians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Lighting Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Boilermakers (Primary-Long)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future electricians typically earn programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2111.00 (Electricians).
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