What Do Electrician Do?
Job Description & Duties 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.
What Do Electricians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Provide assistance during emergencies by operating floodlights or generators, placing flares, or driving needed vehicles.
- Maintain current electrician’s license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.
- 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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Electrician Required Skills
When polled, Electricians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Electrician
- Journeyman Lineman
- Ground Wirer
- Maintenance Electrician
- Solar Photovoltaic Electrician
- Journeyman Wireman
Job Outlook for Electricians
There were about 666,900 jobs for Electrician in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Salary for an Electrician
The average yearly salary of an Electrician ranges between $32,940 and $94,620.

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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Electricians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming an Electrician
Are there Electricians education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Electrician?

Electricians Sector

Electricians work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being an Electrician may also be interested in:
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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