Electrician

What is this job like?		Back to Top

Without these workers, there would be no lights, no computers, and no TVs plugged into our walls. Electricians bring us electricity. They put in the wires that carry electricity through houses, offices, and factories. They also fix electric machines.

Electricians start by reading maps—called blueprints—that show how electricity flows. Blueprints show where to put wires, electrical equipment, and outlets for plugs. When working on a new building, electricians draw new blueprints.

Then, electricians put tubes or pipes inside the walls. They also put small boxes on the walls to hold switches and outlets. They pull wires through the tubes to connect the boxes and make a path for the electricity to follow. A path for electricity is called a circuit.

Electricians also add circuit breakers, transformers, and other equipment to control how electricity flows. They make sure the right amount of electricity goes to the machines that use it. Electricians follow strict rules about how to wire buildings.

After they finish wiring, electricians use ohmmeters, voltmeters, and oscilloscopes to measure the amount of electricity running through the system.

Electricians also install wires for telephones, computers, and fire alarms. Sometimes, they use fiber optic cable.

Maintenance electricians fix electric machines or broken wiring. Some focus on houses. They might rewire a house. Or they could replace an old fuse box with one that can run more appliances.

Some electricians work in factories. They might fix motors, generators, and robots. They also inspect equipment and fix it before it breaks. They tell managers when equipment needs to be replaced. Electricians put in new electrical equipment, too.

Electricians use wire strippers, knives, hacksaws, and power tools. Some electricians stand for a long time and climb ladders. Some work in dusty, dirty, or hot places. But others work in clean places.

Workers need to be careful to avoid falls, cuts, and electric shock. They need good hand-eye coordination and to be good at seeing the different colors of wire.

Some electricians work nights and weekends. Some travel far to get to jobsites.

How do you get ready?		Back to Top

Most electricians start by becoming apprentices. As apprentices, they learn on the job. They watch and listen to experienced workers. They also take classes about electricity. They get paid while they learn. After 3 to 5 years, they are fully trained and can work on their own.

Apprentices start with easy tasks like drilling holes. Later, they learn to connect wires and draw electrical diagrams.

In class, apprentices learn blueprint reading, electronics, math, safety, and rules about electricity.

After they finish an apprenticeship, many electricians take more classes. They might learn more about telephone lines, computer lines, and other kinds of special wiring. Most electricians also need a license from the county where they work.

To become an apprentice, most people need a high school diploma or a G.E.D. They also need to pass a math and science test.

To get ready for the test, it helps to take high school classes in science, shop, and technical drawing. Math classes, like algebra, are also very important. After high school, people can get training in technical schools, community colleges, and the U.S. Armed Forces.

How much does this job pay?		Back to Top

In 2006, the middle half of electricians earned between $16.07 and $27.71 an hour. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $12.76. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $34.95. People who worked in car factories made the most.

Apprentices are paid while they learn.

How many jobs are there?		Back to Top

There were 705,000 electricians working in 2006. Most worked in construction or maintenance. About 11 percent worked for themselves.

What about the future?		Back to Top

Electricians are expected to have good job opportunities. There will be lots of job openings every year.

Jobs are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. As the population grows, more electricians will be needed to bring electricity to more homes, factories, and other places. They also will be needed to install wire for computers and telecommunications. More factories will be using robots that electricians fix.

Are there other jobs like this?		Back to Top

• Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
• Line installers and repairers
• Electrical and electronics installers and repairers
• Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
• Elevator installers and repairers

Where can you find more information?		Back to Top

More BLS information about electricians can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job.

Last Modified Date: April 29, 2008