What Electricians Do

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.

Work Environment

Electricians work indoors and outdoors in nearly every type of facility. Almost all electricians work full time, which may include evenings and weekends. Although the work is not as dangerous as other construction occupations, potential injuries include electrical shocks and burns, cuts, and falls.

How to Become an Electrician

Although most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, some start out by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to be licensed.

Job Outlook

Employment of electricians is projected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As homes and businesses require more wiring, electricians will be needed to install the necessary components. The job prospects for electricians should be very good, as many employers report difficulty finding qualified applicants.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 583,500 jobs in 2012 and 628,800 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 7.8%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 19.7% in 2022 to 698,200 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 606,400, compared with an observed value of 628,800, 3.7% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 14.7% in 2024 to 714,700 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 721,100 jobs for 2024, 0.9% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Electricians Employment and Labor Information 2023

Electricians Employment Brief:

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.

Electricians Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Electricians.

Electricians Responsibilities and Duties:

• Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.
• Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.
• Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
• Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
• Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.
• Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
• 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.
• Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
• Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications.
• Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.

Typical Daily Tasks of Electricians:

• Performing General Physical Activities: Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel. Dig holes or trenches.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Plan layout of construction, installation, or repairs.
• Getting Information.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Update job related knowledge or skills.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Fabricate parts or components. Install electrical components, equipment, or systems. Thread wire or cable through ducts or conduits.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspect electrical or electronic systems for defects. Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.

Electricians Skills and Requirements:

• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Systems Analysis Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Management of Financial Resources Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• DatabasesUsing a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.
• Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Operations Analysis Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Negotiation Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Electricians Education and Training:

Typical education for include: High school diploma or equivalent.

Electricians Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Electricians average pay is: $60240 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in NAare the highest paid making $37.07, while Employment Services make the least at $25.41 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Electricians: