Q: Can anyone become an electrician?

Yes, anyone can become an electrician. However, several requirements must be met to become a licensed electrician. Also keep in mind that becoming an electrician requires physical and mental stamina, as well as technical and problem-solving skills.

Question 1

Can anyone become an electrician?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anyone can become an electrician. However, several requirements must be met to become a licensed electrician. Also keep in mind that becoming an electrician requires physical and mental stamina, as well as technical and problem-solving skills.

Question 2

Do electricians get paid well?

Accepted Answer

Yes, electricians get paid well, with a median salary of $56,900 per year, or $27.36 per hour. Electricians are paid the highest out of all the trades. The pay structure for electricians varies greatly based on where you are in your program.

Question 3

How do I start my electrical career?

Accepted Answer

To start your electrical career, it is best to find a local program to become an apprentice electrician. You often take an entrance exam and go through an interview to get into an apprentice program that hires based on need in your area.

Question 4

How long does it take to train to be an electrician?

Accepted Answer

It takes four to five years of training at the apprentice level to become a journeyman electrician. As soon as you are accepted into a training program, you earn wages and learn on the job while attending classes twice a week.

Question 5

How to get into an electrician's union

Accepted Answer

To get into an electrician's union, you need craftsmanship and networking. Most electricians must join a union in order to be eligible for certain jobs. To get into an electrician's union, you must complete apprenticeship training and pass both a written and practical trade examination.

Question 6

How to start an electrical business

Accepted Answer

You will need to develop a business plan, form a legal entity, and promote your business in order to start an electrical business. Electricians are an integral part of society, and an electrical business will always be needed. It is a wonderful business to begin, especially if you have the correct training and background to thrive.

Question 7

Is becoming an electrician hard?

Accepted Answer

Yes, becoming an electrician might be considered hard because it is a job that uses both the mind and body. The work environment of electricians can vary from working in cramped spaces, inclement weather, or at the top of an electrical pole.

Question 8

Is it hard to be an electrician?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is hard to become an electrician because it takes time and commitment to reach the journeyman or master level. Working as an electrician is physical work that requires attention to safety.

Question 9

On-the-job electrician training

Accepted Answer

On-the-job electrician training consists of hands-on electrician experience under the guidance and supervision of a professional electrician or multiple professional electricians.

An electrician is a professional that handles electrical issues. Electricians deal with malfunctioning and broken electrical equipment. They also can install electrical equipment. They provide services to a wide variety of companies and people with electrical needs.

Question 10

What are careers in electronics?

Accepted Answer

Computer programmers, electricians, and electrical engineers are careers in electronics. Here are some details about these careers and others in electronics:

Computer Programmer/b>

Question 11

What are the pros and cons of being an electrician?

Accepted Answer

The pros and cons of being an electrician relate to minimal education requirements, salaries, and danger. Here are the top pros and cons of being an electrician:

Pros:

Minimal education requirements. You can become an electrician with minimal schooling. In some cases, you can go to trade school or a community college for a couple of years or less or obtain an apprenticeship as an electrician.
This option is particularly attractive because you get paid to learn and train. Apprenticeships do take three to four years to complete though
Salaries and wages. Electricians make good salaries relative to it being among the labor professions. The average wage of an electrician is $25.92 per hour. And the annual average salary of an electrician in the United States is around $60,000.
The pay in the field is great, considering all a person who wants to become an electrician has to do is complete at least 720 hours of an approved trade school or apprenticeship program. These provide the hands-on experience necessary to become an electrician.
Electricians do work they can be proud of. Electricians' work is essential to keeping modern society running smoothly, so many electricians take great pride in their profession.
Sustained job growth and security in the electrician field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9.1% employment growth for electricians between 2020 and 2030, meaning that there are plenty of available electrician positions, and many more will be created in the coming years.
The great job prospects, good earnings relative to other labor professions, and short-term trade school or apprenticeship program requirements make the job of an electrician a great option for many people.

Question 12

What is the career path of an electrician?

Accepted Answer

The career path of an electrician includes jobs as an apprentice electrician, an electrician, and an electrical inspector.

Many prospective electricians start out on this career path by attending vocational schools or even, in some cases, traditional colleges.

While a bachelor's degree is not required to be an electrician, one in a related major, such as electrical engineering, could help someone advance fast in the field and give them access to higher-paying electrician opportunities.

Many electricians work as independent contractors, while others have full-time jobs for specific companies.

Here are some helpful certifications to consider if you want to advance on the electrician career path:

OSHA Safety Certificate
Electrical Technician Certification
Electrical Maintenance Technician Certificate
HVAC Master Specialist
Certified Electrical Inspector - Residential (CEI-R)

When an electrician gets hired by a company, they typically must go through on-the-job training. On-the-job electrician training consists of hands-on electrician experience under the guidance and supervision of a professional electrician or multiple professional electricians.

A great entry-level option for a prospective electrician is to get an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are valuable opportunities because they give you a chance to be mentored by professional electricians and get paid while doing it.

Electricians who complete apprenticeships rarely have difficulty finding well-paid electrician work. Many times electricians at apprenticeships choose to stay on with the company they did the apprenticeship with, as well.

Here are some common electrician jobs:

Apprentice Electrician

An apprentice electrician is an electrician that is learning on the job from a single veteran electrician or a team of experienced electricians.

The average salary of an apprentice electrician in the United States is $38,799 per year.

Electrician

An electrician is a professional that handles electrical issues. Electricians handle malfunctioning and broken electrical equipment. They also can install electrical equipment. They provide services to a wide variety of companies and people with electrical needs.

They may perform work on a person's residence, a corporate office, a school, or industrial facilities, for instance. They have a primary focus on safety and functionality concerning electrical equipment.

The national average wage for an electrician is $25.97 per hour.

Electrical inspector

An electrical inspector examines the electrical systems of a home, building, or other structure to ensure effective functionality and also to check if they meet electrical codes and standards.

Some of the systems they inspect include new and pre-existing sound and security systems, lighting, wiring, certain kinds of motors, photovoltaic systems, and generators. They also examine electrical wiring for HVAC and HVACR systems and appliances.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required to become an electrical inspector. Many also get bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering or attend an electrician trade school.

Electrical inspectors make an average annual salary of $43,943.

Question 13

Electrician vs. Electrical Engineer

Accepted Answer

An electrician is a professional that handles electrical issues, while an electrical engineer is someone who helps design and install electrical systems.

Electricians handle malfunctioning and broken electrical equipment. They also can install electrical equipment. They may perform work in a person's residence, in a corporate office, a school, or in industrial facilities. Their primary focus is safety and functionality concerning electrical equipment.

Question 14

What is a good starting salary for an Electrician?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for an electrician is $38,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an electrician in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for electricians is $53,771, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an electrician can vary by state.

Question 15

How much does an electrician make after 10 years?

Accepted Answer

What an electrician makes after 10 years in the workplace depends on what field they are working in, the location, and ambition. Wage increases working for companies may require renegotiating terms and requesting a raise, in contrast to government work, which has built-in annual raises.

Question 16

What benefits do electricians get?

Accepted Answer

Health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and disability insurance are just some of the benefits electricians can get. These types of benefits are typically reserved for electricians that work full time for a specific company or organization. Specific benefits will vary depending on the industry and employer. Electricians who are self-employed or working on a freelance or contract basis may not have access to these or similar benefits.

Question 17

What is the highest-paid electrician?

Accepted Answer

The highest-paid electrician is an electrical engineer. While both electricians and electrical engineers work with electrical systems, electrical engineers typically have more advanced degrees and specialized skills that enable them to design and oversee the implementation of complex electrical systems, rather than just carrying out routine maintenance and repairs.

Question 18

What is the highest-paying electrician job?

Accepted Answer

The highest paying electrician job is a chief electrician on an offshore oil rig. This supervising position starts between $83,000 and $87,000 and can easily go to $100,000 or more.

Any job on an offshore oil rig is demanding, with long hours working outdoors, isolated in the ocean. It can be dangerous, and the schedule takes you away from home and family. Proper compensation is important.

Question 19

Can an electrician make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as an electrician. While possible, it is unlikely to earn over $100k as an electrician because even higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $75,000 per year. The average annual salary for an electrician is $53,771. For example, electricians in Washington whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $121,000.

Question 20

Is electrician a good career?

Accepted Answer

Becoming an electrician is a good career that gives you practical skills. Once certified as a journeyman electrician, you have a trade that you can use anywhere in the world, as well as in your own home. Electricians are paid the most out of all the trades.

Question 21

Is electrician a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being an electrician is a good job. Electricians make good salaries relative to it being among the labor professions. Electricians' work is essential to keeping modern society running smoothly, so many electricians take a lot of pride in their profession.

Question 22

Is there a high demand for electricians?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a high demand for electricians due to an increased shortage in skilled labor, which was exaggerated through COVID-19, leading to higher-than-average early retirement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the younger generation has not shown as much interest in the trades, which still experiences average levels of annual growth.

Question 23

What is the demand for electricians?

Accepted Answer

The demand for electricians is relatively high. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the profession to grow by 7% between the years 2021 and 2031. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Electrician job listings are being added by around 79,000 openings each year. This is expected to continue over the next decade. Most of these openings are expected to be from workers retiring or leaving the profession rather than new job creation.

Electricians are often in high demand because nearly all communities throughout the United States depend on electricity for power needs. In addition, green and alternative energy sources also need electricians, so there is an opportunity for many new jobs to arise in this field.

There is also a high demand for electricians because many young people are opting to get college degrees rather than learning a trade or attending a vocational school. This leaves a massive gap in the number of electrician jobs and people looking to fill those positions.

Question 24

What jobs can a qualified electrician do?

Accepted Answer

A qualified electrician can design, install, maintain or repair electrical systems. This broad description leads to a long list of many actual jobs a qualified electrician can do.

A qualified electrician is a "journeyman electrician" who has passed a certification test after 4 - 5 years of training as an apprentice. As a qualified electrician, you can:

Question 25

How long does it take to get an electrician's license?

Accepted Answer

It can take up to four or five years to get an electrician's license. The length of time it takes to obtain an electrician's license varies depending on what state you are in. This is because each state has its own individual set of requirements. This might also come down to the county you live in as well.

Question 26

How to get an electrician certification

Accepted Answer

You must complete an electrician certification program to get electrician certification. Typically, it can take six months to two years to complete electrician certification. This depends entirely on the type of program you enroll in to complete the requirements for electrician certification.

Question 27

How to get an electrician license

Accepted Answer

To get an electrician license, you typically need to complete an apprenticeship program, meet state-specific requirements for work experience and training, and pass an electrician licensing exam.

Question 28

What are the qualifications for an electrician?

Accepted Answer

Qualifications for an electrician are a high school diploma, electrician training program and apprenticeship, and a license to practice.

Employers prefer electricians with formal education and most states require continuing education to stay in the field. Technical and vocational schools, and some community colleges, offer programs that provide hands-on experience in residential and commercial electric installation and lighting standards.

Question 29

What percentage of Electricians are female?

Accepted Answer

5.8% of electricians are female in the United States. This is -1.5 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female electricians has increased by 0.1 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 27,020 female electricians in the U.S. and 438,853 male electricians in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 465,873 people with the specific job title of electrician and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 30

Why did I quit being an electrician?

Accepted Answer

I quit being an electrician because the hours were too long and the working conditions were unsatisfactory. Believe it or not, electricians can work very long hours. Most people think of tradesmen as having a lovely day job, always starting the day early but getting to arrive home early.

While this is true for many, the days can be surprisingly long when we count the hours. It is common to start at 7 am each day and not finish till 5 or 6 pm. Over the week, this adds up to 45 hours plus traveling, which can be an hour or more each way.

Add to the fact that working the whole weekend or being on call is very common among electricians, and some start to get fed up with the long hours. This can quickly lead to burnout amongst electricians and feeling like they never have the time to decompress.

It is also common for electricians to blame their working conditions on their reason for leaving the industry, with the most common reason being a bad boss. One of the recurring themes amongst electricians is that they feel they are being blamed for things going wrong more often than not.

This can be frustrating and result in a loss of motivation for many. It is important to assess your performance and determine if you are doing things correctly or need more training.

Question 31

How do I write a resume for an apprentice electrician job?

Accepted Answer

You write a resume for an apprentice electrician job by highlighting academic achievements, apprenticeships, project experience, and core skills. The entire resume (from the profile summary to work experience to skills section) should highlight your value as an apprentice electrician candidate.

Question 32

What are electrician skills?

Accepted Answer

Electrician skills are qualifications and attributes related to working in a wide range of duties, such as wiring installations, fixing older systems, performing routine maintenance, calibrating equipment, testing electrical systems, and improving existing wiring systems.

Question 33

What skills and qualifications do you need to be an electrician?

Accepted Answer

The skills and qualifications needed to be an electrician are the right combinations of technical expertise, problem-solving skills, business knowledge, and communication abilities.

Electricians perform numerous electrical work tasks, from installing and repairing wiring to maintaining electrical systems. To succeed in this role, you need various technical and soft skills.

Question 34

Are electricians happy?

Accepted Answer

No, electricians are not happy. According to a CareerExplorer survey, electricians rate their career happiness as 3.0 out of 5 stars. This rates them in the bottom 29% of career happiness.

Question 35

How many hours does an electrician work?

Accepted Answer

Most electricians work a standard work week of 40 hours. The exact schedule will depend on the employer and the job, so it can vary from person to person. Electricians work for different companies and may work on a set schedule or may be on call and work at any time.

Electricians who are on call will have hours that vary from week to week. As such, they may work 25 hours one week and 60 hours the next week. The hours will depend on the nature of the calls. It is important to note that some employers will not permit you to work overtime. This is often determined by company policy, demand, and need.

Question 36

What degree do you need to be an electrician?

Accepted Answer

In general, you do not need a degree to become an electrician. You will be expected to have a high school diploma or GED. Afterward, most electricians choose to attend a technical or vocational school. During your training at school, you will learn how electrical systems work and how to stay safe.

Question 37

What do electricians do on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

Electricians install and repair plumbing systems, go over blueprints and specifications, and collaborate with other trade professionals on a daily basis. Here are some details on the daily activities of an electrician:

Question 38

What does a typical day look like for an electrician?

Accepted Answer

A typical day for an electrician involves diagnosing and fixing a host of electrical problems, sometimes in unpleasant conditions, while keeping an inventory, completing work orders, and ensuring safety above all else.

Frequently asked questions about electricians

Questions About Becoming an Electrician