Electricians
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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.
Explore Pathways
Titles for this career often contain these words
ElectricianWirerInstallerSignNeonElectricalMechanicWorkerLightMaintenanceStreetAntennaElectricServicerJourneymanLightningTechnicianSignalConduitDieselManSpecialistWiringLinemanWiremanProtectionTestTrafficAirportRiggerChiefCommercialConstructionControlStopSystemGafferGroundHouseIndustrialInsideInteriorLicensedLightingFixtureRodMarineMasterMechanicalTradesMineErectorOverheadPlantQualifiedCraftQCWSearchlightOperatorShipSolarPhotovoltaicStageRepairerSwitchInspectorSwitchboardTelevisionTroubleShooterWireHanger
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Responsibilities and activities

Electricians typically do the following:

  • Read blueprints or technical diagrams
  • Install and maintain wiring, control, and lighting systems
  • Inspect electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers
  • Identify electrical problems using a variety of testing devices
  • Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures using handtools and power tools
  • Follow state and local building regulations based on the National Electrical Code
  • Direct and train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring or equipment

Almost every building has an electrical power, communications, lighting, and control system that is installed during construction and maintained after that. These systems power the lights, appliances, and equipment that make people’s lives and jobs easier and more comfortable.

Installing electrical systems in newly constructed buildings is often less complicated than maintaining equipment in existing buildings because electrical wiring is more easily accessible during construction. Maintaining equipment and systems involves identifying problems and repairing broken equipment that is sometimes difficult to reach. Maintenance work may include fixing or replacing parts, light fixtures, control systems, motors, and other types of electrical equipment.

Electricians read blueprints, which include technical diagrams of electrical systems that show the location of circuits, outlets, and other equipment. They use different types of handtools and power tools, such as conduit benders, to run and protect wiring. Other commonly used tools include screwdrivers, wire strippers, drills, and saws. While troubleshooting, electricians also may use ammeters, voltmeters, thermal scanners, and cable testers to find problems and ensure that components are working properly.

Many electricians work alone, but sometimes they collaborate with others. For example, experienced electricians may work with building engineers and architects to help design electrical systems for new construction. Some electricians may also consult with other construction specialists, such as elevator installers and heating and air conditioning workers, to help install or maintain electrical or power systems. Electricians employed by large companies are likely to work as part of a crew; they may direct helpers and apprentices to complete jobs.

Lineman electricians install distribution and transmission lines to deliver electricity from its source to customers; this occupation is covered in the line installers and repairers profile.

Salary
Median salary: $56,900 annually
Half of those employed in this career earn between $42,790 and $75,380.
$57K$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K
Context: Median Salary
How do salaries for this career compare to other jobs' salaries?
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Salary growth for electricians
Is this job likely to reward you for sticking with it through pay raises and promotions? The higher a job’s “experience quotient,” the more you are likely to get as you stay there.
Experience quotient percentile
Take a minute to look at how much you might expect your salary to increase with each five years' experience, as well as how the numbers working at each age change. Does this seem to be a job for the young or the old, or could it be a career offering steady salary growth for many years?
Salary distribution
$60K$40K$29K$53K$61K$57K$46K$60K$52K$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K$120K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
Number employed
020K40K60K80K100K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
About Electricians
How do benefits for this career compare to other jobs? The availability of health care, especially employer provided health care, and pension plans can add significantly to the value of compensation you receive in a career. These charts compare how this career compares to other careers with regard to health care and pension plans.
Employee has health insurance
Employer is providing health insurance
Worker concerns
Some jobs are more stressful than others, and some are just plain dangerous. The following list gives the percentages of electricians who report hazardous or difficult situations typically occurring at least once a week.
  • Responsible for Others' Health (94%)
  • Hazardous Conditions (81%)
  • Hazardous Equipment (81%)
  • Time Pressure (78%)
  • High Places (68%)
  • Consequence of Error (65%)
  • Exposed to Contaminants (64%)
  • Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites (57%)
SOURCES:
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Personality and skills
Can you see yourself in the ranks of Electricians? Here are the skills and traits that could lead to success.
Color vision
Electricians must identify electrical wires by color.
Critical-thinking skills
Electricians perform tests and use the results to diagnose problems. For example, when an outlet is not working, they may use a multimeter to check the voltage, amperage, or resistance in order to determine the best course of action.
Customer-service skills
Electricians work with people on a regular basis. They should be friendly and be able to address customers’ questions.
Physical stamina
Electricians often need to move around all day while running wire and connecting fixtures to the wire.
Physical strength
Electricians need to be strong enough to move heavy components, which may weigh up to 50 pounds.
Troubleshooting skills
Electricians find, diagnose, and repair problems. For example, if a motor stops working, they perform tests to determine the cause of its failure and then, depending on the results, fix or replace the motor.
Injury and Illness
About 122 electricians become injured or ill for every 10,000 workers, making this job more dangerous than 85% of other careers. The most common specific illnesses or injuries are detailed following.
Amputations
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Fractures
Education pathways to this career
Education attained by electricians
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electricians typically hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
Sometimes the typical education identified by the BLS differs a bit from the reality of the how much education current workers actually have. The donut shows the education level held by people currently working as electricians as reported in responses to the American Community Survey.
Details: Education and training recommended for electricians

A high school diploma or equivalent is required to become an electrician.

Some electricians start out by attending a technical school. Many technical schools offer programs related to circuitry, safety practices, and basic electrical information. Graduates of these programs usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.

Details: Licensing and certification recommended for electricians

Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. Requirements vary by state. For more information, contact your local or state electrical licensing board. Many of the requirements can be found on the National Electrical Contractors Association’s website.

The tests have questions related to the National Electrical Code and state and local electrical codes, all of which set standards for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment.

Electricians may be required to take continuing education courses in order to maintain their licenses. These courses are usually related to safety practices, changes to the electrical code, and training from manufacturers in specific products.

Electricians may obtain additional certifications, which demonstrate competency in areas such as solar photovoltaic, electrical generating, or lighting systems.

Electricians may be required to have a driver’s license.

Education level of Electricians
Only 7% of electricians have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Education attained by electricians
None
High School
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Professional Degree
Doctorate
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Programs recommended by the Department of Education
The Department of Education recommends the following college degree programs as preparation for this career. You can click the program row to learn more about the program and explore a list of schools that offer the program.
Number of degrees awarded in 2018
Education
Education level of awarded degrees
Assoc./Cert.
Bachelor's
Graduate
Gender
Gender of graduates
Men
Women
Race/Origin
Race/origin of graduates
White
Minority
International
Where are the jobs
State-by-state employment numbers
Some careers tend to be centered in specific parts of the country. For example, most jobs in fashion are in New York or California. Let's see if your dream job is easy to find in your dream location! We have a few choices for viewing the data that can help you get a full employment picture.
Select a state to see local area details
Number of Electricians per 1,000 workers (ACS)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
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Job density versus job count
Which states hire the most electricians? We wonder if that's a fair question since states come in all sizes, so instead let's start with the question of which states have the highest density of people working as electricians. You can choose to view the number of jobs per state if you prefer.
Salaries by state
Let's get a feel for where electricians earn the highest salaries. There are several choices for which data we consider and how we view that data, and each can lead to different conclusions, so please read on...
Median salary versus state ratio
We use two methods to compare salaries across states:
  • In-state comparisons: the ratio of median (middle) salaries for electricians compared to the median salary for all people working in each state, or
  • Median salary: the unaltered median salaries for electricians.
We hope the ratio allows perspective about how salaries may compare to the regional cost-of-living.
The darkest shading corresponds to states in which electricians earn the highest salary when compared to other jobs in the state. We think this figure might be a better indicator than the actual salary for your buying power as a state resident.
Select a state to see local area details
Location-adjusted median salary for Electricians (ACS)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
Employment
6% of Electricians are working part time.
We’ve found that some jobs have a huge number of part-time workers, and typically that is because they are unable to find full-time work or the job itself can’t provide full-time hours. With 6% part-time workers, this occupation has a lower percentage of part-time workers than 71% of careers.
6%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Employer types
This donut shares the break-down of workers by employer type, giving us a picture of what employers most typically hire for this career.
Employers of undefined (ACS)
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Local government
State government
Federal government
Self-employed incorporated
Self-employed not incorporated
Working without pay
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Distribution: Salaries of electricians by type of employer
Here are the salary distributions based on employer type.
$50K$41K$50K$52K$60K$53K$51K$56K$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100,000$120,000Self-employed not incorporatedSelf-employed incorporatedFederal governmentState governmentLocal governmentPrivate not-for-profitPrivate for-profitAll
Gender
Electricians and gender
With 2% women, this occupation has a lower percentage of women than 94% of careers.
Gender of Electricians
Men (98%)
Women (2%)
Distribution: salaries by gender
Does gender greatly influence your salary in this career? The closer the bars are, the less discrepancy there is.
$42K$50K$0$100K$200K$300KWomenMen
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.
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Context: Women in the workforce
How does this career compare to other careers with regard to the percentage of women in the career.
2%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Context: Salary inequity
The median salary for all full-time male workers in the US exceeds the full-time median salary for women by 19%. The situation is a little better for electricians, with the median salary for men 19% higher than the median salary for women.
19%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Race/Origin
Race and origin of Electricians
This donut shows the distribution of race and origin among those employed as Electricians.
Race/origin of electricians
White (82% )
Black (7% )
Other (5% )
Multiracial (2% )
Asian (2% )
Hispanic (1% )
American Indian (1% )
Pacific Islander (0% )
Distribution: salaries by race/origin
Some careers might have a pay disparity based on race or origin, the closer the below bars are the less of a discrepancy is present.
$39K$42K$42K$43K$44K$51K$52K$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K$120KOtherAmerican IndianMultiracialBlackHispanicWhiteAsian
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.