Job Description - Electrician:
An electrician installs wiring, fuses and other electrical components in homes, businesses and factories. He or she also maintains that wiring. In addition to working with high voltage wiring, many electricians install and maintain voice, data and video wiring. An electrician can specialize in either maintenance or construction, but many work in both areas.
Employment Facts - Electrician:
There were 705,000 electricians employed in 2006.
Educational Requirements - Electrician:
To become an electrician one must enroll in an apprenticeship program that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced electricians. To enroll in such a program, one must have a high school diploma or a GED, and must be at least 18 years old. These apprenticeship programs generally last four years and include 144 hours of classroom instruction and 2000 hours of on-the job training each year.
Other Requirements - Electrician:
Most states and municipalities require electricians to be licenced. To obtain a license one must pass an exam that tests knowledge of electrical theory, the National Electrical Code and local electrical and building codes. An electrician must have good manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination. He or she must be physically fit and have a good sense of balance. Because an electrician must be able to identify wires by color, good color vision is necessary.
Advancement Opportunities - Electrician:
Experienced electricians have many opportunities for advancement. They can become supervisors. An electrician who works in construction can become a project manager. Some electricians opt to go into business for themselves and become contractors. An electrician can also become an electrical inspector for a municipality.
Job Outlook - Electrician:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be average job growth for electricians through 2016. An increased demand for electrical work as well the retirement of a large number of electricians will lead to good job prospects over the next several years.
Earnings - Electrician:
Median annual earnings of electricians were $44,780 in 2007. Median hourly wages were $21.53.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much an electrician currently earns in your city.
A Day in an Electrician's Life:
On a typical day an electrician's tasks might include:
- Connecting wires to circuit breakers, transformers or other components.
- Repairing or replacing wiring, equipment and fixtures, using hand tools and power tools.
- Assembling, installing, testing and maintaining electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus and fixtures, using hand tools and power tools.
- Testing electrical systems and continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures, using testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters and oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
- Planning layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
- Inspecting electrical systems, equipment and components to identify hazards, defects and the need for adjustment or repair and to ensure compliance with codes.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Electricians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm (visited March 05, 2009).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Electricians, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/47-2111.00 (visited March 05, 2009).
