Construction, maintenance and service: three versions of the job
Electricians install, maintain and repair electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems. Where you work decides which part of that you do most. About 66% of electricians work for electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors. Many of them are on new construction, where wiring goes in before walls close up. This is often less complicated than maintenance work in existing buildings, where wiring is harder to reach and the job is about diagnosing faults. Manufacturing employs 6%, mostly as maintenance or industrial electricians who keep motors, controls and machinery running. Sample job titles show the range: inside wireman, control electrician, electrical troubleshooter, industrial electrician, housing maintenance electrician and paper mill electrician.
About 7% are self-employed. Many of them work in residential construction and service, where customer skills and quoting matter as much as wiring. Electricians at large companies usually work in crews and direct helpers and apprentices; many others work alone. Line workers who build power lines are a separate occupation.
Why demand is growing
Employment is projected to grow from 821,000 jobs to 896,900 over the next decade, an increase of 75,900, or 9%. That is much faster than the average for all occupations. There are several reasons. Nearly every building needs power systems installed and replaced. Solar and wind generation must be linked to homes, businesses and the grid. And the growing use of artificial intelligence and the data centers behind it are expected to raise electricity demand, which requires grid upgrades and new infrastructure. About 72,700 openings are projected each year, many to replace electricians who retire or change occupations.
What electricians earn, and where
The median wage is $30.38 an hour, or $63,190 a year. The middle half earn between $49,430 and $83,940, and the top 10% more than $108,510. Official wage statistics are not broken down by years of experience, so any "apprentice salary" or "master electrician salary" figure you see elsewhere does not come from these official data.
Oregon has the highest median at $101,310, followed by Illinois ($99,560) and Hawaii ($96,460). The largest job markets are Texas (76,770 jobs, median $58,570), California (73,310, median $76,160), Florida (49,700, median $57,250), New York (40,130, median $78,750) and Ohio (28,950, median $64,700). In California and New York, the top 10% earned more than $140,340 and $131,640, while in Texas and Florida the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,920 and $38,190. A high state median often comes with a higher cost of living, so compare both before you move for pay.
How to get in and move up
You need a high school diploma or equivalent. From there, most people apply to an apprenticeship. Union programs run through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the electrical training ALLIANCE, and non-union programs through contractor associations such as Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC). Apprenticeships last 4 or 5 years, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training per year plus classes in electrical theory, blueprint reading, math, code requirements, safety and first aid. Some electrical contractors run their own training programs, which are not registered apprenticeships. Some people start as electrician helpers or at a technical school, which usually earns credit toward an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship.gov and your state apprenticeship agency list openings.
After the apprenticeship you are a journey worker. Most states then require a licensing exam on the National Electrical Code and state and local codes, and continuing education to keep the license. With more experience and further requirements, journey workers can become master electricians, supervisors or project managers. Specialty certifications, for example in solar photovoltaic systems through NABCEP, can open work on energy projects.
The honest downsides
Working with electricity is dangerous; accidents can be fatal, and shocks, falls and burns are the common injuries. The job means long periods of standing and kneeling, cramped spaces, heights, dust and fumes, and for outdoor work, heat, cold and bad weather. Almost all electricians work full time, overtime is common, and evening and weekend work happens. Commuting to changing worksites, sometimes long distances, is part of the job. Because licenses are issued by states and requirements vary, moving to another state can mean meeting new licensing rules before you can work there on your own.