Career Profile: Electricians

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 711,200 people employed as electricians in the United States. The median annual salary is $60,040. Entry level employees earn approximately $37,020 per year and senior employees earn approximately $99,800 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.
• Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
• Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.
• Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
• Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
• 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.
• Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.
• Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
• Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem.
• Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
• Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.
• Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
• Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
• Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
• Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
• Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
• Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.
• Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications.
• Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects.
• Provide assistance during emergencies by operating floodlights or generators, placing flares, or driving needed vehicles.
• Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services.

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