EXPLORING ELECTRICAL AS A CAREER
Choosing a career in the electrical trade means working in a job that positively impacts your community. The overall health of the community depends on the skilled trades because these professions keep the lights on, maintain a clean water supply, and safeguard indoor air quality.
The job opportunities available in the trades are vast, particularly in the electrical trade. Did you know that electricians work in places like solar power plants, hospitals, and even IT data centers? Basically, wherever you need power and light, you’ll find an electrician.
Wherever you want to be in the world, the skilled trades can take you there. To see if electrical is right for you, take our quiz!
Electrical
Choosing a career in the electrical trade means working in a job that positively impacts your community. The overall health of the community depends on the skilled trades because these professions maintain a clean water supply, safeguard indoor air quality, and keep the lights on.
The job opportunities available in the trades, specifically in the electrical trade, are vast. Did you know that electricians work in places like solar power plants, hospitals, and even IT data centers? Basically, wherever you need power and light, you’ll find an electrician.
Wherever you want to be in the world, the skilled trades can take you there!
WHY SHOULD I PURSUE AN ELECTRICAL CAREER?
Electrical career paths are stable, well-paid, and full of long-term opportunities. Here are six reasons to join the ranks of electrician professionals:
1. ON THE JOB TRAINING
Working with electricity doesn’t require years of schooling, unlike other career paths. Electricians can be trained on the job in an apprenticeship and begin earning a wage immediately.
Apprenticeships last approximately four years and consist of 8,000 hours of hands-on and classroom learning without the burden of student loan debt.
2. GREAT INCOME
The electrical trade offers excellent earning potential. Based on the 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the average salary of a trade electrician in the United States is $72,950 per year.
3. JOBS ARE AVAILABLE NOW
Across the country, the demand for skilled tradespeople continues to grow. According to 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034.
4. ELECTRICIANS POWER INNOVATION
In the electrical trade, new technologies such as energy-efficient lighting, smart thermostats, wind turbines, and solar power are transforming how energy is used and conserved. These technologies reduce carbon footprints and save consumers money on their electricity bills by reducing energy usage and increasing overall efficiency, making them environmentally friendly. You can take pride in the fact that you’re improving the lives of homeowners through the electrical trade.
5. ELECTRICAL IS STEM
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that span multiple industries and impact our daily lives in various ways. STEM propels our future workforce forward to stability, career growth, and success.
6. ELECTRICAL SUPPORTS SUSTAINABILITY
The electrical trade is at the forefront of sustainability. With the development of new energy-efficient technology and increasing customer demand, working in the electrical trade offers a career that’s always growing and expanding.
See the examples below to learn how the electrical trade is providing more energy-efficient options and reducing its environmental impact:
- Solar Panels: Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy and are used in a variety of settings, including commercial and residential buildings.
- Wind Turbines: Wind turbines convert wind into electrical energy.
- LED Lights: Simply switching lightbulbs over to LED from incandescent lighting uses 75% less energy – and they last longer, too.
- Smart Thermostats: New smart thermostats can keep track of a home’s energy use. These devices regulate the temperature in a home and can be adjusted throughout the day using a smartphone.
See sustainability at work in the plumbing and HVAC trades!
YOUR ELECTRICAL CAREER JOURNEY
An electrical career grows with you. With each stage comes new skills, higher earning potential, and greater opportunities for leadership or business ownership.
What is an Apprenticeship?
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ELECTRICIANS: APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN, & MASTER
Before you reach the top of your craft as an electrician, you’ll have to hit a few steps along the way. You’ll start with an apprenticeship before becoming a journeyman electrician and then a master electrician.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Electricians: Understanding the Difference
There are a few steps along the way to getting to the top of your craft as an electrician. First, you have to complete your apprenticeship.
From School to the Skilled Trades : BECOMING AN ELECTRICIAN
Have you ever wondered which high school classes prepare you for a career in the trades?
Check out the series of downloads that illustrate the connections between high school and the skilled trades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Being an Electrician a Trade?
Yes, electrical work is a skilled trade. Electricians are highly trained professionals who work in a hands-on, technical field. Like plumbing and HVAC, the electrical trade offers a stable and rewarding career path that doesn’t require a traditional four-year degree.
What Kind of Work Is Involved in the Electrical Trade?
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial settings. This includes reading blueprints, working with wiring and circuits, ensuring code compliance, and sometimes specializing in areas like solar power or automation. It’s a dynamic field that blends problem-solving with real-world impact.
What Can Electricians Do?
Electricians can work in a variety of environments, from residential construction and commercial buildings to industrial plants. They install lighting systems, troubleshoot power issues, upgrade electrical panels, or even work in renewable energy sectors. With experience, electricians can also become contractors, supervisors, or business owners.
What Are the Benefits of Being an Electrician?
A career as an electrician offers strong job security, a high earning potential, and the opportunity to work in a field that’s always in demand and constantly evolving. Electricians often enjoy flexible job paths, the ability to work independently, low student debt thanks to apprenticeships, and the satisfaction of seeing the results of their work every day.
Is Being an Electrician a Good Career?
Absolutely. Becoming an electrician is a smart, future-proof career choice. It combines technical skill, lifelong learning, and strong job growth. Whether you’re just starting out or switching careers, the electrical trade offers long-term opportunities in a fast-changing world.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician?
Most electricians complete a four- to five-year apprenticeship, which includes paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction. After finishing an apprenticeship and passing licensing exams (requirements vary by state), individuals are qualified to work as journeyman licensed electricians.
From School to the Skilled Trades : Electrical
Have you ever wondered which high school classes prepare you for a career in the trades?
Check out the series of downloads that illustrate the connections between high school and the skilled trades.