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 Become an Electrician?
ON THE JOB TRAINING
Working with electricity is different from other career paths that require years of schooling. Electricians can be trained on the job in an apprenticeship and begin earning a wage immediately!
Apprenticeships are approximately four years long and consist of 8,000 hours of hands-on and classroom learning without the burden of student loan debt.
INCOME
There is great earning potential as an electrician. Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 data, the average salary of an electrician in the United States is $60,040 per year
JOBS ARE AVAILABLE NOW
The demand for skilled tradespeople continues to grow across the country. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data in 2021, employment of electricians is projected to grow 7% from 2021-2031.
STEM AND THE SKILLED TRADES
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propel our future workforce forward to stability, career growth and success. STEM is the skilled trade of electrical.
electricity and the environment
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts that the demand for qualified electricians will explode in the next ten years. In fact, they expect more than 85,900 new electrician jobs to be created between 2014 and 2024, which is a staggering 14% increase. Based on their analysis of the growth of various industries and professions, this is significantly higher than average.
When considering becoming an electrician you are considering a career path that grants you the opportunity to find a job today. The demand for skilled tradespeople continues to grow across the USA.
“Right now, American manufacturing is struggling to fill 200,000 vacant positions. There are 450,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. The Skills Gap is real, and it’s getting wider. In Alabama, a third of all skilled tradesmen are over 55. They’re retiring fast, and no one is there to replace them.”
– Mike Rowe
As an electrician you will experience the opportunity for advancement in your career. After starting as a service technician, hard-working and committed electricians can become promoted to field managers, operation managers and even distribution managers within their company and field.
Electrical Jobs
A career as an electrician offers great pay, benefits, job security and professional satisfaction. Explore The Trades is your complete resource for everything you need to get started and advance your career. Connect with the right people, the right information and get the right answers to get your career in gear!
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.
Sustainability in the Electrical Trade
The electrical trade is at the forefront of sustainability. With new energy-efficient technology being developed and customer demand increasing, working in the electrical trade provides you with a career that is always growing and expanding.
See the examples below to learn how the electrical trade is providing more energy-efficient options and reducing the environmental impact.
- Solar panels: Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy and are used in a variety of settings including commercial and residential buildings.
- Winds Turbines: Wind turbines convert wind into electrical energy.
- LED Lights: Simply switching lightbulbs over to LED from incandescent lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts longer.
- Smart Thermostats: New smart thermostats can keep track of a home’s energy use. These devices raise or lower the temperature in a home and may be adjusted throughout the day using a smart phone.
See sustainability at work in the plumbing and HVAC trades!
Have you ever wondered which high school classes prepare you for a career in the trades?
We’ve created a brand-new series of downloads that illustrate the connections between high school and the skilled trades.
Learn more about classes that prepare you for the electrical trade! Download “From School to the Skilled Trades.”
