Step 1

Get your high school diploma or GED.

An electrician needs a foundation in math (i.e., one year of algebra), science (i.e., physics) and practical courses (i.e., electronics).

Step 2

Get formal training.

Complete an apprenticeship program or training at a local trade school.

Step 3

Get licensed.

Although electrician licensing requirements vary from area to area, electricians usually must pass a location-specific examination that tests their knowledge of electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, and local electric and building codes.

Step 4

Get working.

Residential service careers are in demand all over the country.

THE ELECTRICIAN CAREER PATH

You can take advantage of any of these opportunities when you choose the electrical trade.

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

New technologies in energy consumption and money-saving are more popular now than ever. Choosing a career as an electrician means you’ll be at the forefront of advances like solar panels and electric vehicles! in environmental science to save important energy resources. You can be proud of the fact that you’re not only improving the lives of homeowners through the electrical trade, but you’ll also be saving the planet.