How To Become An
Electrician
What Do Electricians Do?
Electricians install and maintain wiring. In kitchen and baths, that means electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems. Electricians read blueprints to determine where circuits, outlets, panel boards and other electrical components are to be found or placed. Electricians must be able to see color clearly in order to correctly identify wire colors.
With smart home technology integral to the performance of kitchens and bathrooms, it’s an exciting time to consider becoming an electrician.
Electrician Hourly Wage
$26.53/hr
Median wage source: BLS
Electrician Skill Set
Basic Math
Problem Solving
Technologically Savvy
Manual Dexterity
Electrician Working Conditions
Physically Demanding
High Voltage
Climbing
Confined Spaces
Electrician Apprentice: Get paid while you learn. Apprenticeships are offered by unions and private employers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most apprentice programs are four or five years.
Journeyman Electrician: The next career step is journeyman, working under the supervision of a Master Electrician. Most jurisdictions require licensing as well as ongoing learning to ensure that electricians are always at the forefront of industry knowledge.
Master Electrician: A journeyman electrician may choose to advance to a Master Electrician, after meeting a minimum number of on-the-job training hours under the supervision of a Master Electrician. In most cases, a Master Electrician license is a prerequisite for owning an electrical business.