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

How to Become an Electrician

Most electricians learn the craft as an apprentice, although some also enroll in a technical school.

Things to Keep After High School

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.