Electrician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an electrician. Feel free to use our electrician job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an electrician.
Who is an Electrician?
Electricians work in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial, installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical systems. Typically, they are in charge of power, lighting, and communication systems.
An electrician is a licensed professional who is skilled in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems and equipment. Electricians can work in both residential and commercial settings, on businesses’ electrical equipment and machinery, and voice and data systems in some cases. An electrician may be responsible for installing electrical wires and ensuring that they function properly in a new building, rectifying problems with an existing system, or expanding an electrical system.
There are various levels of electricians, ranging from apprentice to master. Electrical contractors may work for a company or operate their own business. For the majority of people, becoming a master electrician, the highest level available, will take years.
Electricians are a highly sought-after category of skilled professionals who earn a living at every stage of their careers. To work as a licensed electrician, you must adhere to local and state regulations, but once you obtain your license, your payment will typically be higher than that of unlicensed apprentice electricians. If you advance to the highest level of an electrician, master electrician, or electrician contractor, you will gain significantly more autonomy and flexibility in addition to receiving a higher salary.
Inside wiremen are electricians who focus almost exclusively on building wiring. The structures range from newly constructed homes to older industrial structures that have been repurposed for a new purpose. As their name implies, inside wiremen spend the majority of their careers working indoors. They install new electrical systems in new buildings and troubleshoot or replace older systems using blueprints.
By contrast, outside linemen spend the majority of their careers outdoors. They must maintain a moderate level of physical fitness due to the requirement to climb telephone and power poles in the absence of a lift bucket. Outside linemen must also endure inclement weather to restore power to all affected homes, businesses, and other structures. These electricians are responsible for the maintenance of transformers, transmission lines, and traffic signals. Additionally, they may be required to prune trees or erect electrical substations.
These broad categories are further divided into several subcategories.
For example, service electricians are experts at troubleshooting wiring problems and performing repairs.
By contrast, construction electricians specialize in wiring new buildings and rarely perform maintenance. Additionally, electricians specialize in marine, aviation, research, and hospital-related applications.
Depending on your location, you will typically need a master electrician or electrical contractor license to work independently, but there are numerous benefits, including having complete control over the type of work you accept, your schedule, and the amount of money you earn on each job.
Electricians are also responsible for designing, installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting electrical wiring systems.
These systems may be installed in residential, commercial, or industrial structures, as well as in machines and large pieces of equipment. Electricians work in both indoor and outdoor environments to enable the use of lights, televisions, industrial equipment, appliances, and a variety of other essential items.
Depending on their specialty, electricians work year-round either indoors or outdoors. In either case, their work is frequently physically demanding and requires manual manipulation of electrical wiring, cabling conduit, and, in some cases, even telephone wire. An increasing number of electricians develop proficiency in a variety of electrical tasks, enabling them to work both indoors and outdoors.
Travel is frequently an integral part of the day. Electricians may travel up to 100 miles to a job site and may only stay for a few days before relocating. These electricians are typically self-employed or work for an electrical contractor. Their weekly schedules vary.
Electrician Job Description
Below are the electrician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an electrician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an electrician include the following:
- Deciphering technical diagrams and blueprints.
- Conducting routine electrical maintenance.
- Inspecting transformers, circuit breakers, and other electrical components
- Utilizing the appropriate testing devices to troubleshoot electrical problems.
- Replacing and repairing equipment, electrical wiring, and fixtures
- Adhering to the National Electrical Code and applicable state and local building codes.
- Comprehending and applying blueprints and technical diagrams where necessary
- Conducting visual inspections of electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers.
- Utilizing testing instruments to locate and report electrical problems.
- Utilizing both hand and power tools
- Maintaining records of materials utilized
- Configuring and testing computer systems by connecting cables and jacks and plugs.
- Conducting inspections, troubleshooting, and testing.
- Identifying issues with the help of a variety of testing devices.
- Utilizing a variety of hand and power tools safely.
- Creating a layout for the electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
Other important tasks include the following:
- Install Electrical Systems
Electricians are responsible for the installation of electrical panels, switches, light fixtures, motors, and electrical circuits. They are aware of the safety precautions associated with installation and are proficient with hand tools.
- Conduct Electrical Repairs
Electricians troubleshoot electrical systems using tools and instruments such as drills, wrenches, pliers, and clamp-on ammeters. They maintain systems to keep them operating smoothly and efficiently.
- Maintain Customer Relationships
Electrical contractors provide superior customer service. They are courteous and helpful when responding to customer questions or comments.
- Keep Logs and Records
Maintaining records of maintenance and repair activities enables electricians to keep track of their labor as well as the materials and supplies they use. They accurately and timely report on these logs.
- Examine Blueprints
Electricians are familiar with the operation of generators, panels, and circuits. They decipher blueprints and interpret drawings on machinery operation and installation.
Qualifications
- Completing an apprenticeship as an electrician.
- Work experience as an electrician.
- Diploma from a high school.
- Driver’s license in good standing.
- A technical college degree in electrical engineering.
- Comprehensive knowledge of electrical systems, power generation, blueprints, and maintenance and repair.
- Extensive experience in the field of renewable energy.
Essential Skills
- Possess electrical knowledge
Electricians must possess the necessary qualifications and experience to perform their jobs, let alone perform them well. This knowledge is the result of years of hands-on practice and training that has resulted in a firm grasp of electrical wiring and theory. However, it all begins with a strong mathematical and reading comprehension foundation.
- Knowledge of algebra
As an electrician, you’ll be required to calculate and measure currents, volts, and cable lengths, among other things. Having a firm grasp of algebra enables you to work accurately and precisely, which is critical when dealing with electricity. Additionally, reading comprehension is required because you will be reading and interpreting rules and standards consistently. The ability to see a drawing or read instructions correctly enables you to make prudent, safe, and accurate decisions.
- Communication skills
At each location, you will interact with others, whether they are fellow electricians, contractors, homeowners, or architects. Maintaining contact with all parties involved in a project, accurately and timely articulating any issues, and being able to explain complex processes to those who may not have the same understanding are all critical components of effective communication. Additionally, these characteristics will enable you to comprehend the project’s vision and deliver a superior product. Not to mention that strong communication skills can help you get rehired and advance your career.
- Analytical skills
Almost every job will present an opportunity for critical thinking. There may be new fixtures or complicated wiring tasks that you haven’t encountered before. Each of these situations will require you to think quickly and decisively to determine the most appropriate solution and tools for the job. Being comfortable working in situations that require analytical thinking to solve problems is critical to career success.
Additionally, when you begin your career as an electrician, the majority of your equipment will be brand new! Having these skills enables you to expand your knowledge base and navigate complex problems successfully.
- Dependability
Since you will be interacting with a large number of people on job sites, you must be dependable. Are you punctual with phone calls and appointments? Do you complete projects on time and within a reasonable budget? Consistently adhere to the most current standards and protocols? If you answered yes to all of those, you will increase your chances of being referred.
Apart from being personally dependable, the work you do must also be dependable. Others will construct upon it. Your work should consistently solve the problem on time and follow the specifications.
- Focus
Although this is a broad term, it primarily refers to time management. A critical component of being a good electrician is developing and adhering to a schedule. This will require considerable concentration on your part to ensure that you are working efficiently and effectively managing your time.
How to Become an Electrician
- Earn a high school diploma or obtain a GED (approximately four years)
A high school diploma or GED is required to begin work as an electrician apprentice. For the majority of students, earning a high school diploma or GED takes four years.
- Attend a vocational school (nine months to two years)
In many states, this is an optional step for electricians. Some electrician trade school programs are nine months long and can be completed in nine months, while others are two-year associate-level programs. A vocational program such as this can expose students to important concepts for electricians, such as local building codes, electrical theory, and workplace safety.
While it is possible to become an electrician without attending trade school in some areas, if you want to begin your apprenticeship with a solid foundation of knowledge, trade school can be an excellent place to start.
- Successful completion of on-the-job training (4,000 to 12,000 hours)
The most critical component of becoming an electrician is on-the-job training. You will initially be classified as an apprentice electrician. In some states, you may be required to obtain a license to work as an apprentice, while in others, you can begin working as an apprentice immediately after completing high school or a GED program. There are organizations located throughout the United States that can assist you in obtaining employment as an apprentice electrician, and you will almost certainly be required to apply, much like you would for an internship.
Once you begin working as an electrician, the next steps are location-dependent. To become a licensed electrician in many states, the first step is to become a journeyman electrician, which requires between 4,000 and 8,000 work hours, depending on the state’s requirements. If you work full-time and live in a state that requires 4,000 hours, you can earn your journeyman electrician license in two years, with a few weeks off for vacation.
Becoming a master electrician requires additional work experience, with some states requiring up to 12,000 hours of work. That would take approximately six years if you worked full time.
- Complete the electrician licensing examination
Again, depending on your state of residence, you may be required to pass an examination to obtain your license. This is generally to demonstrate that you possess the necessary knowledge to perform electrical work safely. You’ll need to determine how frequently the exam is offered, how to register, and whether there is a fee. It’s a good idea to research the requirements in advance so that you can register for a test as soon as you reach the required experience level.
- Obtain a license as an electrician
Depending on your career goals and where you live, you may need to repeat this step multiple times. If you live in a state that requires licenses for apprentice electricians, journeyman electricians, master electricians, and electrician contractors and wish to achieve all of those levels, you will eventually obtain four electrician licenses throughout your career. In most states, the journeyman electrician is the first stage of becoming a licensed electrician, and it takes approximately two or three years from the start of your training to becoming licensed.
If you want to become an electrician contractor and run your own business, it will likely take six or more years. Bear in mind that regardless of the type of license you obtain, you will typically need to renew it regularly to maintain your status. Additionally, you must obtain separate state or local licenses for each area in which you work.
Where to Work as an Electrician
Electricians work both indoors and outdoors on residential, commercial, industrial, and construction sites.
Electrician Salary Scale
Electricians earn an average annual salary of $60,906 in the United States.