Career Information: Electrician (page 2)

How do you get ready?  

Most electricians start by becoming apprentices. As apprentices, they learn on the job. They watch and listen to experienced workers. They also take classes about electricity. They get paid while they learn. After 3 to 5 years, they are fully trained and can work on their own.

Apprentices start with easy tasks like drilling holes. Later, they learn to connect wires and draw electrical diagrams.

In class, apprentices learn blueprint reading, electronics, math, safety, and rules about electricity.

After they finish an apprenticeship, many electricians take more classes. They might learn more about telephone lines, computer lines, and other kinds of special wiring. Most electricians also need a license from the county where they work.

To become an apprentice, most people need a high school diploma or a G.E.D. They also need to pass a math and science test.

To get ready for the test, it helps to take high school classes in science, shop, and technical drawing. Math classes, like algebra, are also very important. After high school, people can get training in technical schools, community colleges, and the U.S. Armed Forces.

How much does this job pay?    

In 2006, the middle half of electricians earned between $16.07 and $27.71 an hour. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $12.76. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $34.95. People who worked in car factories made the most.

Apprentices are paid while they learn.

How many jobs are there?    

There were 705,000 electricians working in 2006. Most worked in construction or maintenance. About 11 percent worked for themselves.

What about the future?  

Electricians are expected to have good job opportunities. There will be lots of job openings every year.

Jobs are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. As the population grows, more electricians will be needed to bring electricity to more homes, factories, and other places. They also will be needed to install wire for computers and telecommunications. More factories will be using robots that electricians fix.

Are there other jobs like this?   

• Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
• Line installers and repairers
• Electrical and electronics installers and repairers
• Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
• Elevator installers and repairers

Where can you find more information?   

More BLS information about electricians can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job.