Electrician Career Information

There were about 655,000 electrician jobs in 2004. Nearly two-thirds of wage and salary electricians were employed in the construction industry; the rest worked as maintenance electricians in other industries. Also, one in ten electricians worked for themselves.

Because of the widespread need for electricaians and electrical services, electrician jobs are found in all parts of the country. Of course the majority of the electrician jobs are in urban areas.

Electrician Job Growth

Employment of electricians should increase through the year 2014. As the population and economy grow, more electricians will be required to install and maintain electrical devices and wiring in houses, factories, office buildings, and other commercial an noncommercial structures. New technologies will increase the need for these electricians as well. For example, buildings need to be updated for the use of computers and telecommunications equipment. Also, the use of robots and other automated manufacturing systems will require more complex electrical wiring systems be installed and maintained. Additional opportunities will be created as historic structures are rehabilitated, which requires that they be brought up to meet current electrical codes.

In addition to the electrician jobs created by the demand for future electrical work, many job openings are expected to occur over the next ten years as a large amount of electricians get ready to retire. This will create excellent electrician job opportunities for the most qualified electricians.

Employment of electricians in construction, like that of many other construction workers, is sensitive to shifts in the nations economy. During economic downturns, electrician job openings are reduced as the level of construction activity decreases. Electrician apprenticeship opportunities also are limited during these down periods.

Maintenance electricians have steadier job opportunities than those in construction, those working in the automotive industry may be laid off during economic downturns as well. Also, opportunities for maintenance electricians may be limited in many industries by the current trend of outsourcing electrical services. However, increased electrician job opportunities by those electrician outsourcing firms should partially offset job losses.

Electrican Salary Information

2004 median hourly earnings of electricians were $20.30. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of electricians in 2004 were as follows:

Electician apprentices tend to start at about half the hourly rate of the rate paid to fully trained electricians. However, as electrician apprentices become more skilled, they get periodic pay increases.