Your Guide To Becoming A Journeyman Electrician

ZenTrades

Your Guide To Becoming A Journeyman Electrician

Field Service Management
September 24, 2024
9 Min Read

In our society, the role of electrical workers is paramount. With heavy dependency on electrical systems, we are surrounded by these in our day-to-day lives that we cannot do without.

Electricians are these irreplaceable units that lend us a hand and help us go about our day smoothly. More than being just a career path, the role of electricians is requisite for all individuals to stay assured that their electrical systems are in good hands.

If you are someone who is adequate at handling electrical equipment and conducting electrical work, then this career path just might be for you!

Furthermore, working as an electrician is a prevalent domain in which you can have an extensive career. It’s also competitive and challenging, with a great earning range! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for electricians was $61,590 per year in 2013, which equates to $29.61 per hour.

Working as an electrician comes in three levels: apprentice electricians, journeymen electricians, and master electricians.

If you’re planning to become a journeyman electrician or are even in the initial phases of consideration, then this guide is for you! Keep reading till the end to understand what steps to take to become a successful journeyman electrician.

What does it take to be a journeyman electrician?

Considering a career in electrical systems while working as a journeyman electrician can be demanding yet electrifying! To become a journeyman electrician means that you have passed the initial phases of working as an apprentice electrician and are now hoping to advance in your career path.

The most basic requirements for becoming a journeyman electrician are being adept at electrical codes, having substantial on-the-job training, and having four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.

Journeyman electricians usually work independently, while a major chunk works for a general contractor or the construction industry. They also work as a residential electrician for various residential buildings, working on their power lines and security systems whilst building their forte in the specific domain. Aspiring electricians who wish to enter the electrical trade business need to know how to handle various electrical tools and equipment, install light fixtures and security systems, and test existing electrical systems. To qualify for the journeyman electrician position, you must attend apprenticeship programs or technical school. You don’t primarily need education and schooling to qualify for the position, but you must have enough on-the-job experience to meet the qualification requirements.

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Experience as a journeyman electrician

As a journeyman electrician, you need to have a thorough understanding of all kinds of electrical work, ranging from:

Identifying and troubleshooting electrical systems, circuit breakers, and wiring issues
Reading and interpreting blueprints and diagrams
Providing training and support to apprenticeship electricians
Working on fixtures and control systems in various types of establishments (residential, commercial, and industrial)

How long does it take to become a journeyman electrician?

To become a journeyman electrician, you must first pass the training phase, aka level one—the apprentice electrician. You need hours of training, years of work experience, and a state-level license to qualify for the position. Some aspiring electricians attend technical school, but it’s not mandatory as they can also opt to learn through an apprenticeship program.

To become a journeyman electrician, you need to prove your expertise as an apprentice electrician first.

From apprentice to journeyman: the transition phase

First things first, you need to hone your electrical skills in the apprentice phase. As an apprentice, you hone your skills to a certain degree to qualify for the next step: a journeyman electrician. Aspiring electricians need a four—to five-year apprenticeship program with hours of classroom training. Apart from that, they need almost 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, succeeded by licensing exams, to qualify for the journeyman electrician position.

During the apprenticeship level, you will be accompanied by a master electrician who will provide you with any necessary help. They will guide and help you hone your skills so that you can easily jump to the next level and work independently without the support of a senior electrician.

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What comes after journeyman electrician?

Once you have advanced from an apprentice electrician to a journeyman electrician, the next step would be to rise to the level of a master electrician. As a master electrician, you are responsible for more critical and complex jobs that require enhanced skill sets and hours of training as a journeyman electrician.

A master electrician is responsible for the harder parts of the job, from overseeing project management to contributing to the planning and creation of blueprints. This is why it is the highest level of licensure one can achieve in an electrical career field. Master electricians are essential for projects involving permits, complex installations, and drafting blueprints or mechanical plans.

One amazing aspect of being a master electrician is that you are qualified to be an independent electrical contractor and open your own service business. Basically, gearing up to evolve as an entrepreneur!

But being a master electrician does not come easy. Apart from the four years of the apprenticeship program and hours of classroom training, you need additional soft and hard skills to meet the standards of a master electrician qualification. You need at least 18000 to 20000 hours to advance to the next level by taking a master electrician exam.

Differences Between a Journeyman & A Master Electrician

Journeyman electricians are at an intermediate level in the electrical field, whereas master electricians are in senior positions. Master electricians are adept at the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), which is a prime requirement at that level of seniority. Apprentice electricians definitely and journeyman electricians sometimes both need a senior supervisor to supervise their work and provide them with some on-site training. Master electricians, on the other hand, don’t need any supervision. They work independently and have the authority even to start their own business and work as a self-employed electrical contractor.

Journeymen electricians are on their way to becoming master electricians, with proper training and adequate on-site work experience. As much as the load of responsibilities for both levels varies, the pay range also varies to a certain extent. That is obvious as master electricians have more skill sets and experience, making them robust field professionals.

While the average pay for journeymen electricians can range from 60k to 70k dollars per year, the average pay for master electricians ranges from 70k to 80k dollars. In the next section, we will discuss the salary structure of journeyman electricians in detail.

How much do journeyman electricians make?

According to Zippia, the average salary for entry-level journeymen electricians is $35k per year. However, the median pay for mid-level journeymen electricians is $45k, whereas a senior-level journeyman earns around $64k per year with an hourly rate of $26.21.

The average pay for a journeyman electrician is around $54,526 per year, but it tends to be higher for those with extensive experience.

Regardless, the salary for journeymen electricians can vary from state to state in the US, with New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Washington positioned as the highest-paying cities.

Conclusion

Being an electrician is a solid career path for you if you wish to continuously upgrade yourself in the field. With hard work, adequate practice, and patience, it can be as easy as a pie to rise to an expert level. And once you have made that throne for yourself, you can just start your own electrical business and create your own brand of services.

Do you wish to start your own electrical trade business? If you’re unsure how to proceed, we have something for you! With ZenElectrical, setting up and managing your business is a breeze. Just get on a call with us on how you want to set up your business, and we will be there for you at each step. Join us for a personalized demo today!