Electrician Job Description: What You Need To Know

ZenTrades

Electrician Job Description: What You Need To Know

ZenElectrical
October 11, 2024
9 Min Read

Paving your path towards becoming a master electrician is not just about acing your tests and getting your licensure. It is also about being responsible and accountable for installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems that play an imperative part in our day-to-day lives. An electrician job description includes having in-depth knowledge of electrical wiring and all kinds of electrical equipment, as well as specialized knowledge of electrical components.

In short, it is not just about the skills but also the seriousness the job takes. When an electrical hindrance is caused, such as a power outage or a short circuit failure, these individuals you call on a priority to help assess the situation and provide mitigatory solutions. They are also responsible for keeping your electrical systems safe, which can help prevent electric shocks, fires, and other severe hazards.

The need and demand for electricians in this society are paramount. As we evolve into a more advanced lifestyle, we will need them more than ever, especially in the United States. According to Forbes, in 2019, states like New York, Hawaii, and Minnesota saw an increase of 10 to 20 percent in the salary growth of electricians in the years 2013 to 2018, and is expected to be more with the passing years.

If you are an aspiring electrician or just trying to understand the scope of this career before you get your foot in the door, you have come to the right place. In this blog post, we will take you through the various roles and responsibilities shuddered by electricians and how to rank up in this career path to make a solid earning to live a satisfactory life.

Job Overview And Responsibilities

Before you decide whether this career path is for you, it’s vital to be aware of what the scope of the job entails. An average electrician’s responsibilities in 2024 entail all basic duties, such as:

Basic problem-solving skills and attention to detail while conducting electrical work or checking for electrical issues
Interpreting and crafting blueprints and technical diagrams
Extensive knowledge of electrical codes and complex electrical systems using power tools such as wire strippers, various other hand tools, and testing equipment.
Hands-on electrical experience with years of the apprenticeship program and guided under senior technicians
Installing and repairing circuit breakers, lighting systems, electrical wires, safety equipment
Adhering to safety regulations and safety procedures to make the area code compliant and according to local and government standards.
Inspection and maintenance of electrical systems to ensure efficient distribution of electrical power

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Education, Training, and Certifications

To qualify for the position and job role of an electrician, you need to have prior educational and training requirements. This ensures that you are equipped with the necessary skills and training to become adept as an experienced electrician and jump to the next levels of expertise without any challenges. It can also help you move forward and advance to the level of electrical contractors, which is usually the main goal of all electricians who wish to start their own businesses and maximize their revenue output.

Stage 1: Pre-apprenticeship Preparation

First and foremost, as an aspiring electrician, you need to gain significant education and training as an apprentice electrician. Before you start on your apprenticeship journey, it is essential that you have the following fulfill the following requirements:

At least 18 years of age
A high school diploma
A valid driver’s license
Drug test pass certificate

Stage 2: Apprenticeship

Once the aforementioned criteria are fulfilled, you can look for apprenticeship programs or trade schools near you to obtain the minimum training requirements to become a journeyman. Getting into an apprenticeship requires passing an aptitude test followed by an interview, which is the general template when you are looking for an IBEW local apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship programs require a minimum of 4 to 5 years of training, encompassing 800 classroom instruction hours and almost 8,000 hours of on-field training. Subsequently, you need to take the journeyman electrical exam to get your licensure to practice as a mid-level electrician and work on independent electrical projects.

Stage 3: Journeyman

As a journeyman electrician, you need an additional 8000 hours of training by working on independent projects or under the guidance of master electricians. This can take almost 2 to 4 years, which gives you ample time to gear yourself up with the necessary skills and expertise to become eligible for the master electrician examination.

Stage 4: Mastership

A master electrician licensure is the highest level of certification available on this career path. Once you have reached that stage, you are now free to get your own electrical projects and supervise other junior electricians in their training.

Stage 5: Electrical Contractor

Once you have gained considerable work experience as an electrician and have obtained your licensure as a master electrician, you are now eligible to start your very own electrical contractor business. To become an electrical contractor, most states require an electrical contractor licensure to ensure that you have the appropriate skillset to start and run an electrical business of your own.

Other Electrician Certifications

Apart from the above-mentioned licensing requirements, there are a plethora of available certifications provided by eminent authority bodies such as:

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA)
Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC),
National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA),
International Society of Automation (ISA),
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP),
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

You can check out the certification courses provided by these institutions and choose the best that serves your long-term goals.

Various other certifications are available based on specific job specializations, such as residential, commercial, and solar panel electricians. If you want to become a specialized electrician in any of these fields, having certifications to showcase your skill set and expertise is beneficial.

Certifications are not legally required to practice as an electrician in the States but serve as beneficial proof of expertise. They signify that the individual is adept at what he does, compliant with safety regulations and codes, and keeping updated on recent industry trends.

Career Advancement And Job Outlook

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of electricians in 2023 was $61,590 per year, with an hourly pay rate of $29.61. With the number of jobs reaching 762,600 in the same year, the job outlook for the years 2022 to 2032 is rising at 6%, which is faster than the average.

This means job opportunities will increase as we move forward in the coming years, and our technicians will receive better, more lucrative pay.

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Conclusion

The role of electricians is not just to replace wiring or test devices and control systems. It also means providing consumers with peace of mind that there exists a reliable pillar in society who is always up to help with electrical systems in case of emergencies.

Choosing an electrician is a robust career path that offers adequate job satisfaction. It helps you gain vital expertise on electrical systems around us—all of that with lucrative pay that is projected to rise each year. The demand for electricians in the United States for the next decade can be seen climbing the graph, which effectively means the job is never going outdated, and the efforts of today will be worthwhile.