What You Should Know About Working As An Electrician?
An electrician is a skilled tradesperson whose responsible for designing, installing, repairing as well as maintaining electrical systems that are found in various buildings. As an electrician, you may find yourself working inside buildings, or on the exterior of buildings as well. You’ll need to ensure that the lights, the appliances, and the machinery are all working in a safe and reliable manner.
There are various specializations that you can choose to pursue, such as working solely on residential buildings or commercial properties. Your exact job description will change, depending on what you choose to specialize in.
What Are The Responsibilities Of An Electrician?
Electricians need to ensure that electricity reaches the source where people can make use of it. These are the responsibilities you’re likely to have, as an electrician:
- You’ll need to plan out electrical systems for buildings that are new. You may need to find the best place to install outlets. You’ll need to install ventilation systems, light fixtures, and more.
- You should know how to read blueprints, as well as circuit diagrams. You may also need to read various technical documents as well.
- You may need to install wiring, control systems, lighting, and more, in both new as well as existing buildings. You will need to abide by the municipal codes to do your work.
- You’ll need to install switches, relays, as well as equipment for controlling and distributing electricity.
- You may need to install brackets and hangers.
- You should be able to maintain wiring, lighting as well as control systems, and ensure they work properly.
- You may need to inspect circuit breakers, as well as electrical problems, to ensure they’re working fine.
- You should be capable of repairing as well as replacing electrical equipment that is outdated or faulty.
- You may need to train apprentices and electricians, on how they can do certain tasks.
What Kind Of A Work Environment Can You Expect?
A lot of the work you’ll be doing will be inside buildings. You will find work in buildings that are still being constructed, or those that are being renovated. Sometimes, you may even find yourself working in spaces that are cramped. At the same time, you’ll need to deal with electrical wires, which are often live. This makes the job rather dangerous.
But by taking the necessary precautions, you can ensure that you work safely. Electricians find themselves working in different locations. You could need to work at a construction site for a few weeks, before moving on to another site. You may need to travel long distances to reach your job sites as well.
If you’re an electrician, then consider investing in an electrician cover. This is because a career as an electrician leaves you vulnerable to certain risk factors, such as getting sued by clients. When you have electrician cover, you can better protect both your finances, as well as your career. If you would like to learn more about electrician cover, then click here.
What Kind Of Salary Can You Expect To Earn?
What you’ll be earning as an electrician will depend on what kind of experience you have, as well as the location you’re working out of. If you’re just starting out as an electrician, then you can expect to earn about $21.25 every hour. But you can also expect your salary to increase even at the start of your career.
By the time you’ve been working for five years, you can make about $49,000 every year. The average annual salary for electricians is around $54,000. If you are an electrician based in Boston or Chicago, then you can expect to earn more. But your daily expenses will also be more in cities where you earn more.
What Is The Job Outlook Like?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job growth for electricians is better than what the nation’s average is, between the years 2014 and 2024. There are likely to be an estimated 85,900 new jobs for electricians during this time period. This means that the projected growth rate for electricians is around 14%.
The BLS states that the rising demand for electricians will be a result of a greater demand for wiring. This applies both to commercial properties, as well as homes. There are a lot of electricians who are satisfied with their careers, and as a result, don’t think about advancing their careers further. But if you become a master electrician, then you’ll be able to earn more. You’ll also need to train apprentice electricians, and can start your very own electrical business as well.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a stable career path, then becoming an electrician could be perfect for you. You’ll be able to earn a reasonable salary and can also enjoy working on new projects. However, you’ll also need to exercise caution in your career as an electrician, since working with electricity can be dangerous. Use this guide to learn more about what you can expect from a career as an electrician.
Sources:
- Staff, March 1st 2021, ‘What Can You Expect From A Job As An Electrician’, viewed November 23rd 2022, https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/what-can-you-expect-from-a-job-as-an-electrician
- Staff, ‘Electrician Job Description’, viewed November 23rd 2022,
- Staff, November 1st 2021, ‘What Does An Electrician Do?’, viewed November 23rd 2022, https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-electrician-do
Staff, ‘What Do Electricians Do?’ Viewed November 23rd 2022, https://studentscholarships.org/salary/407/electricians.php