Career
Electricians
Power buildings, machines and the grid, one circuit at a time.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Troubleshooting, Repairing, Active Listening, Speaking.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though apprenticeship is typical, for a median of $63,190 a year and 72,700 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- ElectricianCIP 46.0302
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Lighting Technicians$68,060 · -4.8%
- Helpers--Electricians$42,670 · +0.6%
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800 · +6.8%
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,320 · +10.3%
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$56,210 · +4.4%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.