Occupation · SOC 47-2111
Electricians
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
Median wage
$62,350
$39,430–$106,030
Projected growth
+9.4%
Faster than average
Annual openings
7,740
per year
Employed (US)
742,580
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
601 mapped
Core skills
TroubleshootingRepairingSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
Building and ConstructionAdministration and ManagementMechanicalMathematicsDesign
Technology & tools
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareIndustrial control softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareProject management software
Representative tasks
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.Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem.Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications.Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services.Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects.Provide assistance during emergencies by operating floodlights or generators, placing flares, or driving needed vehicles.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools and basic test instruments — identify and use under direct supervision on a residential job site.Conductors, conduit, and fittings — pull and bend in straight runs following a journeyman's layout.Boxes, receptacles, and switches — install per drawing on rough-in of a single-family dwelling.Personal protective equipment and lockout/tagout — apply consistently in low-voltage residential settings.NEC tables and basic code lookups — locate the relevant article when prompted by a supervisor.Voltage and continuity readings — take with a digital multimeter on de-energized residential circuits.Job-site materials and stock — stage and inventory daily in a small commercial fit-out.Basic single-line diagrams — read and trace with guidance on a residential branch circuit.Wire terminations and splices — make to instruction at a junction box in new construction.Daily work logs and time entries — complete accurately under a foreman's review.
developing
Branch circuits and feeders — install routinely from prints in a commercial tenant build-out.Service panels and subpanels — terminate and label correctly in residential and light-commercial work.Conduit bending (EMT, IMC, rigid) — fabricate offsets and saddles independently on a multi-room install.Common code violations — recognize and flag during rough-in inspections of commercial spaces.Lighting controls and dimmers — wire, test, and commission in standard commercial layouts.Grounding and bonding — execute per NEC Article 250 in single-phase residential services.Motor starters and disconnects — install and verify rotation in light-industrial maintenance contexts.Troubleshooting (open, short, ground fault) — isolate on familiar branch-circuit problems.Material take-offs from prints — produce for a defined room or floor under supervision.Apprentices on routine tasks — direct and check on day-to-day residential or commercial work.
proficient
Three-phase services and feeder calculations — design and install across commercial and light-industrial buildings.Control circuits (relay logic, PLC I/O) — wire, terminate, and verify in industrial maintenance settings.Code compliance across NEC and local amendments — interpret and apply to non-routine commercial installations.Complex faults across distribution systems — diagnose and resolve in operating industrial facilities.Coordination with other trades — sequence electrical work in active commercial construction schedules.Service upgrades and panel replacements — plan and execute in occupied residential or commercial buildings.Specialty systems (fire alarm, intercom, street lighting) — install and commission to specification.Estimates and bids for mid-sized jobs — prepare from prints and walk-throughs in commercial work.Inspection responses and corrections — manage with the AHJ across multiple active job sites.Apprentices and crew — supervise on full-scope commercial projects from rough-in through trim.
advanced
Electrical scopes for complex projects — design, value-engineer, and lead across industrial or institutional builds.Code interpretations on contested or novel installations — develop defensible positions with the AHJ.Power quality and arc-flash studies — commission, interpret, and act on in industrial facilities.Preventive-maintenance programs for plant electrical systems — establish and audit across a paper mill or similar facility.Multi-crew schedules and labor budgets — plan and adjust across concurrent commercial projects.Apprenticeship and journeyman development — mentor, evaluate, and sign off across a contractor's workforce.Specialty controls (industrial automation, building management) — integrate and troubleshoot at system level.Safety culture and lockout/tagout governance — set, train, and enforce across a contractor or facility.Customer relationships on high-stakes projects — manage scope, change orders, and outcomes with owners.Estimating standards and crew productivity rates — define and refine across a contractor's bidding practice.
Also known as
192 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Electrician, MaintenanceUtilities Officer (Marine Corps 1120)Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Manager (Navy 003794)Electric Sign WirerElectrical Maintenance WorkerSubmarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy 003777)Aircraft Electrician (Army 15F)Neon ElectricianDiesel ElectricianElectrical Power Production Journeyman (Air Force 3E052)Ship and Boat ElectricianOverhead WorkerNeon Light InstallerArmament/Electrical/Avionics Repair Supervisor (Army 15L)Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, C4ISR Mission Systems (E-3, E-4, E-7, EC-130H, RC-135, VC-25) (Air Force 2A974A)Neon InstallerInterior ElectricianHeavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Helper, C4ISR Mission Systems (E-3, E-4, E-7, EC-130H, RC-135, VC-25) (Air Force 2A914A)Low Voltage Technician (Low Voltage Tech)Conduit MechanicCombat Engineer (Marine Corps 1371)Antenna InstallerSubmarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Supervisor (Navy 003785)Constructionman (Navy CN)Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician (Marine Corps 7011)Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician, KC-130 (Marine Corps 6336)Airport ElectricianSwitch InspectorElectrician ApprenticeShip WirerNetwork Administrator (Marine Corps 0631)Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy 003778)Submarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Manager (Navy 003793)Material Maintenance Specialty (Coast Guard MAT)Public Works Officer (Navy 4250)Avionics Electrical Technician (Coast Guard AET)Interior WirerWater Transport ElectricianAvionic Mechanic (Army 15N)Test Worker