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Electrician

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AVG. SALARY

$67,410

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EDUCATION

Post-secondary training +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Increasing

What They Do

Electricians Career Video

Insider Info

Without electricians there would be no lights, air conditioning or stop lights, and the only place you could charge your cellphone would be in a car. No appliance, gadget or tool that needs electricity to run would work without electricians wiring our homes, schools and offices to the power grid.

Electricians design, lay out, test, repair and install wiring and electrical fixtures in residential and commercial buildings, but they also do many other things. Electricians can work on telecommunications equipment, industrial machine tool controls and offshore drilling rigs, among other things.

Some states and municipalities require electricians to be licensed. Some states have agreements, which allow electricians from other states to work within their borders.

Many electricians specialize in maintenance or construction work. However, telecommunications -- phone, Internet, cable and satellite television, and alarm systems -- is a growing sector. Some electricians work for building contractors, private companies, governments and municipalities. Others are self-employed.

Electricians follow strict building code standards, which can vary greatly from one city to another. Electricians must understand and stay up to date with these codes.

The demand for electricians goes up and down, depending on the economy. That's because more homes and buildings are built when the economy is strong, and fewer are built during a recession. However, when new home construction dips, the people who would have purchased new homes often renovate or remodel their homes instead. Those jobs usually require electrical work.

The work of electricians is physically challenging. Electricians may have to squeeze through crawl spaces, climb ladders, dig holes and work in tight spaces. Some work is done outdoors. And there is always a risk of electrical shock, falls and other injuries.

While an electrician's typical workweek is around 40 hours, some electricians are on call for emergency outages or repairs. They might work evenings, weekends or holidays.

Just the Facts

Want a quick overview of what this career is about?Check out Just the Facts for simple lists of characteristics.

At a Glance

Keep electricity flowing

  • Demand for electricians is dependent on the economy
  • The workweek is usually 40 hours
  • Apprenticeship programs and certification vary

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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