What Electricians Do

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems.

Work Environment

Almost all electricians work full time. Work schedules may include evenings and weekends. Overtime is common.

How to Become an Electrician

Most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, but some start out by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to be licensed.

Pay

The median annual wage for electricians was $61,590 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of electricians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 73,500 openings for electricians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.