Blue-collar jobs are back in demand and many Americans are interested in becoming an electrician. In fact, the number of electricians is forecasted to rise by nine percent through the end of the decade. This amounts to more than 66,000 new electrician jobs in the next 8 years.
Workers are attracted to this job due to the great pay and benefits. Also, you can obtain a job without accruing tens of thousands in student loan debt.
Read on to learn how to become an electrician. Explore topics such as electrician salary and education requirements.
What Is Appealing About an Electrician Jobs?
Before diving into electrician requirements, it is important to explain what makes this career so appealing. For starters, electricians typically belong to a union. This typically results in well-paying jobs and benefits. Union employees enjoy generous health insurance and retirement benefits like pensions.
The mean annual wage for an electrician is nearly $58,000. The top electricians in the field commonly earn nearly $93,000 per year. Some electricians start their own business and are able to earn even more.
How to Become an Electrician?
Now that you know why electrician jobs are in demand, it is time to learn how to become one. A high school diploma or GED typically satisfies the education requirements for electricians. Prospective electricians do not need to attend college and take on student loan debt.
Instead, there are technical schools that get electricians started on their training. This training often occurs at vocational schools and can start as early as high school. Training courses teach concepts such as circuitry, basic electrical concepts, and safety.
Electricians primarily learn via on-the-job training. They are folded into extensive apprenticeship programs where they shadow an expert electrical professional on-site.
These apprenticeship programs are paid and are a great learning opportunity. They usually last up to five years. When the electrician graduates, they are ready to safely and effectively handle any job.
There are many different topics covered during a technical apprenticeship. The electrician you are shadowing teaches you how to read blueprints and follow local electrical codes.
In order to work, many states require licensure and certification. Each state has different requirements for an electrician to meet.
You may have to pass an exam about the National Electrical Code. The test may include questions specific to state and local codes. Also, you may have to meet continuing education requirements for the state that you work in.
These may be online or in-person training courses to make sure that you stay sharp. Continuing education courses often cover new technology and changes to the electrical code.
Your Guide to Becoming an Electrician
You are now ready to pursue a rewarding career as an electrician. This career field allows you to work with your hands and help people experiencing electrical issues.
Electricians are paid well but do not need to take on debt to start. They are trained well via long apprenticeship programs. If you enjoyed this article about how to become an electrician, check out our blog for more great content.