Trade · ONET 47-2111.00
Electrician
Installs and maintains electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites.
What the work looks like
Electricians pull wire, bend conduit, set boxes, land devices, and troubleshoot circuits. Residential work runs on new construction and remodels, often at a single-family pace with smaller crews. Commercial work moves through tenant build-outs, schools, hospitals, and offices with larger gear, bigger panels, and longer timelines. Industrial work adds motor controls, instrumentation, and process power. Titles shift with experience: apprentice, journey wireman, foreman, general foreman, project superintendent, and estimator on the contractor side. Inside wiremen, residential wiremen, and low-voltage VDV technicians are distinct classifications in most IBEW JATCs. Every journey-level electrician reads blueprints, plans rough-in layouts, coordinates with other trades, and verifies the work meets the current National Electrical Code.
Physical demands
- Standing and walking on concrete for full shifts
- Climbing ladders and working from scissor lifts and bucket trucks
- Lifting 50 lbs routinely; heavier with a partner
- Working in confined spaces such as attics, crawl spaces, and mechanical rooms
- Working outdoors in variable weather on new-construction sites
- Following lockout-tagout protocols and wearing arc-rated PPE around energized gear
Common tools
- Side-cutters, strippers, and lineman pliers
- Conduit bender (hand and hydraulic)
- Fish tape, pull string, and glow rods
- Multimeter, clamp meter, and circuit tracer
- Hammer drill, hole saws, and cordless impact driver
- Torque screwdriver for terminations
- Wire-pulling lubricant and swivel-ball pulling eyes
Union and non-union paths
About 40 percent of construction electricians work under collective bargaining agreements (IBEW and affiliates) per BLS industry data. The union path runs through IBEW Local JATCs, jointly sponsored with NECA contractors, typically 4 to 5 years for the inside wireman classification and shorter for residential and low-voltage classifications. Non-union apprenticeships run through IEC and ABC chapters, also 4 to 5 years, with wage and benefit structures set per contractor. Both paths lead to state journeyman licensing in most states. JATC wage schedules are public documents; open-shop wages are typically set per contractor, so ask for the schedule in writing before signing on.
How to enter
Most states require a registered apprenticeship or an equivalent combination of classroom hours and on-the-job training before sitting for a journeyman exam. Apprenticeships typically run 4 to 5 years with roughly 8,000 OJT hours and 144 classroom hours per year under DOL registered-apprenticeship standards. Some states accept trade school credit toward the OJT requirement; others do not. Military electrician MOS and rating crosswalks exist at many JATCs and open-shop programs, with advanced standing decided case by case. A master electrician license is a separate later step in most states and typically requires additional experience after journeyman plus a second exam.
Specialty paths in this trade
Most states license one electrician classification, but the work splits into distinct paths with different schedules, tools, and wage schedules. Read before choosing a program.
Inside Wireman
The core commercial and industrial classification in most IBEW JATCs. Covers power distribution, lighting, motor controls, and larger gear in offices, schools, hospitals, and plants.
Typical scope
- Pulling feeders and branch circuits in commercial buildings
- Setting and terminating panelboards, switchgear, and transformers
- Motor controls, VFDs, and PLC-wired equipment in industrial work
- Bending EMT, IMC, and rigid conduit; pulling MC cable where code allows
Entry: Registered IBEW inside wireman apprenticeship, typically 5 years and roughly 8,000 OJT hours under DOL standards. Open-shop IEC or ABC programs run a similar length.
Wage note: JATC wage schedules are public; open-shop rates are set per contractor. Ask for the schedule in writing.
Residential Wireman
A separate classification in many JATCs focused on single-family and light multi-family work. Shorter apprenticeship than inside wireman in most locals.
Typical scope
- Service changes, panel upgrades, and new-construction rough-in
- Device trim-out, lighting, and low-voltage add-ons
- EV charger installs and generator transfer switches
Entry: IBEW residential apprenticeship, commonly 3 years in most locals. Open-shop residential programs also run 3 to 4 years.
Wage note: Residential wage schedules typically sit below inside-wireman schedules in the same local. Compare both before choosing.
Low-Voltage / VDV / Limited Energy
Voice, data, video, fire alarm, access control, and security. A separate classification in many states and JATCs, with its own license tier in Washington, Oregon, and several others.
Typical scope
- Structured cabling for offices and data centers
- Fire alarm rough-in and device install
- Access control, CCTV, and intrusion systems
- AV and conference-room integration
Entry: IBEW VDV or sound-and-comm apprenticeship, typically 3 to 4 years. Open-shop programs also run shorter than inside wireman.
Wage note: Wage schedules typically sit below inside-wireman schedules in the same local but the tools, lifting, and conduit load are lighter.
Outside Lineman
Utility transmission and distribution. Building and maintaining the grid itself, from primary lines to substations. A distinct classification under NEAT (National Electrical Apprenticeship and Training) and outside-line JATCs.
Typical scope
- Climbing poles and working from bucket trucks on energized lines
- Transformer and substation work
- Storm-restoration travel
- Underground utility and vault work
Entry: Outside-line JATC apprenticeship, typically 3.5 to 4 years. Physical screening and climbing school are part of entry in most locals.
Wage note: Outside-line wage schedules commonly sit above inside-wireman schedules in the same region, with significant storm and travel pay. Conditions are more exposed and the hour cycles are less predictable.
Residential, commercial, industrial
The same license covers both in most states, but the day looks different. Residential runs on service calls and short remodels. Commercial runs on longer projects with bigger gear and larger crews. Industrial adds process work.
Residential
Smaller crews, shorter projects, more homeowner contact, lighter gear. Troubleshooting service calls pay for speed and diagnosis, not wire footage. Schedules are more predictable but overtime is limited.
Commercial
Larger crews, longer projects, coordination with other trades, heavier conduit and larger panels. Overtime on schedule-driven phases is common. Most JATCs route inside wiremen into commercial work for the bulk of their career.
Industrial
Plants, refineries, semiconductor fabs, and data centers. Motor controls, instrumentation, and high-voltage work. Shutdown and turnaround schedules can mean long OT stretches followed by slower periods. Pay commonly sits at the top of the local schedule.
Certifications that unlock premium work
Credentials beyond the state license. Each one opens a specific segment of work where the qualified pool is smaller.
NFPA 70E Arc Flash Safety ↗
NFPA 70E is the consensus standard for electrical safety in the workplace and covers arc-flash hazards and PPE boundaries. Employers increasingly require 70E training before energized work; many commercial and industrial contracts specify it.
Issuer: National Fire Protection Association
Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP) ↗
Credential for journey-level electricians, supervisors, and safety leads who manage electrical-safety programs under NFPA 70E. Typically requested for industrial, healthcare, and data-center maintenance work.
Issuer: NFPA
NEC Code Update Training ↗
The National Electrical Code updates every 3 years. Most states that license electricians require continuing-education hours on the current NEC cycle before license renewal. Code-update training is the base continuing-education layer for every journey-level electrician.
Issuer: Various state-approved providers
Motor Control and PLC Training ↗
Industrial work leans on motor controls, variable-frequency drives, and programmable logic controllers. Vendor-specific PLC training (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) is commonly requested for process and manufacturing contracts.
Issuer: Vendor programs (Rockwell, Siemens) and community colleges
Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) ↗
The FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technician credential is a widely recognized entry credential for fiber splicing and data-center work. Useful for VDV and low-voltage electricians taking on structured-cabling scope.
Issuer: Fiber Optic Association (FOA)
PV Installation Professional (NABCEP) ↗
NABCEP is the recognized certifying body for solar-industry professionals. The PV Installation Professional credential is commonly requested on utility-scale and commercial solar contracts and is often a prerequisite for incentive programs.
Issuer: North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) ↗
Design-side credential for structured cabling, telecom rooms, and data-center infrastructure. Commonly required on large commercial and data-center contracts where the cabling design is bid separately.
Issuer: Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI)
Tool and equipment investment
Apprentice, year 1
$300 to $800 for basic hand tools the program does not supply (side-cutters, strippers, screwdrivers, tape, meter, pouch).
Journey level
$3,000 to $8,000 over time for a full personal kit: cordless tool set, hammer drill, torque tools, specialty meters, fish tape, and bender. Most shops supply larger gear.
Going independent
$40,000 to $100,000 for a service truck, stock, trailer, larger benders, test equipment, and commercial-grade tools. Varies widely by scope; industrial and solar setups sit at the top of the range.
Shop-supplied tools vary by contractor. Ask during hiring which tools the employer provides and which come out of your pocket.
Wages
National median
$62,350
annual, all workers
National mean
$69,630
annual, all workers
By pilot state
BLS Occupational Outlook projections for electricians are published on the linked OOH page. Current demand drivers include data center buildout, EV charging infrastructure, residential solar and storage, and electrical retrofits of older building stock. Local demand varies by metro and construction cycle. Check state workforce-board dashboards for metro-level projections before moving to a new area for work.
BLS OES by-state data shown on this page is statewide median and mean, all-worker, across residential, commercial, and industrial. Major metros (Seattle, Portland, SF Bay, Chicago, New York, DC) often pay 15 to 30 percent above their statewide median; rural and small-metro work often pays below. Check the BLS OES metropolitan tables for your target area before relocating. Source: BLS OES by area, https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.