- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, electric utilities central is a great career path. The electrical utility industry generates, transmits, and services electricity throughout the country, so you can imagine there are a lot of opportunities to be found. From the power plant to transmission lines to home and office services, electrical utilities are responsible for literally keeping our society powered up.
If you are considering a career in electric utilities, you will find that there are many options for job positions. It is best to know what your interests and skills are so that you can play to your strengths. Take a look at the following jobs in electric utilities to see if it is a career for you.
The 7 Best-Paying Jobs in Electric Utilities
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Average Annual Salary: $84,000
Electrical engineers specialize in designing, manufacturing, and maintaining complex electrical systems, such as circuits and microprocessors. They rely heavily on their math and science skills to critically analyze and solve problems. An electrical engineer is a great position for people who are skilled in logic and organization.
Electrical engineers play a huge role in the electric utility industry. They act as scientific experts who help design and maintain utility infrastructure.
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Average Annual Salary: $68,000
Regulatory compliance officers ensure that their company follows both internal rules and external laws set by their municipality, state, and country. The regulatory compliance officer has to be well versed in these rules and communicate them effectively to fellow employees.
Regulatory compliance officers in electrical utilities companies are responsible for handling any questions about government oversight, which plays a huge role in the industry.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
Nuclear engineers are experts in nuclear technology. They design, monitor, and assess nuclear processes, which is a lot of work. Nuclear engineers understand that their role leaves very little room for error.
Utility companies that rely on nuclear power must have a crack team of nuclear engineers on hand at all times. Therefore, nuclear engineers have to be ready at a moment’s notice to solve any problem rationally and efficiently, which are the hallmarks of their personality.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
Electrical project managers are project managers who specialize in projects that deal with electrical processes. Due to this, electrical project managers need to have a background in electrical technology, either in electrical engineering or in the electrical trades.
Electrical project managers have to be great communicators and organizers because their projects usually involve multiple companies. Electrical project managers are found in all kinds of electrical utility scenarios, such as connecting a building to a power grid or expanding a power plant’s capabilities.
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Average Annual Salary: $97,000
Senior applications analysts are experts in information technology. They manage issues related to software development and implementation. This means they have to organize testing procedures, train staff, delegate responsibilities, and address any problems.
Most utilities companies rely on keeping their systems up to date, which requires a robust computer infrastructure. A senior application analyst will monitor the utility company’s software usage to make sure it is used properly.
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Power Plant Operations Manager
Average Annual Salary: $109,000
Power plant operations managers oversee the daily functions of power plants. Their job puts them in contact with all sorts of departments in organizations. Power plant operations managers report to upper management and have to oversee the fulfillment of their instructions.
Power plant operations managers also need to work alongside the regular employees and respond to any concerns they come across. For a power plant operations manager, it is imperative that the plant stays functioning at all times.
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Average Annual Salary: $95,000
Software engineers design, build and update software applications. To do this, software engineers have to be problem solvers with great computer science skills. A software engineer can be expected to constantly fix bugs and create updates for the systems they work on.
Many software engineers found in electrical utility companies will want to specialize in the relationship between the applications and the needs of the company. It can be helpful to have a background in electrical engineering as well, although it is not necessary.
7 Entry-Level Jobs in Electric Utilities
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Average Annual Salary: $74,000
Also known as an electrical lineman, a power line lineman installs, repairs, and maintains high-powered electrical lines. A power line lineman has to be specifically trained because the job comes with a lot of risks. The best way to get started as a power line lineman is to seek out an apprenticeship.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Electricians are the on-site technicians who install and repair electrical systems found in all types of buildings. Electricians usually start off as apprentices and go to a trade school. In a job that involves working with your hands a lot, an electrician has to be trained to work alongside construction workers and contractors.
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Average Annual Salary: $44,000
Most modern electrical systems are found underground and run through pipes. A pipe layer will install and maintain piping with the use of heavy equipment. A pipe layer must be quite physically fit for the role.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
An industrial mechanic takes care of large-scale machineries, such as what might be found at a power plant. The industrial mechanic has to continually check on the machinery through routine inspections and has to be on call when something goes wrong.
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Average Annual Salary: $56,000
An electrical foreman acts as the supervisor for linemen and electricians. The foreman will either have more experience or skills that will put them in the leadership role. It is the responsibility of the foreman to make sure all regulations are met and that their team has the tools they need for the job.
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Average Annual Salary: $72,000
Electrical inspectors visit buildings and construction sights to make sure the electrical systems are up to code. Electrical inspectors work alongside contractors and government officials, so they need to be effective communicators as well as be detail-oriented and meticulous with their work.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Solar power installers set up solar power systems for homes and businesses. The job entails a combination of physical labor and office work, so a balance between skills is necessary. It is a great opportunity for anyone looking to break into the green energy sector.
Why Choose a Career in Electric Utilities?
The electric utilities industry has a lot to offer. There are positions available for those who prefer office work, those who prefer to work with their hands, and those who like a mixture of both. If you are interested in a career in the electric utilities industry, then you should be excited about its culture and professional rewards. The electric utilities industry also offers:
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Diversified opportunities. As this article shows, you can find a job for almost any type of interest. The electric utilities industry has a great need for both blue-collar and white-collar professions and that mix between the two.
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Help communities. Everybody needs electricity. By working in the electric utilities industry, you can guarantee that your job has an important purpose that can help bring job satisfaction.
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Job Security. Since electricity is such a necessary resource, many jobs within the electric utilities industries are here to stay.
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Career Oriented. Once you enter the electric utilities industry, you are usually in a job requiring specialization. The upside to this is that you become an indispensable professional who can use your skills to further your career goals.
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Varied work hours. Members of the electrical utilities industry work all kinds of hours. From the traditional work day to weekends to overtime, people are always working to keep the lights on.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Electric Utilities
The electric utilities industry needs experts in a lot of its professions. This does not mean you need to go to college necessarily; however, it does mean you need to be able to prove your skills and knowledge in some way.
Many in electric utilities find themselves with at least one of the following.
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University Degree. For those especially interested in the more white-collar office jobs of the electric utilities industry, a university degree is almost universally required. Most lower-level positions will only need a bachelor’s degree; however, higher positions, such as those found in upper management, might want a graduate degree.
These degrees include:
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Engineering degree.
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Business degree.
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Master of Business Association
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Trade School. Not everyone who works in electric utilities needs a university education. However, many blue-collar positions need some sort of training in the trades. Many trade schools also offer apprenticeships which help further career opportunities.
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Speciality Certifications. If going to a university or trade school is not possible, there are still other ways to get the training you need to break into the electric utilities industry. There are certifications in fields that allow workers to specialize, such as being a foreman.
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Apprenticeships. Many in the electric utilities industry first get their start through apprenticeships because experiential learning allows them the opportunity to both learn and prove their skills.
What Do People Working In Electric Utilities Do?
The electric utilities industry has a wide range of possibilities for any prospective candidate. Our society literally runs on electricity. Without it, we would be in big trouble.
- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Author
Conor McMahon is a writer for Zippia, with previous experience in the nonprofit, customer service and technical support industries. He has a degree in Music Industry from Northeastern University and in his free time he plays guitar with his friends. Conor enjoys creative writing between his work doing professional content creation and technical documentation.
