What are the pros and cons of being an electrician?

• Minimal education requirements. You can become an electrician with minimal schooling. In some cases, you can go to trade school or a community college for a couple of years or less or obtain an apprenticeship as an electrician.

  This option is particularly attractive because you get paid to learn and train. Apprenticeships do take three to four years to complete though

• Salaries and wages. Electricians make good salaries relative to it being among the labor professions. The average wage of an electrician is $25.92 per hour. And the annual average salary of an electrician in the United States is around $60,000.

  The pay in the field is great, considering all a person who wants to become an electrician has to do is complete at least 720 hours of an approved trade school or apprenticeship program. These provide the hands-on experience necessary to become an electrician.

• Electricians do work they can be proud of. Electricians' work is essential to keeping modern society running smoothly, so many electricians take great pride in their profession.

• Sustained job growth and security in the electrician field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9.1% employment growth for electricians between 2020 and 2030, meaning that there are plenty of available electrician positions, and many more will be created in the coming years.

  The great job prospects, good earnings relative to other labor professions, and short-term trade school or apprenticeship program requirements make the job of an electrician a great option for many people.

Cons:

• Electrical work can come in many varieties and be dangerous. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians sustain more injuries and health conditions related to their work than those in other industries.

  Electrical work is not often extremely dangerous, but accidents, injuries, and even deaths are possible. Workers may suffer from shocks, burns, falls, and similar small injuries related to workplace incidents.

• Electrician apprenticeships take years to complete. While electrician apprenticeships can be considered a pro because you get paid for your education and training and can often retain better work due to them, they have the negative aspect of taking a long time to complete.

  Most last from three to four years, but some can last five years or even a bit longer in other rare cases. This can detract some from this option.

• Electricians work odd hours. Many electricians have work schedules that consist of strange working hours. Many do not have the typical 9 to 5, 40 hours, Monday through Friday job schedules.

  This is due to having to respond to electrical emergencies at night, and your workdays might go well beyond eight hours, depending on the project you are working on or the issue you are fixing.