What is the career path of an electrician?

The career path of an electrician includes jobs as an apprentice electrician, an electrician, and an electrical inspector.

Many prospective electricians start out on this career path by attending vocational schools or even, in some cases, traditional colleges.

While a bachelor's degree is not required to be an electrician, one in a related major, such as electrical engineering, could help someone advance fast in the field and give them access to higher-paying electrician opportunities.

Many electricians work as independent contractors, while others have full-time jobs for specific companies.

Here are some helpful certifications to consider if you want to advance on the electrician career path:

• OSHA Safety Certificate

• Electrical Technician Certification

• Electrical Maintenance Technician Certificate

• HVAC Master Specialist

• Certified Electrical Inspector - Residential (CEI-R)

When an electrician gets hired by a company, they typically must go through on-the-job training. On-the-job electrician training consists of hands-on electrician experience under the guidance and supervision of a professional electrician or multiple professional electricians.

A great entry-level option for a prospective electrician is to get an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are valuable opportunities because they give you a chance to be mentored by professional electricians and get paid while doing it.

Electricians who complete apprenticeships rarely have difficulty finding well-paid electrician work. Many times electricians at apprenticeships choose to stay on with the company they did the apprenticeship with, as well.

Here are some common electrician jobs:

• Apprentice Electrician

An apprentice electrician is an electrician that is learning on the job from a single veteran electrician or a team of experienced electricians.

The average salary of an apprentice electrician in the United States is $38,799 per year.

• Electrician

An electrician is a professional that handles electrical issues. Electricians handle malfunctioning and broken electrical equipment. They also can install electrical equipment. They provide services to a wide variety of companies and people with electrical needs.

The national average wage for an electrician is $25.97 per hour.

• Electrical inspector

An electrical inspector examines the electrical systems of a home, building, or other structure to ensure effective functionality and also to check if they meet electrical codes and standards.

Some of the systems they inspect include new and pre-existing sound and security systems, lighting, wiring, certain kinds of motors, photovoltaic systems, and generators. They also examine electrical wiring for HVAC and HVACR systems and appliances.

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required to become an electrical inspector. Many also get bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering or attend an electrician trade school.

Electrical inspectors make an average annual salary of $43,943.