What is an electrical technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Arie Nakhmani

An electrical technician works with electrical systems and equipment. They install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industries. Electrical technicians use tools and equipment to test, troubleshoot, and restore electrical systems. They also interpret blueprints, schematics, and diagrams to ensure safe and accurate work. In addition, they may work on motors, generators, and transformers. Electrical technicians must have an understanding of electrical theory and may work independently or as a team.

What general advice would you give to an electrical technician?

Arie Nakhmani

Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Electrical Engineering combines a dozen sub-fields such as power systems, telecommunications, embedded systems, machine learning/AI, hardware design, signal analysis, IoT, etc., and jobs in these different subfields could look completely different. Some involve office work with the computer designing algorithms or optimizing processes, others might involve inspecting power transmission lines with drones in the middle of the forest. Some jobs include testing airplane engines and others designing microchips and working in clean rooms.

ScoreElectrical TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $55,215

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 8.05%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.43%

Unknown 4.32%

White 70.79%

Gender

female 6.72%

male 93.28%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an electrical technician?

Pros

High demand for skilled electrical technicians
Good pay and benefits
Potential for advancement into management or supervisory roles
Job security, as electricity is a fundamental aspect of modern society
Ability to work with cutting-edge technology

Cons

Exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos or lead
Potential for stress due to time-sensitive projects or emergencies
High pressure to complete projects on time and within budget
Potential for job instability during economic downturns
May require frequent travel or relocation.

Key steps to become an electrical technician

Explore electrical technician education requirements

Most common electrical technician degrees

Associate

41.0 %

Bachelor's

23.6 %

High School Diploma

17.6 %

Start to develop specific electrical technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	7.37%
PLC	7.20%
Electrical Equipment	6.61%
Electrical Systems	5.70%
Electrical Schematics	4.16%

Research electrical technician duties and responsibilities

Test printed circuit boards to comply with military, ISO, and customer specifications.
Inspect, test and troubleshoot a variety of PLC and microprocessor control high voltage transformer systems.
Work in accordance with OSHA safety regulation, NEC, ANSI, ISO9001 compliance and with company safety policies.
Work with proximity sensors, ac & dc motors, VFDs, and controls on a daily basis here.

Prepare your electrical technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your electrical technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an electrical technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable electrical technician resume templates

Build a professional electrical technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your electrical technician resume.

Apply for electrical technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an electrical technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do electrical technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Electrical technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Pros

It's challenging job, because I learn every day.

Cons

If you don't focus you will get yourself in danger.

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021