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What is a master electrician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Ronald Widdoss
introduction image

Master electricians are experts at installing and repairing electrical systems in buildings, commercial on industrial sites, or residential homes. They are responsible for making sure components are functional and the system operates safely.

You might be employed at a maintenance agency or work on your own as a freelancer. You will respond to clients' requests and travel on location to fix electrical issues. You will arrange for replacements of faulty components, perform maintenance work, test and troubleshoot systems. Reading blueprints and following instructions will be an important part of your job. Sometimes, you will also have to train apprentices in the secrets of the trade.

You can get started with a GED here, although certifications will help you land a job. You must be licensed to practice this trade, and completed vocational school studies can give your career a solid start. If you get the hang of it, you will be able to earn $61,000 a year on average.

What general advice would you give to a master electrician?

Ronald Widdoss

Be a sponge. Learn all you can and prove to your employer you can be taught and that your up for the challenge.
ScoreMaster ElectricianUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,154

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 2.31%

Black or African American 9.29%

Hispanic or Latino 16.88%

Unknown 4.30%

White 66.34%

Gender

female 5.67%

male 94.33%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Master electrician career paths

Key steps to become a master electrician

  1. Explore master electrician education requirements

    Most common master electrician degrees

    Bachelor's

    27.6 %

    Associate

    27.5 %

    High School Diploma

    18.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific master electrician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Electrical Equipment8.20%
    Electrical Systems7.56%
    Switches5.75%
    Hand Tools5.72%
    Transformers5.46%
  3. Complete relevant master electrician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New master electricians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a master electrician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real master electrician resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed master electrician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed master electrician in most of states. 25 states require master electricians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    Alabama-State exam requiredLicensed Journeyman Electrician
    Alaska-State exam requiredElectrical Worker
    Arkansas-Third-party exam requiredJourneyman Electrician
    Colorado-State exam requiredJourneyman Electrician
    HawaiiDegree requiredState exam requiredElectrician
  5. Research master electrician duties and responsibilities

    • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
    • Experience with PLC (e.g., industrial maintenance, computer control systems, etc .).
    • Experience in installing and maintaining motors, welding equipment, lighting fixtures, generators, circuit breakers, and transformers.
    • Snake wires through PVC, conduits, walls.
  6. Prepare your master electrician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your master electrician 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 a master electrician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable master electrician resume templates

    Build a professional master electrician 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 master electrician resume.
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
    Master Electrician Resume
  7. Apply for master electrician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a master electrician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How did you land your first master electrician job

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Average master electrician salary

The average master electrician salary in the United States is $52,154 per year or $25 per hour. Master electrician salaries range between $31,000 and $86,000 per year.

Average master electrician salary
$52,154 Yearly
$25.07 hourly

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How do master electricians rate their job?

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Master electrician reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Cons

Bending pipe,cause it cost me money if the measurements is off

Pros

Thinking about the job while working the job


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2022
Pros

Is to keep lights burning to satisfy customers

Cons

The customers siting on the dark


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Nothing? Its the worst job on site and you have to put up with working with uneducated divs. And thats just the management.

Cons

Retarded trades who think they are special. They don't realise to be an electrician requires superior brain power, something they can only dream about. Hence the continual flapping of their gums trying to make us believe their dull useless lives are interesting.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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