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What does a residential electrician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

Residential Electricians are skilled tradespersons responsible for inspecting, repairing, installing, and maintaining wiring and electrical systems in residential buildings. Their duties include interpreting blueprints and technical drawings, examining electrical components, diagnosing electrical systems and wiring problems as well as installing new wiring and electrical components. Besides that, they also ensure that electrical systems are installed to adhere to local and national directives. They must know about utilizing devices to detect electrical problems. Residential electricians assist in training workers in inspection, repairing, and installation work.

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Residential electrician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real residential electrician resumes:

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Install all electrical components according to the NEC and local codes.
  • Experience working with Romex, ENT, MC, and EMT.
  • Used electrical troubleshooting skills to solve technical discrepancies in residential and commercial properties, including HVAC systems.
  • Finish all electrical trim for both the interior and exterior circuitry such as light fixtures, outlets, switches and appliances.
  • Plan and follow blueprint layout and installation of residential wiring per NEC codes.
  • Set up the underground pvc before cement come or wire a certain room or appt home.
  • Train to OSHA standards in the use of power tools, ladders, lifts and handling hazardous materials.
  • Install receptacles, a numerous range of switches and lighting fixtures along with most all other electrically dependent residential components.
  • Install all components, PLC's, motors and devices as well as cables and sensors according to design specifications.
  • Wire all enclose trailers, brake lights, taillights, ac units, heaters, blinkers, and other items.
  • Repair of electric motor control, power generation systems, AC/ DC motors, electrical instrumentation, and switch-gear equipment.
  • Work on commercial tenant improvement projects, running PVC for underground power feeds, MC cable, flex and EMT pipe.
  • Maintain cold steel rolling mills, overhead DC cranes and annealing furnaces; also the installation of upgrades to the mills.
  • Coordinate with construction contractors such as HVAC, commercial lighting and other electricians to ensure proper wiring installation in designate locations.

Residential electrician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Residential Electricians are proficient in Work Ethic, Hand Tools, and Electrical Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Communication skills, and Physical strength.

We break down the percentage of Residential Electricians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Work Ethic, 13%

    Showed strong work ethic by traveling out of town, working weekends and over time when appropriate.

  • Hand Tools, 10%

    Use hand tools to reassemble equipment and replace defective parts as needed.

  • Electrical Equipment, 9%

    Assisted the Journeyman Electrician on site, installing/repairing various electrical equipment and wiring for commercial/residential buildings.

  • Ladders, 7%

    Performed daily inspections with proper documentation on electrical tools, ladders and on motorized equipment.

  • Circuit Breakers, 6%

    Install lighting, sound/security systems, voice/data systems, ceiling fans, electrical outlets and circuit breakers.

  • Switches, 6%

    Installed Panel Breaker, Meter Base, different types of lighting, GFCI, Arc Fault breakers, Switches and Receptacles.

"work ethic," "hand tools," and "electrical equipment" are among the most common skills that residential electricians use at work. You can find even more residential electrician responsibilities below, including:

Color vision. One of the key soft skills for a residential electrician to have is color vision. You can see how this relates to what residential electricians do because "electricians must identify electrical wires by color." Additionally, a residential electrician resume shows how residential electricians use color vision: "installed and fabricated coaxial television cables, telecommunications systems, and security and alarm systems. "

Physical strength. residential electricians are also known for physical strength, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to residential electrician responsibilities, because "electricians need to be strong enough to move heavy components, which may weigh up to 50 pounds." A residential electrician resume example shows how physical strength is used in the workplace: "key strengths knowledge and familiarity with troubleshooting electrical system problem ac and dc current step down transformer system wiring"

Troubleshooting skills. A big part of what residential electricians do relies on "troubleshooting skills." You can see how essential it is to residential electrician responsibilities because "electricians find, diagnose, and repair problems." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical residential electrician tasks: "serviced customers in the performing of all troubleshooting related to residential electrical problems. "

See the full list of residential electrician skills

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Residential Electrician Resume
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Residential Electrician Resume
Residential Electrician Resume
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Residential Electrician Resume
Residential Electrician Resume
Residential Electrician Resume
Residential Electrician Resume
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Residential Electrician Resume

Compare different residential electricians

Residential electrician vs. Plumber

Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.

We looked at the average residential electrician salary and compared it with the wages of a plumber. Generally speaking, plumbers are paid $5,177 lower than residential electricians per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both residential electrician and plumber positions are skilled in work ethic, hand tools, and ladders.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, residential electrician responsibilities require skills like "electrical equipment," "circuit breakers," "switches," and "light fixtures." Meanwhile a typical plumber has skills in areas such as "plumbing," "plumbers," "customer service," and "cast iron." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Plumbers tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $58,436. In contrast, residential electricians make the biggest average salary, $59,560, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that plumbers earn slightly differ from residential electricians. In particular, plumbers are 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a residential electrician. Additionally, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Residential electrician vs. Journeyman ironworker

A journeyman plumber is responsible for conducting basic plumbing tasks, such as installing and repairing plumbing lines under the supervision of a head plumber. Journeyman plumbers connect pipes and ensure the stability of plumbing lines to avoid potential hazards and possible defects. They handle the maintenance and replacement of fixtures and identify the source of failure to adjust pressure and seal connections as needed. A journeyman plumber must be able to detect irregularities immediately and provide estimate costing to the customers for repairs.

A career as a journeyman ironworker brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a residential electrician. In fact, journeyman ironworkers salary is $19,202 lower than the salary of residential electricians per year.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, residential electrician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "work ethic," "hand tools," "electrical equipment," and "ladders." Meanwhile, a journeyman ironworker has duties that require skills in areas such as "cranes," "bars," "hoisting," and "rebar." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Journeyman ironworkers earn similar levels of education than residential electricians in general. They're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Residential electrician vs. Journeyman plumber

A journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around performing manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical tasks, and other forms of trade. Furthermore, a journeyman can choose whether to work independently or to be part of a business entity. They can also recruit and train an apprentice, or even pursue to become a master in their preferred field.

On average, journeyman plumbers earn lower salaries than residential electricians, with a $5,836 difference per year.By looking over several residential electricians and journeyman plumbers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "work ethic," "hand tools," and "ladders." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from residential electrician resumes include skills like "electrical equipment," "circuit breakers," "switches," and "light fixtures," whereas a journeyman plumber is more likely to list skills in "plumbing," "strong work ethic," "drainage systems," and "customer service. "

Journeyman plumbers earn the highest salary when working in the construction industry, where they receive an average salary of $57,788. Comparatively, residential electricians have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $59,560.journeyman plumbers typically earn similar educational levels compared to residential electricians. Specifically, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Residential electrician vs. Journeyman

Journeymen average a lower salary than the annual salary of residential electricians. The difference is about $2,832 per year.According to resumes from residential electricians and journeymen, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "work ethic," "hand tools," and "electrical equipment. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A residential electrician uses "ladders," "switches," "light fixtures," and "electrical conduit." Journeymen are more likely to have duties that require skills in "strong work ethic," "safety procedures," "plumbing," and "osha. "In general, journeymen earn the most working in the construction industry, with an average salary of $62,379. The highest-paying industry for a residential electrician is the manufacturing industry.In general, journeymen hold similar degree levels compared to residential electricians. Journeymen are 1.7% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of residential electrician

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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