Electrician Training Class: Electrician Salary Information

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of May 2006 the median wage of an electrician working in the United States was $20.97 an hour. Based on a 40-hour work week, that translates to an average yearly income of $43,617. The middle 50 percent of electricians earned between $16 and $27 an hour while the upper 10 percent were paid more than $34 an hour.

Electricians facilitate the connection of electricity to homes, businesses and other structures, installing wires, fuses and other electrical components. Some electricians also install and maintain the electrical components of machinery.
Most electricians specialize in either construction or maintenance. Those who specialize in construction spend their working days installing wiring systems into homes, factories or businesses. Maintenance electricians maintain and upgrade existing electrical components of structures and machinery.
In addition, some electricians work in factories and do complex installations and repairs on large motors, industrial equipment and generators. Electricians are often hired as consultants to determine if existing wiring, equipment or fuses are in safe working order.

Electricians work in a wide variety of settings. They work inside homes, businesses and factories, and outdoors on electrical lines. They often must work during inclement weather and may be required to lift heavy objects and machinery.
Most electricians work a standard 40-hour work week, but they may sometimes be required to work overtime. They may also be required to travel long distances to work sites.
Some maintenance electricians may be required to be on call and respond to emergencies any time of day. Because of this, many electricians may be required to work evenings, overnights, weekends or holidays.

Electricians must always follow strict standard safety procedures to avoid being injured by the dangerous electrical currents they work with. They must also take care to avoid injuries by falling from high work sites, or being injured by the large machinery they often must maintain.

Most electricians learn the trade through apprentice programs. These programs pair classroom instruction with supervised on-the-job training. Several lectricians unions sponsor these apprentice programs throughout the country. Most apprentice programs last for an average of four years.
Once an apprentice has completed his training, he is qualified to do both maintenance and construction work. In addition, he has learned how to read blueprints, the electrical codes of the area in which he will work, and important first aid and safety information.
Once an apprentice has completed training he may still be required to attend safety seminars and more specialized training throughout his career. Most states also require electricians to be licensed and may require apprentice electricians to pass certain examinations before licensure is bestowed.

According to the U.S. Department of Labo, jobs for electricians should increase around 7 percent between 2006 and 2016. This is considered to be average growth compared to other occupations.
As the economy and population continue to grow, the demand for qualified electricians will remain very steady. As technology is developed that requires more and more skilled workers, this will only improve the job outlook for this profession.
In addition, many electricians are expected to retire over the next decade, which will create even more demand for skilled electrical workers to take their place. This will be especially true for those who have specialized skills in working with new and complex technology.

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Electrician Salary Information

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