As with many occupational trade careers, electricians are always in demand. With proper training and supervised work as an electrical apprentice under a master electrician, you can be well on your way to a vocation you can be proud of while earning a healthy annual electrician salary.
Electricians can find lucrative jobs in new installations, design, maintenance, and repair work be it in residential housing, commercial business, manufacturing, or even agricultural. Which direction you want to take your education and training is totally up to you. Just what do electricians make? Let’s take a look.
How Much Do Electricians Make?
Based on data from a US News & World Report article in 2017, an average electrician earned a median salary of $54,000 per year. This includes those just starting out in the field up through master electricians.
In the beginning, you can expect to make somewhere around $30,000 – $40,000 per year. Some of the higher paid master electricians earn more than $70,000 – $80,000. For those who work in commercial jobs and are willing to work overtime, earning six figures is fairly obtainable.
The US News and World Report article also stated, electricians have a very low unemployment rate of 3.4%. Some electricians choose to go into business for themselves, while others enjoy the steady income from work through employment with electrical companies, contractors, and so forth.
Because of the importance, as well as the hazards of working with electricity, upon completion of coursework, those new to the field will need to apprentice under a master electrician. Texas requires a minimum of 4,000 hours of supervised training and the passing of an exam to become a residential wireman.
The state requires 8,000 hours of work under a master electrician to apply for a journeyman license. You must have had your journeyman’s license and a total of 12,000 hours working under a master electrician to apply for your master electrician license. With each step comes a higher pay grade.
What is the Pay Scale for Electricians?
The pay scale for electricians jumps with each license you acquire from the state, as well as how long you have spent working in the field. According to Salary.com, the average Electrician I salary in the state earned around $47,500 in the year 2019.
That pay rate comes after 4,000 hours of apprenticeship and being certified as a residential wireman through earning journeyman certification. The average hourly pay can vary throughout the state depending upon the city or county in which you work.
The better your education along with certifications and additional skills can only benefit your salary scale down the line. You can soon be earning more than $50,000 annually and working toward even higher pay.
What Electricians Get Paid the Most?
There are a variety of different types of electrician jobs. These include but are not limited to:
- Residential Electric Installers
- Industrial Installation Electricians
- Maintenance Electricians
- Instrumental Electricians
- Panel Builders
- Automotive Electricians
- Sign Specialist Electricians
- Appliance Installation Contractors
To judge what electricians receive the best pay is rather difficult to ascertain, as salaries between specialties do not vary a lot. One type of position for an electrician that stands out as having steady pay is that of a lineman. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average annual pay for a lineman is a bit above $57,000. In Texas, it is a bit lower at $51,400.
Entry-Level Electrical Careers
There are as many entry-level electrical careers as there are types of electricians. Electricians should know their job can be physically demanding. It can also be dangerous, if not done correctly. Proper training is key and that starts with a working knowledge that you can learn through the Southern Careers Institute.
While traditional schooling is not mandatory to become an electrician, what you will learn through your education can jump start your career. You will have a much higher chance of obtaining a better paying position, while building up your hours for certification.
Through SCI courses, you will learn the basics of installation, operation, and maintenance and repairs of electrical wiring and electronics. You will learn what you need to know about electrical panels and their distribution, wiring, power transmissions, and more. Of the utmost importance is learning safety skills invaluable in the trade. You will also learn about paperwork, inspections, regulations, and how to determine estimates.
By completing the coursework and apprenticing under a master electrician for 1,000 hours, you will be ready and qualified for an entry-level career in most electrical fields.
To keep current on licensing and all things electrical in the state, refer to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website.
How to be a Successful Electrician
Getting a good start will advance you into a good platform for electrician job growth. As you learn, you will be better prepared to decide which electrical engineering career path interests you the most. From there you can work on your success in the field.
If you have an interest in general electrical work, whether residential or commercial, you will start out as an apprentice. By working your way up to earning your master electrician license you’ll be on your way to earning that top master electrician salary.
Want to work toward a more specialized path? Sign specialists work on a variety of signage from electronic billboards along the highway to scoreboards at high school, college, or professional venues.
No matter what arena, one of the most important keys to your success will be to follow the safety training you learn. Whether you install security systems or repair old electrical lines in older homes or buildings, you need to work safely with all of your electrical tools and equipment assuring each job is done 100% right. That will make you a successful electrician.
The Future of Electricians
For electricians the future is bright. Through your education with Southern Careers Institute’s Electrical Program, you will have an advantage in finding and starting your apprenticeship. Our electrician’s program is offered through our Waco, San Antonio-North, and Brownsville campuses.
Within the next decade, employment for electricians across the nation is expected to grow an additional 10 percent. That is faster than most types of employment. Being an electrician in Texas can be rewarding.
For 2020, why not start your own transformation and begin a new you? Contact our team at Southern Careers Institute to find your future possibilities.
Sources
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/electrician
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/electrician-i-salary/tx
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm
https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/what-can-you-expect-from-a-job-as-an-electrician
https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elec.htm
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/How-Much-Does-a-Lineman-Make-a-Year–in-Texas
Blog Disclaimer: Information stated in this blog is for general information purposes only. SCITexas.edu not assume or guarantee income earning potential or salary expectations based on the programs offered at Southern Careers Institute.
This article was published on: 01/23/20 8:30 PM
