Career profile · SOC 47-2111

Electricians

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems. The role reports a median annual salary of $62,350 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $37,020 and $104,180 and is projected to grow 10% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows low AI exposure (0.30 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis.

Median salary
$62,350
per year
Growth outlook
Faster Than Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure
3.02/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$37,020
25th %ile
$46,700
Median
$62,350
75th %ile
$82,340
Top 10%
$104,180

Top skills

Critical Thinking Troubleshooting Active Listening Complex Problem Solving Quality Control Analysis Installation Repairing Speaking Coordination Judgment and Decision Making

Knowledge you'll build

  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Design
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Administration and Management

A day in the life

You show up at a job site at dawn with your tool belt, blueprints, and a strong cup of coffee, then start the morning pulling wire through conduit in a new commercial building. By mid-morning you might be bending and mounting conduit runs, wiring breaker panels, and installing outlets and switches while making sure every connection meets code. Afternoons could take you to a residential service call where you troubleshoot a dead circuit with a multimeter, trace the fault to a corroded junction box, and fix it on the spot. The work is physical and cerebral at the same time—one wrong connection can cause a fire—and the satisfaction of flipping a breaker and watching a whole building light up never gets old.

Frequently asked questions

What does Electricians do?

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

What does a typical day look like in Electricians?

You show up at a job site at dawn with your tool belt, blueprints, and a strong cup of coffee, then start the morning pulling wire through conduit in a new commercial building. By mid-morning you might be bending and mounting conduit runs, wiring breaker panels, and installing outlets and switches while making sure every connection meets code.

How much does Electricians earn?

The median annual salary for Electricians in the US is $62,350. The middle 80% of workers earn between $37,020 and $104,180 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $46,700 and $82,340.

What is the job outlook for Electricians?

The role is projected to grow 10% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 818,700 workers.

How do I become a electricians?

The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.

What skills does Electricians need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Installation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace Electricians?

Our AI-durability model gives Electricians a score of 0.30 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.

How hard is it to enter this field?

Electricians has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.

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