How much does a electrician make?

The median pay is $30.38 per hour — roughly $63,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.50/hr (10th percentile) to $52.17/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a electrician?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a electrician actually do all day?

Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes. Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes. Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.

Construction & Trades◆ PROMISING

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.

What it pays
Electricians earn a median of $30.38/hr — about $63,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.50/hr; the top 10% earn $52.17/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 7.8% of electricians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.

Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a electrician make?: The median pay is $30.38 per hour — roughly $63,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.50/hr (10th percentile) to $52.17/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a electrician?: The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a electrician actually do all day?: Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes. Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes. Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.