How to Become an Electrician
Install and maintain the electrical systems that power buildings, with strong pay and no degree debt. It typically requires an apprenticeship / postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $63,190 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$63,190/yr
Middle half
$49,430 to $83,940
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
81,000
Majors that lead here
Common majors include Electrical Technology, Construction Trades.
Key skills
- Wiring and Installation
- Electrical Code
- Troubleshooting
- Blueprint Reading
- Safety Practices
Helpful certifications
- Journeyman then Master Electrician license
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
0/100
Work-life balance
59/100
Stress level
64/100
Related careers
- Electrical Engineering Technician$78,190 median
- Mechanical Engineering Technician$74,510 median
- Civil Engineering Technician$64,950 median
- Wind Turbine Technician$64,120 median
- Plumber$63,800 median
- HVAC Technician$61,010 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Electrician make?
The median pay for an Electrician is $63,190 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $49,430 and $83,940 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Electrician?
The usual entry point is an apprenticeship / postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Electrical Technology and Construction Trades.
Is Electrician a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 81,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Electrician use most?
Common skills for this role are Wiring and Installation, Electrical Code, Troubleshooting, Blueprint Reading, and Safety Practices.
Planning to become a Electrician?
Save this career to your PlanexAI path and track the majors, courses, and milestones that lead to it.
Not sure this is right for you?
Take our free 2-minute quiz to match your interests to majors and careers.
Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).