What are the different types and levels of electricians?
Is there a clear path for career advancement in the electrical industry?
Those are valid questions anyone starting or building a career in the electrical industry has on their minds.
Fortunately, we are here to help.
Developing reliable electrical software has connected us with a network of experienced electricians. By working closely with them, we've mapped out the various career paths and job options available in the electrical industry.
Read on to learn more about them, their respective salary ranges, and the skills required to succeed.
What Are The Different Types of Electricians by Level?
This categorization method divides electricians into different ranks or hierarchies based on their educational accomplishments, certifications, and licenses.
It also outlines a certification path for entering and growing in the electrical field.
We’ll review the three basic electrician levels in the image below, their requirements, and their respective salaries.
1. Apprentice electrician
Apprentice electricians are individuals who work under the supervision of licensed electricians with years of experience under their belt.
This is an entry-level position. However, it allows new entrants to gain essential hands-on skills in the trade from an expert for four years, after which they become journeymen.
2. Journeyman electrician
After four years, apprentices take a state-level test administered by their jurisdiction’s labor authority. Those who pass qualify for the journeymen cadre.
This means they are officially recognized as licensed electricians and can work on non-complex electrical projects without direct supervision.
An electrical journeyman takes home $61,321 per year or $29.48 per hour. However, beginner journeymen earn $48,800, while the most experienced earn up to $89,810.
3. Master electrician
This is the highest rank reserved only for electricians with at least four years of experience as a journeyman, after which they can take the master electrician test.
Master electricians handle complex electrical projects and can supervise journeymen.
The average salary for master electricians in the USA is $91,719 per year. They also receive an average of $34,240 in add-ons.
What Are The Different Types of Electricians by Field?
Electrician categorization by field is based on the customer bases or segments they serve. This division is necessary since each customer segment has different electrical requirements with varying levels of complexity.
Here are the three common types of electricians by specification or field.
1. Residential electricians
These individuals maintain, repair, install, and update electrical systems in domestic spaces such as homes, condos, duplexes, detached houses, and apartments.
Most electricians are residential. Compared to commercial and industrial electricians, they do simpler projects, such as installing lighting systems, troubleshooting heating units, and servicing other household utilities.
The salary for residential electricians in the USA is estimated at $62,487 per year or $30.04 per hour. New entrants take home $50,000, while the experienced ones with master electrician certifications earn up to $95,000.
2. Commercial electrician
Commercial electricians work in commercial buildings, including offices, financial institutions, and other large entities. They must be familiar with local and state safety regulations and electrical codes to ensure safety and avoid legal penalties.
Aside from installing and repairing electrical systems in commercial buildings, they are sometimes contracted to design and plan the electrical framework of new buildings under construction.
Commercial electricians are paid $53,753 annually or $25.84 per hour. Greenhorns take home $45,806 yearly, while their experienced counterparts get up to $72,800 yearly.
3. Industrial electrician
Industrial electricians handle large-scale electrical projects in manufacturing plants, factories, large commercial complexes, mines, and power stations.
Most of their work involves complicated machinery and systems valuable to production. They are exposed to the toughest electrical jobs and work under facility managers and supervisors.
An industrial electrician in the USA earns an average of $61,348 annually and $29.49 per hour. However, the exact amount depends on the level of experience.
New industrial electricians get $52,678, while their experienced counterparts go home with $77,118 annually.
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What Are The Different Types of Electricians by Job Type?
This involves the type of job the electricians handle.
Some key different types of electricians by job type are listed below:
Automotive electrician
Outside lineperson
Solar panel electrician
Inside wireperson
Marine electrician
Wind turbine electrician
Electrical system designers
1. Automotive electrician
They handle the automotive electrical systems, including those found in cars, vans, trucks, tractors, excavators, and buses. Their work sometimes demands the use of computer-based diagnostics and repair systems.
Automotive electricians’ responsibilities include fixing vehicle lighting systems, changing brake systems, rewiring ignitions, and meeting other customer needs.
The median wage for automotive electricians is $77,262 annually and $37.15 per hour. However, depending on years of experience, it can rise to $88,400.
2. Outside lineperson
These are comprised of electricians who work on overhead or underground power cables carrying electricity from generating plants to users.
Their work duties can be physically demanding, involving climbing power lines at extreme heights, braving extreme weather, digging ditches to lay electrical cables, and responding to emergency calls at odd hours.
Outside linepersons take special extra safety, CPR, first aid, rescue, and climbing training.
The median annual salary for outside linepersons in the USA is $79,940 or $40 per hour. However, it can increase based on work duties, location, local pay scale, and insurance benefits.
3. Solar panel electrician
As the name suggests, these electricians assemble, maintain, and install solar panels on elevated structures. They connect them to the grid and ensure the electrical wiring obeys safety regulations.
An average solar panel electrician earns $68,000 annually (including add-ons) or $29.51 per hour.
4. Inside wireperson
Inside wirepersons use electrical cables to connect properties to power sources. They also install power outlets, security systems, control panels, and other electrical installations within properties.
Their total median salary is estimated to be $64,350, with an additional $10,102 as extra payments.
5. Marine electrician
These electricians work on sea-faring vessels like yachts, boats, and ships. Duties include installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical equipment such as sonar systems on marine vessels.
They are also responsible for keeping all electrical wiring compliant with safety standards to prevent accidents.
Their salary ranges between $47,989 and $63,889.
6. Electrical system designers
These electricians, who have an engineering degree and years of on-the-job experience, are tasked with creating electrical system schematics and sketches.
They rely on design applications and software such as AutoCAD, Matlab, and Microsoft Studio.
Due to the nature of their work, electrical system designers are usually brought in from the moment the first block is laid to ensure the electrical systems are legally compliant.
Electrical systems engineers in the United States earn an average annual salary of $89,488. Entry-level electrical system designers earn $83,820, and experienced ones earn $95,416.
Check out some interview questions to hire the right maintenance electrical technicians.
What Category Does Electrician Fall Under?
Electricians in the United States belong to two major categories: linepersons and wirepersons.
Linepersons work with outdoor, high-voltage electrical installations, which sometimes can be physically demanding. Conversely, wirepersons handle indoor, low-voltage electrical systems.
Wirepersons are divided into residential, industrial, commercial, low-voltage wiring, and fire alarm technicians. There are also more categories, like PLC technicians, which are named after the equipment they work on.
What Are The Key Skills Electricians Should Have?
Electricians, like operators in other industries, require some vital skills to thrive and build a successful career. These skills are primarily divided into hard and soft skills.
Hard or technical skills come from on-the-job experience and electrical courses. They include the following:
Troubleshooting electrical systems
Installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical appliances and equipment.
Understanding of national and state electrical safety codes.
Expertise in operating programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
Handling electrical hand and power tools such as drills and screwdrivers.
Connecting properties to power sources.
Beyond the necessary tools, electricians need key personal traits to resolve and troubleshoot complex electrical problems. They also need soft skills to collaborate with people from other trades on large projects and interact with customers to close sales.
Some key soft skills electricians should have include the following:
Time management
Problem-solving
Critical thinking
Desire to learn continually to update their knowledge of new practices, laws, and technologies.
Considering the current digital evolution, no electrician can do without knowing how to use technological solutions. It shows they’re professional, boosts efficiency, and helps them close sales.
Speaking of electrical technological solutions, ServiceTitan’s Field Service App empowers techs to offer top-notch service that generates positive customer reviews.
Field techs use the software to access information collected during intake calls, including customers’ names, service histories, and previous invoices. This information helps them to converse with customers and understand their problems.
ServiceTitan’s Dispatch Platform also helps dispatchers react quickly to potential delays caused by traffic jams, busted tires, and car issues.
The platform has an intuitive interface and a drag-and-drop functionality that dispatchers can use to extend, shorten, or reschedule appointments. It also has an integrated SMS text feature to inform customers about appointment changes.
This way, customers wouldn’t have to wait all day only to discover that the technician can’t make the appointment.
Electrical companies use the above ServiceTitan features to empower their techs and help their employees anticipate and resolve potential issues that can lead to late arrivals or no-shows.
What Licences and Certifications are Required by Electricians?
Licenses and certifications are required to begin a career in the electrical industry. They also help enhance and keep an electrician in sync with new trends and technological advancements.
The license requirements vary across states, regions, and other legal jurisdictions. Additionally, the certificates needed to rise from one level to another differ based on the field the electrician belongs to.
Learn more about the license and certification requirements across states in the USA.
The Bottom Line
The electrical industry is very lucrative and has multiple entry and growth paths you can explore.
Go through the list to find the path that aligns with your current level, financial status, and the time you’re willing to dedicate to getting the required licenses and certifications.
If you’re a business owner, ask the right questions to hire top talent and consider empowering technicians with tools like ServiceTitan’s electrical software.
ServiceTitan helps electrical contractors streamline business operations, automate processes, and boost revenue. Thousands of service companies nationwide have increased their revenue by an average of 25% in just their first year of working with us.
ServiceTitan Electrical Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive electrical business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
