Consider an Electrical Trade Career Now Here are 6 Good Reasons
What is the electrical trade?
The electrical trade includes any type of job that performs electrical work. Responsibilities can include installing fixtures and wiring in buildings, removing or repairing electrical wiring and systems that wear down over time or experience damage from accidents, and designing or constructing new electrical systems or appliances. In the electrical trade, it's common to take on projects in residential homes, commercial buildings or large facilities that use electrical wiring to power their operations.Related: What Are the Best Jobs in the Electrical Engineering Field?
6 reasons to build a career in the electrical trade
Here are six reasons to consider pursuing an electrical career:
1. Numerous career paths
One of the most attractive reasons for joining the electrical trade is the number of career paths that the industry can offer. This is because there are several types of jobs in the electrical trade that exist at different levels of experience, skill and training. Because there are so many jobs to choose from, professionals in the electrical trade typically have the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of positions. This can be valuable when building a career, as it can allow you to try different jobs and determine which positions might best suit your skills and interests.Here are some of the most popular career paths in the electrical trade:
- Electrician
- Electrical engineer
- Electrical technician
- Electrical installation specialist
- Power plant operator
- Electrical designer
- Renewable energy technician
- Line worker
Related: Electrician vs. Electrical Engineer: What's the Difference?
2. Competitive pay
Most jobs in the electrical trade offer very competitive salaries, typically because of the highly technical nature of electrical work and the sometimes potentially hazardous conditions that electrical professionals can have as their work environment. Some professionals who work as electricians can also set their own prices for the services they offer, especially if they own their own business or work primarily on an individual contract basis. Many jobs in the electrical trade offer employee benefits as well, such as health and dental insurance, paid time off and access to pension and retirement plans.Here are a few average salaries for some common job titles in the electrical trade:
- Electrical technician: $53,088 per year
- Electrician: $55,659 per year
- Electrical designer: $77,137 per year
- Power plant operator: $91,940 per year
- Electrical engineer: $92,882 per year
3. Job security
Most electrical jobs offer excellent job security, as there's typically high demand for electricians and other related professions. For example, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people employed as electricians is expected to increase by 8% from 2019 to 2029, which is a rapid growth rate. The BLS states that this growth could result from increased demand for electricians who can install fixtures to generate sustainable power, such as solar panels.The BLS also lists job outlook information for electrical and electronics engineers. They show that the number of people in these jobs might increase by around 3% from 2019 to 2029. This is a fairly average growth rate, but it still shows a positive job outlook for the position. To explain this potential growth, the BLS refers to rising innovations in the electrical industry, such as the creation of new electronic products and writing systems that require electrical engineers for design, installation and maintenance.
4. Transferrable skills
Careers in the electrical trade can provide candidates with strong sets of skills that they can use in a variety of industry jobs, such as installing appliances and fixtures or repairing pieces of electrical wiring. However, working in the electrical trade can also allow you to develop transferrable skills that you can apply to many areas of your life, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills and attention to detail. This can be highly beneficial for candidates who are interested in exploring multiple career paths, as the skills they earn in one job might enhance their work in another position.Related: Electrician Skills: Definition and Examples
5. Unconventional work environments
Another reason for joining the electrical trade is that most jobs in the industry take place in unconventional work environments, such as traveling to different buildings or construction sites. This can be beneficial for people who prefer to work outdoors or in settings other than an office building. Most jobs in the electrical trade also perform work that focuses on physical labor, manual dexterity and problem-solving, which can be attractive to people who enjoy working with their hands and being physical at work.
6. Accessible training options
Most careers in the electrical trade don't require candidates to have college degrees or to complete extensive training programs. Instead, candidates typically receive training through internships that allow them to work in the field with established professionals and learn from observing their techniques. Many electrical jobs also train new hires through hands-on experience once they start working, as some jobs in the electrical trade require practical experience to master the techniques they use.Another accessible training option for professionals in the electrical trade is to complete specialty certification. These typically cost less than a comprehensive training program and provide candidates with credentials they can use to qualify for higher-level jobs and more competitive pay.