Not everyone has an interest in working behind a desk. Since the job of an electrician involves fieldwork, it’s a tempting career choice for many.
So, what is it like being an Electrician?
An electrician’s job is a rewarding one. For electricians, each day is unique. Out meeting new people, looking at houses, and conversing with contractors. Electrical work might range from replacing a light fixture to installing a new cabling and outlets on a daily basis.
To be an electrician you do need to be a detailed person, good with problem-solving, and good at working with your hands.
Must also be comfortable working in high-risk environments where one mistake could end with serious consequences.
An electrician might have to crawl through the dark basement for finishing a task. An electrician needs to be prepared for physically demanding work at all times.
So now we have answered the main question, let’s uncover in detail what it takes to be an electrician and why is a solid career choice.
So What Is An electrician?
An electrician is a skilled person who designs, installs, maintains, and repairs electrical products and systems at homes, commercial places, and factors.
Their job is to ensure the lights, appliances, and industrial equipment are operating safely.
Electricians work in different environmental settings. Some work in large spaces where others work in cramped conditions.
The environment often involves fiddling with live electrical wires.
Most electricians work independently on projects while others work for large construction companies as well.
What Do Electricians Do On A Daily Basis?
Electricians must repair or replace wiring, equipment, fixtures, use power tools, and hand tools to perform their job.
The equipment they use includes measuring devices, construction equipment, power tools, and testing equipment like test lamps, ammeters, oscilloscopes, etc.
These are some of the functions an electrician performs on a daily basis:
- Place pipes, or tubes inside walls, or other concealed areas
- Assembly, installation, testing, and maintenance of electronic wiring equipment, appliances, fixtures, and apparatus by using power tools or hand tools
- Connect the wires to circuit breakers and transformers
- Plan out the layout and installation of equipment, wiring, and fixtures based on the codes and job specifications
- Test the system to the connection of circuits in the wiring, fixtures, and equipment by using various testing devices to ensure they are compatible with the system
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Electricians must also install the ground leads and restore the connection of power cables to equipment.
Time after time, electricians must also perform demanding tasks like lifting heavy objects, digging trenches, and more.
Some electricians also diagnose malfunctioning of the system by using test equipment and tools for locating the cause of the breakdown.
The electrician must read blueprints daily as well. These blueprints consist of technical diagrams consisting of panel boards, outlets, load centers, circuits, etc. reading the blueprints will tell where the wires and components must go.
After a thorough reading, the electrician must install and connect the wires to the circuit breaker, transformers, outlets, and other components to make the system work again.
The tools used by electricians daily include conduit benders, screwdrivers, drills, saws, pliers, and more.
They also use testing equipment like ohmmeters, ammeters, and voltmeters for ensuring the components are compatible.
Being An Electrician A Good Career?
Yes, there are many advantages to being an electrician. Of course, the job involves handling some dangerous wiring at times, but overall, the job is great and you are likely to enjoy some excellent prospects.
Electricians can also play a significant role in their community. The world would not be a comfortable place without the wiring work of an electrician.
Being an electrician requires lots of dexterity and manual work. This job requires the use of hands. If you are into video games, you might actually enjoy your role as an electrician.
Being An Electrician An Easy Job?
Becoming an electrician is no easy feat. To become a licensed electrician, you must study and you must also complete an apprenticeship.
To start your journey, you must be
- At least 18 years of age
- Have a GED/ high school diploma
- Be physically fit
- Own or have a reliable transport system
- Ability to work in a team as well as independently
- Must be able to follow instructions
Apart from these requirements, you must also meet some other requirements to begin your journey, depending on which state you live in.
The role can be challenging at times therefore, don’t even consider it to be an easy job.
Electricians say that the job gets easier with time especially when you work in the field and see the outcomes of your hard work in action.
Being An Electrician a Boring Job?
The job of an electrician is not boring at all. Each day, you are faced with something new. You solve problems, troubleshoot, and face new situations.
Therefore, no day in the life of an electrician is the same. That’s why it’s termed as one of the highly skilled trade jobs.
The job may become tedious at times because there’s so much to do and so much brain work involved to figure out what’s wrong. Problem-solving is not for everyone, you know.
Being An Electrician Stressful?
Definitely, being an electrician is stressful. The stress arises from the work environment, responsibilities, and complexities of the job. Since you are dealing with electricity, the job can be dangerous.
Apart from this, some companies hire electricians for 24 hours because electrical problems can arise at any time.
This means you might be working for more hours during the night compared to the day.
If you are planning to become an electrician, you must be certain that you can handle the complexity of the job.
How Much Do Electricians Earn?
In the United States, the median annual salary of an electrician is $49,320. Electricians earn $25.44 per hour on average.
The expected job growth is 23% between 2010 and 2020.
While other industries have their highs and lows, electricians are expected to have the steadiest form of employment because the world runs on electricity and problems are likely to occur, which means the demand for electricians is going to remain steady.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone has an interest in working behind a desk. Since the job of an electrician involves fieldwork, it’s a tempting career choice for many.
Also, an electrician is not tied down to the same old four walls and co-workers. They meet new people, visit new homes or builders and they don’t even have strict working hours.
Some days you might have no work at all whereas other days, you could be so busy that you decide to skip lunch.
The role of an electrician is rewarding but it’s not for everyone. You must be good with wires and have apt problem-solving skills.
