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At a Glance
Electricians install, repair, and maintain electrical systems wherever they are needed.
BC Focus Areas
Trades & Technology
Earnings
Earnings Range: 17 - 36/hr
Level of Education
Core Tasks
Physical strength
Hand-eye coordination
Workplace
Work for electrical contracting companies, industrial plants, and construction companies,
or are self-employed
Job Description
Almost every aspect of our daily lives is dependent on the supply of electricity. Without it there would be no
computers, no television, no radio, and no telecommunications. It is not surprising, then, that the ability to create,
maintain, and repair electrical systems can lead to a satisfying and rewarding career as an electrician.
Electricians are responsible for installing electrical systems wherever they are needed. They may also be involved in
the design and layout of electrical systems for new structures. Most work in the construction field, where they install
and repair electrical systems in new homes and buildings, or the industrial sector, where they maintain machines and
electrical systems in factories.
In the construction field, electricians are generally responsible for wiring buildings for electricity. Following blueprints
and building codes, they run wires from control panels to the areas of the building that need electricity. This may also
include the installation of electrical control devices such as switches and outlets for homes, or the installation of cable
for office computers.
Maintenance electricians work mostly in factories, where they connect and maintain the electrical systems of industrial
machines. These electricians spend much of their time doing preventative maintenance, as a breakdown can cost a
company thousands of dollars an hour. They are often on-call, which means they are expected to come into work at a
moments notice if the factory experiences electrical problems.
Regardless of the type of equipment they are working with, once it is assembled electricians must thoroughly test it to
prevent fires and electrical shocks. They use equipment such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, and oscilloscopes to ensure
that the equipment adheres to local safety standards.
Electricians work for contractors, construction firms, or companies that require an in-house electrician. Many work as
independent contractors, serving clients in their homes and offices.
Working Conditions
Electricians work in people's homes, on construction sites, in factories, and in electrical utility stations. They may be
required to bend or squat for long periods, in order to work on hard-to-reach wiring. There is always the threat of
electrical shocks, but as long as proper safety procedures are followed, the number of accidents will remain low.
Electricians typically work 8-hour days, 5 days a week. This may vary for independent electrical contractors,
depending on the work available. Some contractors work 12 to 14-hour days. Maintenance electricians may have to
work evenings and weekends on a regular basis, and may be on-call when not at work.
The amount of work an electrician gets often depends on how well the construction industry is doing. If the economy
has slowed down and there is little construction going on, there is a decreased demand for electricians.
Earnings
Electricians mostly work on a full-time basis. Many work for electrical, industrial, or construction companies. Some are
self-employed and run their own companies. Self-employed electricians may work by themselves or with several
employees.
Apprentices earn a percentage of a fully trained, or journeyperson, electrician's salary as they train. Usually this
means they begin by making about 50% of what a journeyperson makes. They then receive increases in pay as they
complete each year of their apprenticeship.
Apprentices can earn anywhere from $9 to $27 an hour. If they work 40 hours a week, this translates to about
$19,000 to $56,000 a year.
Fully-qualified journeyperson electricians who work on a full-time basis often earn somewhere between $35,000 and
$75,000 a year. Contractors who operate their own businesses can earn well over $75,000 a year. Industrial
electricians tend to earn more than electricians in other specialities.
Depending on their employer, full-time electricians may receive benefits such as paid sick days, and dental coverage.
Self-employed electricians must provide their own benefits.
Some electricians belong to unions, which means their wages and benefits are negotiated by union representatives.
Education
Most electricians complete their training through a 4 or 5-year apprenticeship, which includes a combination of inschool course work and on-the-job training. The in-class component of an apprenticeship program normally takes
place at a college or vocational school.
To be accepted into an apprenticeship program you usually need a high school diploma, with courses in math,
chemistry, physics, and English. Contact you local apprenticeship training office or electricians union for more
information on becoming an apprentice.
Once you have completed apprenticeship training you can certify as a journeyperson electrician by passing an exam
set by your province. Certification is required in most provinces, and highly recommended in those areas where it is
voluntary.
You may also be eligible to write the certification exam if you have worked in the trade for more than 5 years and have
completed related high school, college, or industry courses. In this case the completion of an apprenticeship program
is not required.
Certified electricians can write the Interprovincial Exam. Those who pass this exam are awarded the Red Seal, which
means they can work as an electrician in the other provinces or territories without having to re-certify.
Electrical Work
Utility Lineworker
Alberta - Electrician
Quebec - Electrician
Saskatchewan - Electrician
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Important
Check with your advisor to make sure that your course selections satisfy your graduation requirements.
Level 1
Sample Title
First-Year Apprentice
Earnings
$9 to $17 an hour
Requirements
Responsibilities
Working under a journeyperson; doing odd jobs while learning the trade (for
example, loading and unloading materials, and cleaning up); taking courses.
Level 2
Sample Title
Earnings
Requirements
Responsibilities
Responsibilities increase with each year. Duties include installing cables, conduits,
panels, motors, outlets, and lighting fixtures; testing electrical equipment under a
journeyperson.
Level 3
Sample Title
Journey-level Electrician
Earnings
Requirements
Responsibilities
Level 4
Sample Title
Earnings
Requirements
Responsibilities
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Focus Areas
Focus Areas are groups or families of occupations that share common characteristics such as knowledge
requirements, skill sets, and/or goals.
Trades & Technology