Since the early days of electrical power specialists were needed to do the installation and distribution of power in homes and businesses. As many in the skilled trades, electricians have had a generally, quality career path. This is due to supply and demand, that the demand for electricians have outweighed the supply. Deciding to pursue a career as an electrician is a good choice and relatively straightforward.

Each state is different what it requires for electricians. All will require one to start as an apprentice before moving forward. Apprenticeship will require time working under the supervision of a licensed electrician but can take the form of classroom training and/or on-the-job training. Once this is apprenticeship is completed one can apply to become a journeyman electrician. The final phase of an electrician is to become a master electrician which requires a rigorous test of electrical and electrical code knowledge.

The pay continues to increase with each phase, and many master electricians becoming contractors with their own business. Other master electricians can work in steady industries like local governments, manufacturing plants, and utility companies. Higher pay can often be found working with contractors but work can be unsteady.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has job projections for electricians to be steadily growing as society continues to need more wiring done to maintain demand for power, data, and video wiring. The BLS also has pay between $12.76 to $31.90 an hour with an average pay of $20.97. Understandably this fluctuates by region and these reported number are a national average. Apprentices start at 40-50 percent of full electricians and increase in pay over time.

The benefits of a career as an electrician include relatively good pay with growth potential. Even an entry level apprentice could possibly start pay above $20,000 a year their first year. Then looking forward, the need for electricians will not diminish, making a career as electrician a good choice.