Electrician
A skilled trade with good pay and steady demand
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Skills you'll walk away with
Jobs this leads to
- Apprentice Electrician
- Journeyman Electrician
- Master Electrician
- Electrical Contractor
Before you start
- ✓ High school diploma or equivalent
- ✓ Good physical condition
- ✓ Valid driver's license
12 missions to Electrician
3 worlds, 12 missions. Tap any circle to open it; the glowing one is next.
Get your requirements sorted and find an apprenticeship.
Get paid to learn on the job, plus classroom hours.
Get licensed and keep moving up.
More about this career
About the job, pay where you live, questions people ask, and where this career can take you next.
About the job
What you’d do
- Read blueprints or prepare sketches to locate wiring and equipment
- Run conduit, pipes or tubing inside walls and other concealed spaces and pull wiring
- Install, test and maintain electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers and other components
- Plan wiring layouts to meet job specifications and local codes
- Work from ladders, scaffolds or roofs when the job needs it
Where you’d work
- Electrical and wiring contractors (about 66% of US electricians)
- Self-employed (about 7% of US electricians)
- Manufacturing
- Government
- Employment services
Every step in full
The complete text of every step, to read or print. Work through them in the journey above.
Prepare & Apply 4 steps
Secure Base Educational Prerequisites
Ensure you have the minimum academic credentials required to apply for competitive apprenticeships.
Real-world task: Review your high school transcripts to verify your algebra grade. If below a C, complete a local community college remedial algebra course.
Why it matters: Algebra is heavily used in electrical theory for calculating voltage drops and circuit loads. Unions will outright reject applicants with poor math foundations.
Checklist
- Obtain a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Complete basic algebra with passing grades (often heavily evaluated)
- Strengthen applied reading comprehension skills
- Collect official transcripts for union or state applications
Pass Initial Aptitude Testing
Prepare for and pass the standardized aptitude tests used to screen aspiring electricians.
Real-world task: Take 3 timed practice NJATC aptitude tests online focusing heavily on the math and mechanical reasoning sections.
Why it matters: The aptitude test filters out uncommitted candidates before interviews even begin. Failing means waiting months to re-apply.
Checklist
- Study mathematical problem solving and geometry concepts
- Practice reading comprehension and mechanical reasoning tests
- Schedule the IBEW or state-approved aptitude test
- Achieve a qualifying score (usually minimum 4 out of 9 on the NJATC scale)
Navigate the Application & Interview
Apply to formal apprenticeship programs and secure your entry into the trade.
Real-world task: Conduct a mock interview answering situational questions about handling workplace hazards and working in extreme weather conditions.
Why it matters: Apprenticeships are incredibly competitive. Interviewers invest heavily in apprentices and need to know you won't quit when the work gets tough.
Checklist
- Research non-union (ABC/IEC) vs. union (IBEW) programs in your area
- Submit formal applications with letters of recommendation
- Prepare for panel interviews emphasizing work ethic and safety
- Demonstrate physical capability and reliability
Complete Pre-Apprenticeship (If Required)
Gain a competitive edge in saturated markets by completing a basic trade school program.
Real-world task: Acquire and organize an apprentice toolbelt, identifying and naming each basic hand tool (lineman's pliers, wire strippers, multimeter) and its exact use.
Why it matters: If you are in a highly competitive union local, trade school acts as proof of your dedication and accelerates your hiring status.
Checklist
- Enroll in a 3 to 6-month pre-apprenticeship if struggling to get hired
- Learn basic tool handling and site safety (OSHA 10)
- Familiarize yourself with basic wire types and conduits
- Secure initial field placements through the trade school
Apprenticeship (Earn While You Learn) 4 steps
Perform On-the-Job Training Daily
Work full-time during the day under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician, executing grunt work and learning by doing.
Real-world task: Successfully wire a 3-way switch circuit on a practice board so that both switches control a single light without tripping the breaker.
Why it matters: Theory is useless if you can't physically run wire cleanly and efficiently. The majority of your learning happens on active job sites.
Checklist
- Assist with heavy pulling, trenching, and material handling
- Learn to safely route and secure NM cables (Romex) and pull wire through conduits
- Install boxes, receptacles, and standard luminaires under supervision
- Observe load balancing and panel terminations
Master National Electrical Code (NEC) & Theory
Attend required classroom instruction seamlessly alongside your day job to cover the dense theoretical foundation.
Real-world task: Use the NEC handbook to determine the correct wire gauge and breaker size required for a continuously running 40-amp commercial oven.
Why it matters: Wiring something so it 'works' is easy; wiring it so it doesn't burn a building down requires an exact understanding of code and physics.
Checklist
- Navigate the NEC book to locate codes regarding conductor sizing and fill capacities
- Study Ohm's Law and calculate voltage, current, and resistance in complex circuits
- Understand grounding vs. bonding principles
- Pass regular chapter exams to maintain apprenticeship standing
Diversify Your Field Experience
Gain hands-on experience across multiple electrical domains to become a well-rounded tradesperson.
Real-world task: Perfect your method of bending a 90-degree stub-up and a 3-point saddle in ½ inch EMT conduit using a hand bender.
Why it matters: Electricians who only know residential work miss out on high-paying commercial/industrial opportunities. Versatility equals job security.
Checklist
- Work in residential construction (wood framing, Romex, service panels)
- Gain commercial build-out experience (metal studs, MC cable, EMT conduit bending)
- Observe industrial environments (motor controls, PLCs, rigid conduit)
- Track exposure across these domains in your logbook
Log Hours and Maintain Good Standing
Diligently track and log the required on-the-job hours (typically 8,000+ hours) over 4-5 years.
Real-world task: Set up a reliable tracking system (app or logbook) mapping your hours directly against your state board's licensing bracket requirements.
Why it matters: Without verifiable documented hours, state licensing boards will reject your application to test for journeyman status, wasting years of work.
Checklist
- Record daily tasks accurately and get journeyman sign-offs
- Show up on time consistently with zero unexcused absences
- Maintain passing grades in all evening classroom components
- Pass regular drug tests and safety evaluations
Get Licensed & Advance 4 steps
Pass the Journeyman License Exam
Apply for, study, and pass the journeyman electrician exam required by your state or municipality.
Real-world task: Complete a 100-question timed practice test using only your high-lighted and tabbed NEC handbook, achieving an 80% or higher.
Why it matters: The journeyman card is your golden ticket. It proves your competency, significantly raises your wages, and allows you to work without direct supervision.
Checklist
- Submit signed hour logs to the state licensing board for approval
- Take intense exam-prep courses focusing on NEC code lookups
- Master load calculations for multi-family dwellings
- Pass the timed, open-book examination
Build Independent Field Competence
Work independently as a journeyman for at least 2+ years while expanding your professional network and taking on leadership roles.
Real-world task: Lead a small crew in terminating a complex commercial sub-panel, assigning tasks to apprentices and handling the final quality assurance check.
Why it matters: Being a journeyman means shifting from asking how to do things to finding solutions and taking full liability for the work's quality.
Checklist
- Run entire job sites safely and cleanly
- Troubleshoot complex electrical faults independently
- Mentor new apprentices and helpers
- Build relationships with general contractors and inspectors
Secure the Master Electrician License
Prepare for and pass the rigorous master electrician exam to pull permits and oversee large jobs.
Real-world task: Draft a complete electrical plan and submit a mock permit application for a commercial retail location outlining all load calculations.
Why it matters: Master status is the ceiling for electrical certifications recognizing you as an absolute expert capable of pulling permits and legally overseeing entire companies.
Checklist
- Accumulate the required 4,000+ hours as a working journeyman
- Study advanced electrical theory, service entrance sizing, and business law
- Pass the master electrician examination
- Learn to pull municipal permits under your license
Establish an Electrical Contracting Firm (Optional)
Consider obtaining a contractor license and starting your own firm, moving from labor to business ownership.
Real-world task: Read construction blueprints for a new build and perform a complete material take-off and labor estimate, bidding the job for profitability.
Why it matters: Transitioning to a contractor shifts your income strictly from an hourly wage to uncapped business profits, preserving your physical body while you age.
Checklist
- Acquire an electrical contractor license (which usually requires a Master license)
- Secure liability insurance and a professional bond
- Learn job bidding, estimating, and material procurement
- Hire and manage crews of journeymen and apprentices
Questions people ask about Electrician
Clear answers regarding timelines, prerequisites, salaries, and study strategies.
How long does it take to become a Electrician?
This roadmap estimates 4–5 years (apprenticeship). It has 3 phases and 12 steps, from “Prepare & Apply” to “Get Licensed & Advance”.
How do I become a Electrician?
Follow the 3 phases in order, starting with Phase 1, “Prepare & Apply”. Your first task: Review your high school transcripts to verify your algebra grade. If below a C, complete a local community college remedial algebra course.
How much does a Electrician earn?
Pay depends on the country. The salary box on this page shows DraftMyCareer’s estimate, in local currency, for the country chosen in the menu.
What do I need before starting?
This roadmap lists: High school diploma or equivalent; Good physical condition; Valid driver's license.
What skills does a Electrician need?
This roadmap covers: Electrical theory, Wiring, Blueprint reading, Safety practices, Troubleshooting, Code compliance.