Electricians: Lighting Up the World

By: Angie Miller
Physically fit? Have good coordination and balance? Interested in electrical objects?

Electricians are a branch within the physical sciences field. The growth for electricians in the next ten years is high in demand at 21% or more. The median salary of an electrician in the United States is $49,320. From bringing electricity to homes, schools, businesses, and the public, electricians light up the world.

Work environment for electricians is usually a 40-hour week outside and indoors, construction sites, homes, and business or factories. Work can be physically demanding lifting heavy objects or being subject to electrical injuries. On the job focuses on maintaining or installing the wiring, fuses, and other electrical components. Generally electricians repair, assemble, test, and inspect all electrical systems and components.

Education is focused on classes with a wide variety of information including physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, and English. Electricians are usually required to have a Vocational or Associate’s degree. The majority of electricians get their training and experience through apprenticeship programs that last roughly four years. Each year is at least a combination of 144 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of actual experience. Electricians generally have to pass exams to become licensed and also continue to get trained in courses such as safety throughout their career.

Personality skills that are important for electricians include good hand-eye coordination, balance, and manual dexterity.

Similar careers to electricians are computer repairers, avionics technicians, and model makers.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/earth-physical-sciences/electrician#keyfactsinformation

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