Is Being a Electrician a Good Career? Here's the Honest Truth

Let's start with what everyone wants to know. The national median salary for electricians is $60,300/yr ($29/hr). That's the midpoint -- half earn more, half earn less.

Entry-level electricians start around $41,000/yr. Once you've got a few years under your belt and a journeyman credential, you're looking at $75,400/yr or higher. The top 10% of earners pull in $93,500/yr.

Union electricians do better -- averaging $36.50/hr compared to $28/hr for non-union workers. When you factor in benefits worth around $18,500/yr, the total compensation gap widens even further.

And don't forget overtime. In the trades, OT is common, especially during busy seasons. Time-and-a-half at journeyman rates adds up fast.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11.0% growth in electrician jobs over the next decade. There are currently about 738,800 electrician positions nationwide.

But the real story isn't just growth -- it's replacement. A huge chunk of the existing workforce is aging out and retiring. The trades have been under-promoted for decades, which means fewer people entering the field than leaving it. That's bad for the industry but great for anyone starting out now. Employers are competing for qualified workers, which means better pay, better benefits, and more leverage for you.

And this kind of work isn't going anywhere. You can't outsource a broken pipe or a wiring job to another country, and robots aren't climbing into crawl spaces yet.

You'll be on your feet all day, climbing ladders, working in cramped spaces, and pulling wire through walls and ceilings. Heights are part of the job. So is working in attics that feel like ovens in the summer and crawl spaces where you can barely move. It's not dangerous if you follow safety protocols, but you will get sore, especially in the first few years.

Let's be real: this work takes a toll on your body over time. Talk to anyone who's been in the trades for 20+ years and they'll tell you about their knees, their back, or their shoulders. Take care of yourself -- stretch, lift properly, wear your PPE, and take breaks when you need them. The money is good, but it's not worth destroying your body.

Time: 4-5 years for a full apprenticeship, or 6-24 months for trade school plus on-the-job training.

Cost: $0 for union apprenticeships (you earn while you learn), or $5,000-$15,000 for trade school programs.

Compare that to a four-year degree that costs $40,000-$100,000+ and doesn't guarantee a job. Apprentices start earning from day one and graduate with real skills, real experience, and zero student debt. That's a hard deal to beat.

A typical day starts around 6-7 AM on a job site. You might be roughing in wiring for a new build, troubleshooting circuits in an existing building, or installing panels and fixtures. Commercial electricians often work on larger systems -- switchgear, motor controls, fire alarm. Residential work is more varied day-to-day. Most days are 8-10 hours, and overtime is common when deadlines are tight.

One thing most tradespeople love about the work: no two days are exactly the same. You're solving problems, working with your hands, and seeing tangible results. At the end of the day, you can point to something and say "I built that" or "I fixed that." There's a real satisfaction in that.

The electrician career ladder has more rungs than most people realize. Here's the typical progression:

1. 1Apprentice (4-5 years) -- learning the trade, earning while training
2. 2Journeyman -- fully licensed, can work independently on most projects
3. 3Master Electrician -- highest technical license, can pull permits and supervise
4. 4Electrical Contractor -- run your own business, bid on projects
5. 5Estimator / Project Manager -- move into the office side if you want

The path from apprentice to business owner is well-trodden in the trades. Starting your own electrician business requires way less capital than most other businesses, and the demand for quality work is always there.