An electrician is someone who specializes in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines or other heavy equipment. Electricians can also specialize in the wiring  of ships, airplanes and other mobile platforms. This short guide will give you a breakdown of what you can expect in choosing this career and provide electrician salary and benefits information.

Electrician Salary Information:

When you are starting out as an electrician, you can expect to make no less than $32,000 per year. The average electrician salary range is around the $48,000 mark. There is a lot of room for growth in this field as the top electricians can earn over $80,000 annually. Your earnings can ever further grow if you decide to become a master electrician.

Electrician Education Requirements:

In order to become an electrician, you will need to become certified or receive training from a master electrician or journeyman. More technical colleges offer certification programs which cover all specializations. Before you apply for an electrician apprenticeship, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. During the apprenticeship, you will learn the tools of the trade as well as get tips from seasoned electricians. This is very important as the master electrician will give you valuable insight into the field which is vital when you are at the local level. The training program as a whole is "hands on" throughout with the apprentice doing more and more complex tasks until they can perform projects completely on their own. Apprenticeship usually will last at least three years.

Electrician Work Environment:

Depending on your field, your working conditions will vary. There are many traveling electricians which end up being the bulk of the trade. You can choose to work in an industrial park or installation in which you would be responsible for the block. You can also go into construction in which you will be doing the wiring for new homes and office buildings. You have quite a few possible paths when you enter the field. Most people will end up specializing which will help increase your salary.

By becoming an electrician, you are setting yourself up for a very lucrative and stable career. There is no worry about finding employment as electricians are always in demand, even if there is a recession. Be sure to take advantage of student loans and even federal aid. You can also take some of the basic courses online or even fast track. Remember that by doing some groundwork and planning ahead of time, you should have no problem getting started in this rewarding career.

Additional Resources:
Electricians Salary
How Much Do Electricians Make
Master Electrician Salary