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Career Details

47-2111.00 - Electricians


Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
628,800
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
714,700
Estimate
Change in Employment
+85,900
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+13.7%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
  • Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem.
  • Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
  • Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.
  • Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous.
  • Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
  • Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
  • Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
  • Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
  • Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
  • Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
  • Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors.
  • Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment.
  • Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
  • Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
  • Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
  • Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets.
  • Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects.
  • Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications.
Supplemental
  • Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services.
  • Provide assistance during emergencies by operating floodlights or generators, placing flares, or driving needed vehicles.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Building and Construction
  • 87%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Mechanical
  • 85%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Mathematics
  • 78%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 75%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Design
  • 75%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 70%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 68%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Administration and Management
  • 66%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Physics
  • 63%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Telecommunications
  • 60%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Education and Training
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 52%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 50%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
  • Cabinet tip screwdrivers
  • Conduit fitting and reaming screwdrivers
  • Crescent wrenches
  • Double-end can socket wrenches
  • Hex key sets
  • Insulated nutdrivers
  • Insulated screwdrivers
  • Insulated socket sets
  • Insulated wrenches
  • Nut drivers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Ratcheting pipe wrenches
  • Round shank screwdrivers
  • Screw-holding screwdrivers
  • Square shank screwdrivers
 Compressors
  • Air compressors
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Ammeters
  • Capacitance testers
  • Circuit testers
  • Circuit tracers
  • Clamp-on ammeters
  • Continuity coaxial testers
  • Current clamps
  • Ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI testers
  • Growlers
  • Inductance testers
  • Megohmmeters
  • Milliameters
  • Multimeters
  • Non-contact voltage detectors
  • Ohmmeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Phase rotation meters
  • Resistance bridges
  • Test lamps
  • Transfer impedance meters
  • Volt tick meters
  • Voltmeters
  • Wattmeters
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Automatic insulation strippers
  • Cable jacket strippers
  • Cable sheath strippers
  • Channel lock crimping tools
  • Conduit deburring tools
  • Electricians' scissors
  • End wire strippers
  • Hacksaws
  • Insulated bolt cutters
  • Nibbler cutting tools
  • Punchdown tools
  • Ratchet crimper kits
  • Razor knives
  • Self-adjusting insulation strippers
  • Shears
  • Terminal crimpers
  • Tin snips
  • Universal stripping tools
  • Utility knives
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire crimping tools
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Electrical cable and accessories
  • Bear claw wire threaders
  • Cable lacing needles
  • Single reel cable trailers
  • Wheeled wire dispensers
  • Wire dispensers
  • Wire dollies
  • Wire hand caddies
 Aerial lifts
  • Bucket trucks
  • Manlifts
 Soldering machines
  • Butane soldering irons
  • Soldering tools
 Prying and bending tools
  • Cable benders
  • Conduit benders
  • Electric conduit benders
  • Hydraulic conduit benders
 Metal cutting tools
  • Cable butt trimmers
  • Cable cutters
  • Coaxial cable cutters
  • High-leverage cable cutters
  • Insulated cable cutters
  • Polyvinyl chloride PVC cutters
  • Utility cable cutters
 Safety apparel
  • Cable gripping gloves
 Labeling machines
  • Cable labeling machines
 Fastener setting tools
  • Cable tie guns
  • Staple guns
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Conduit locknut and reaming pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • End cutting pliers
  • External snap ring pliers
  • Heavy duty longnose pliers
  • High-leverage diagonal cutting pliers
  • High-leverage side cutting pliers
  • Insulated pliers
  • Internal snap ring pliers
  • Lighted magnet pickups
  • Lineman's pliers
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Pump pliers
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Strap wrenches
  • Telescoping lighted pickups
  • Tongue and groove pliers
  • Wire wrap guns
 Power tools
  • Circular saws
  • Cordless drills
  • Hammer drills
  • Heat guns
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
  • Hammers
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Conduit levels
  • Conduit measuring tapes
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Laser plumb bobs
  • Tape measures
  • Torpedo levels
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Drill bit sets
  • Hole saws
  • Hydraulic punching tools
  • Tap sets
  • Tapered reamers
  • Threading dies
 Pulling tools
  • Fish tape pullers
  • Fuse pulling equipment
  • Wire loop pullers
 Surveillance and detection equipment
  • Gas leak detection devices
 Face and head protection
  • Hard hats
  • Welding hoods
 Hydraulic presses
  • Hydraulic presses
 Ladders and scaffolding
  • Ladders
  • Scaffolding
 Computer printers
  • Laser printers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Magnetic locators
  • Metal locators
 Integrated circuits
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Construction Master Pro
  • Electrosoft FlashWorks
  • Elite Software E-Coord
  • Elite Software Inpoint
  • Elite Software Outpoint
  • Elite Software Short
  • Elite Software VDROP
  • Lighting calculation software
  • One Mile Up Panel PlannerHOT
  • SmartDrawHOT
  • SoftEmpire Electrical Calculations
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Wonderware InTouch
 Business function specific software
  • Craftsman CD Estimator
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Database software
  • Insight Direct ServiceCEO
  • Resolve Systems Service Management
  • Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
  • Shafer Service Systems
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Socrates Contractor's Library
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Danville Community College
Germanna Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
New River Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Wytheville Community College