I need some information about a career as an electrician

Post Reply New Topic

I am considering becoming an electrician. I have heard that the pay and the jobs availability are good. The theoretical side of it interests me. If anyone here knows about being an electrician and can give me some details, I would much appreciate it. (Perhaps you are an electrician, or you are family or friends with someone who is.)

- I have the funds available to obtain an associates degree in electrical technology, which includes a minor in HVAC.
- I am a mechanically inclined, visually-oriented person who is careful with detail and considers safety very important.
- I have no in the field experience, but I do have some educational background that might be helpful.I've read some of a book called Basic Electricity, which was based on a manual for US military training and republished by REA. Also, I took chemistry and physics in high school. My highest level of math is Calculus I.

Thanks,

hyperbolic

That was 1 of the jobs I wanted to do a long time ago, but i guess forgot about it years back, and now when I read your post it re-surfaced memories of wanting to do that for a career, heh... the things that will never be

Cant help ya, tho I have never been trained, i do now some very basic electrical stuff, its a cool feild and I hope you find success.

I.B.E.W. has apprenticeship programs, check out your local community college.

Just to make sure: I take it that you are not colourblind? That would be an obstacle.

Also I hope that you have a good dexterity. I have the mechanical inclination, but my motorics are lousy, so I think I wouldn't have been a good technician of any sort. That would point to engineering instead.

Update: The funds available to get an electrical technology associate's degree are, for now, on hold. My dad, who was going to help me pay for "four years of college" changed his mind. He clarified his original words, after he saw how serious I was about a two-year degree, to mean "a four-year degree." Also, he said he doesn't understand how someone can enter college for a four year degree only to leave to get a two year degree. My answer to him: jobs that don't involve repeatedly asking someone if they want fries, for example.

He and I will be meeting with the guidance counselor from the high school I graduated from. I don't think doing this will help much in the way of providing new or useful information, although I could be wrong. Meeting with her may be a good way to re-assure my dad that what I am thinking of is not a mistake.

If he remains unconvinced after that, I predict things will become harder for me, but also more interesting. It may require relocation to get the education and job that I want. Tonight, I have to be a volunteer for something my parents volunteered me for. How can this occur? My parents control my life. I admit there are benefits from living at home and accepting their gas and food money, but, at some point, I will have to become independent. As I watch the people from high school and church now finishing up their college degrees and getting good jobs, and becoming, as a result, geographically, socially, and financially independent when I am not, then I want to be independent.

I've supervised an Instrument and Electrical group for a year. I work with industrial maintenance and construction electricians on a daily basis.

You can expect wages of a skilled worker once you make it to journeyman. Some of them work overtime all of the time and I've heard they can reach 6 figure incomes. That's a lot of overtime. Base pay is $40-50K for journeyman. $25-30 for starting out.

Is there a vocational school near you. That may be a cheap way to get started.

Decide if you want to do industrial electricity or residential (home construction). The basic training would need to be the same. But commercial and industrial will be more rewarding in my opinion. The IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) was formed to improve safety for electrical workers. To that end they offer much of the required training.

When we hire, we prefer someone having a two year degree at least. But we have very good electricians who were taught on the job, or just have vocational training.

If your dad doesn't want to help. get student loans.

Learn the National Electric Code (NEC). It will be your bible.

Thanks for the information, LogicGenerator.

There is a vocational school near me, with an electrical technology program. (The classes are offered as needed, however. Some were listed for next semester, but not all of them.)