Electrician Job Description (Plus Duties and Requirements)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated December 2, 2022

Published February 22, 2021

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

An electrician uses a tool to test the charge of a piece of equipment.

If you're interested in a hands-on career that allows you to use your problem-solving abilities, consider becoming an electrician. The responsibilities include everything from designing, installing and repairing systems to maintaining them according to safety regulations. Learning more about this profession can help you determine if it suits your qualifications and interests.

In this article, we discuss the job of an electrician by providing an example job description and reviewing the profession's common duties, requirements, salary and outlook.

What does an electrician do?

An electrician specializes in the design, installation, repair and maintenance of electrical systems. Electricians work for various employers, including private companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. They also inspect electrical components and ensure building systems comply with safety regulations.

Electrician job description example

Here's an example of a job description for an electrician:

Our company is seeking an electrician who can perform installation, repair and maintenance work for commercial buildings. Their duties would include leveraging testing devices to troubleshoot electrical issues, inspecting various electrical components and adhering to local safety codes. We prefer candidates with experience in energy efficiency, as our company is looking to cut operational costs and reduce our overall carbon footprint. Other requirements for this role include:

A high school diploma
Completion of an electrician apprenticeship
At least two years of work experience
Relevant industry certification
A valid driver's license

Common job duties of electricians

Examples of common electrician job duties include:

Specialized electrical tasks

An electrician may work with various electrical applications, install components, test conductivity and ensure the safe operation of a building's systems. Electricians may also work with utility companies to maintain power lines by clearing tree branches and debris. Several more common trade skills and tasks electricians perform on the job include:

Diagnosing electrical issues by reading diagrams and blueprints
Installing and repairing wiring and conductive elements and electrical components in buildings and other structures
Testing and inspecting electrical work like wiring and lighting to ensure safe installation and compliance with regulatory codes
Planning and designing layouts of fixtures, wiring pathways and other electrical elements inside commercial and residential buildings
Identifying and mitigating safety hazards, code violations and other electrical issues

Depending on where they work, an electrician can specialize in certain types of projects and tasks. For instance, industrial electricians work primarily in industrial settings like factories and manufacturing plants to install and maintain power systems for equipment and machines. Electricians who specialize in residential electrical work only work with electrical installations of wiring, fixtures, lighting and other elements of homes and residential properties.

Related: How To Become an Electrician

Administrative and office duties

Many electricians perform administrative tasks that relate to the operation of a business. From assigning tasks to apprentice electricians to scheduling and organizing repair and installation appointments to building relationships with customers, an electrician's administrative responsibilities can vary. Much of the administrative work electricians do involves filling out and filing paperwork, documenting projects and transactions and organizing customer profiles. Electricians who choose to work as independent contractors in a self-employed capacity may also manage the marketing, networking and financial tasks of their work. Other common administrative duties that electricians perform include:

Organizing and maintaining electrical blueprints, diagrams and other design documents
Communicating with customers, clients, suppliers and vendors to coordinate electrical work, supplies and other necessary resources for business operations
Documenting transactions with customers and clients and recording important budget transactions
Organizing budgets and managing project funds and resources
Onboarding and training helper and apprentice electricians and organizing workflow

Depending on an electrician's level of expertise and how long they've been in their career, they can perform managerial tasks that focus on the direction and oversight of work teams. In these cases, their administrative tasks can include developing training programs, organizing project tasks and conducting employee evaluations. They might also delegate tasks to employees with the appropriate skills.

Collaborative projects and tasks

Electricians also work on various team projects, especially in commercial and industrial settings. For instance, electricians who work primarily with industrial power lines, circuits and transformers may work in teams to perform large jobs. Additionally, electricians in leadership roles accept tasks that require collaboration with clients, supervisors and other tradepeople to complete jobs. Consider several more collaborative tasks electricians sometimes perform in their careers:

Designing and developing plans, diagrams or blueprints for initiating new electrical installation projects
Working with electrical engineers and other tradespeople to plan electrical installation projects
Communicating with code enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities during inspections and evaluations of electrical systems and components

These are just a few examples of the types of collaborative tasks an electrician may perform. The types of team projects they take part in can also depend on the nature of their workplace. For instance, an independent contractor may work independently more frequently than with a team or other tradespeople.

Customer service responsibilities

Electricians communicate with clients and customers almost daily in many work settings. In residential work environments, an electrician maintains regular communication with home or property owners to discuss project details and updates on progress. In industrial settings, electricians may commonly work with their commercial clients to schedule installations, repairs or maintenance and complete financial transactions when projects are done. Several more customer service tasks electricians perform include:

Maintaining office phone lines and addressing customer questions and concerns
Speaking with potential customers about products or services
Making emergency repair calls to customers' properties and discussing repair work, fees and other aspects of performing work
Greeting clients when arriving at work sites and maintaining customer relationships

Additional electrician job requirements

If you're interested in becoming an electrician, there are several key requirements, besides on-the-job tasks. The following electrician job requirements can provide some additional information on what steps to take to become one:

Education: Electricians typically enter the career with their high school diplomas or through an accredited electrical trade school. While it's not a requirement, a college degree can give you a competitive advantage during your job search.

Certification: Most states require electricians to have their state licenses or certifications. You can obtain these credentials by passing exams that cover electrical applications, electrical codes and building and maintenance codes.

Skills: Aside from the hard skills in electrical maintenance and applications, relevant skills include communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and physical fitness.

On-the-job training: Many electricians receive required on-the-job training as apprentices. This training is necessary, especially if a beginning electrician has no previous background in the field.

Job of electrician salary

The average salary for performing the job of an electrician is $58,920 per year. Your earning potential can vary depending on where you work and your education, experience and professional qualifications. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the link provided.

Electrician job outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 7% increase in the employment of electricians from 2021 to 2031. Much of the projected growth stems from the increased demand for alternative power systems that require installation. Government provisions for solar and wind-powered systems might help electricians experience even more job opportunities.