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Job Description: An apprenticeship is a formal method of training in a skilled occupation or trade. For general information about apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with business, visit the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) website. OATELS is the Federal program that administers the National Registered Apprenticeship System (NRAS). It is a consolidation of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and the new responsibilities of the employer and labor liaison dedicated to building a workforce for the 21st century.
Apprentice electricians are paid trainees who are learning to install and test electrical wiring and fixtures. They follow blueprints and written specifications to install electrical wiring and fixtures. They work under the supervision of experienced electricians and attend formal classes to learn their job.
Duties: Apprentice electricians may perform some or all of the following duties:
- Conform to specifications when installing switches, conduits, controls, circuit breakers, wires, lights, signal devices, and other electrical components
- Replace fuses or reset circuit breakers
- Know and follow national electrical code regulations and they must fulfill state, county, and municipal regulations
- Install wiring using mechanical or hydraulic benders to shape the conduits
- Pull insulated wires or cables through conduits
- Connect the ends of the wires or cables to circuit breakers, switch-gear motors, transformers, or other components
- Use testing equipment such as voltmeters, ohmmeters, and oscilloscopes to check the circuits for proper connections
Working Conditions: The work of an electrician is done in the full range of environmental conditions -- outside in the dirt, cold, rain, snow, and hot sun -- inside in climate-controlled settings such as factories, offices, hospitals, and homes. The job may require standing, bending, reaching, and working in cramped spaces or at great heights. The normal work week is 40 hours.
Educational Requirements: To become an apprentice electrician, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 28 and have a high school diploma or the equivalent (G.E.D.). Apprenticeship programs for construction electricians, residential electricians, and low voltage/sound and communication specialties are offered through the local labor union. Applicants must complete the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) (Electrical) test. The wage rate for apprentices starts at 35 to 50 percent of journey-level median wages in the construction field and 35 to 60 percent in the maintenance field. These wages increase every six months during the required four-year training period. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Trade and Industrial Education Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online.
Outlook: The estimated total number of all types of electricians in Tennessee is 13,910. It is projected there will be an increase of 25 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with 625 job openings annually. Job opportunities are expected to remain plentiful due primarily to the widespread need for replacing outdated electrical systems and new construction. New technologies are expected to continue to stimulate the demand for electricians. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.
| 10% | 25% | Median- 50% | 75% | 90% | |
| TN Annual | $25,020 | $30,970 | $39,640 | $49,330 | $57,340 |
| US Annual | $26,530 | $33,420 | $43,610 | $57,650 | $72,700 |
*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.
Wage and salary data provided by:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
- TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
- Bureau of Economic Analysis website
For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org
Last updated on: January 23, 2008