Electricians
Also called: Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Inside Wireman, Maintenance ElectricianInstall, 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 5 of its 21 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 9.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 12.8 hires for every 10 job openings in construction, which employs about 79% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.12.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,690 | $46,120 to $64,450 | 10,900 |
| Alaska | $89,440 | $66,780 to $105,550 | 1,870 |
| Arizona | $61,060 | $48,360 to $77,060 | 21,140 |
| Arkansas | $49,070 | $38,550 to $62,380 | 7,500 |
| California | $76,160 | $59,280 to $103,000 | 73,310 |
| Colorado | $62,230 | $48,880 to $78,470 | 17,010 |
| Connecticut | $77,540 | $58,060 to $95,070 | 7,710 |
| Delaware | $63,700 | $48,040 to $90,510 | 2,260 |
| District of Columbia | $78,970 | $61,240 to $122,050 | 2,440 |
| Florida | $57,250 | $47,660 to $61,900 | 49,700 |
| Georgia | $58,320 | $46,640 to $76,490 | 21,650 |
| Guam | $43,020 | $39,780 to $46,060 | 890 |
| Hawaii | $96,460 | $70,460 to $120,740 | 3,070 |
| Idaho | $63,000 | $48,380 to $82,040 | 5,690 |
| Illinois | $99,560 | $73,520 to $117,460 | 23,120 |
| Indiana | $68,490 | $50,000 to $91,290 | 19,020 |
| Iowa | $60,860 | $46,400 to $79,970 | 10,310 |
| Kansas | $65,860 | $51,320 to $80,560 | 6,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,720 | $46,540 to $77,920 | 11,030 |
| Louisiana | $61,540 | $48,910 to $72,840 | 10,550 |
| Maine | $75,380 | $62,930 to $84,390 | 3,780 |
| Maryland | $73,490 | $57,680 to $96,010 | 13,690 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $57,860 to $100,480 | 17,810 |
| Michigan | $76,270 | $50,360 to $92,300 | 23,530 |
| Minnesota | $78,160 | $58,430 to $101,410 | 14,350 |
| Mississippi | $60,860 | $47,350 to $63,740 | 6,610 |
| Missouri | $65,410 | $49,810 to $93,760 | 12,780 |
| Montana | $76,760 | $60,400 to $81,420 | 2,750 |
| Nebraska | $60,820 | $48,140 to $79,130 | 6,440 |
| Nevada | $73,570 | $48,920 to $96,550 | 8,350 |
| New Hampshire | $62,840 | $48,420 to $78,370 | 3,330 |
| New Jersey | $77,250 | $62,400 to $121,110 | 13,520 |
| New Mexico | $58,390 | $46,730 to $73,380 | 5,020 |
| New York | $78,750 | $60,480 to $106,420 | 40,130 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | $47,070 to $61,920 | 21,640 |
| North Dakota | $65,710 | $56,920 to $80,510 | 3,570 |
| Ohio | $64,700 | $50,120 to $80,500 | 28,950 |
| Oklahoma | $61,010 | $47,640 to $76,510 | 8,500 |
| Oregon | $101,310 | $79,110 to $121,680 | 10,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,600 | $55,140 to $95,500 | 22,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,440 | $29,190 to $46,670 | 1,740 |
| Rhode Island | $74,090 | $58,410 to $95,700 | 2,420 |
| South Carolina | $58,740 | $47,910 to $66,190 | 8,010 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $49,660 to $72,450 | 2,980 |
| Tennessee | $61,090 | $48,380 to $76,060 | 17,070 |
| Texas | $58,570 | $46,670 to $71,130 | 76,770 |
| Utah | $62,000 | $48,360 to $79,310 | 11,450 |
| Vermont | $63,430 | $57,280 to $80,390 | 1,270 |
| Virgin Islands | $51,790 | $46,650 to $64,600 | 140 |
| Virginia | $62,900 | $49,410 to $78,190 | 23,630 |
| Washington | $95,220 | $66,630 to $121,530 | 19,380 |
| West Virginia | $64,810 | $48,610 to $83,920 | 4,290 |
| Wisconsin | $76,540 | $55,820 to $93,780 | 14,310 |
| Wyoming | $76,120 | $59,670 to $85,960 | 2,960 |
Nationally: $63,190. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 5 of its 21 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components. | Not published |
See all 21 tasks
| Not much | Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations. | Not published |
| Not much | Install ground leads and connect power cables to equipment, such as motors. | Not published |
| Not much | Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures. | Not published |
| Not much | Fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls to house electrical switches or outlets. | Not published |
| Not much | Construct or fabricate parts, using hand tools, according to specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform physically demanding tasks, such as digging trenches to lay conduit or moving or lifting heavy objects. | Not published |
| AI alone | Perform business management duties, such as maintaining records or files, preparing reports, or ordering supplies or equipment. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous. | Not published |
| AI + software | Provide preliminary sketches or cost estimates for materials or services. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide assistance during emergencies by operating floodlights or generators, placing flares, or driving needed vehicles. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 21 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 21 tasks fall under 16 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #36 Purchase goods or services
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Install commercial or production equipment | |||
| Repair electrical or electronic equipment | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Perform general construction or extraction activities | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Plan work activities |
Show all 16 activities
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Fabricate devices or components | |||
| Direct construction or extraction activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report41%
- Data or a spreadsheet12%
- An email or message9%
- A chart or visualization7%
- An analysis or summary5%
How they worked with Claude
71% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for electricians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 57,072 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 3 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
- 4 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 4%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Moderate +5.0% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 49,360 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 3 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Moderate +5.0% 4%
- 4 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
- 5 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians High +2.4% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 2% less than high school
- 31% high school
- 62% postsecondary certificate
- 2% some college
- 2% associate's
- 1% professional doctorate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 8% less than high school
- 40% high school
- 28% some college
- 15% associate's
- 7% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 9,844 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Electrician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
81.7% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 35.8% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 23.8% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 4.8% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 15 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Electricians” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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