What This Job Pays: electrician

October 22, 2007

What This Job Pays: electrician

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Pay: The average pay of an electrician in the Seattle area is $29.38 an hour, with most making from $24.53 to $33.79 an hour, according to PayScale, a Seattle company that tracks compensation and benefits.

Demand: Employment of electricians is expected to increase as fast as average for all occupations in the coming years. As the population grows, more electricians will be needed to install and maintain electrical devices and wiring in homes, factories, offices and other structures. New technologies also are expected to continue to stimulate the demand for these workers. For example, buildings need to increasingly accommodate the use of computers. Also, the increasing prevalence in factories of robots and other automated manufacturing systems will require more complex wiring systems.

Need to know: Most electricians learn their trade through apprenticeship programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Because of the comprehensive training, those who complete apprenticeship programs qualify to do maintenance and construction work. Applicants for apprenticeships usually must have a high-school diploma or a G.E.D. They should have good math and English skills, since most instruction manuals are in English.

PayScale, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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