Why the electrical trade might be the smartest career choice you’ve never considered.
There’s a long-standing stereotype that the construction industry is full of unskilled, uneducated workers. But anyone who’s stepped foot on a jobsite knows that’s far from the truth, especially in the electrical field.
Electricians are among the most technically skilled and highly trained professionals in the trades. Many have four to five years of education, which includes both classroom instruction and thousands of hours of hands-on training.
A Career That Pays Off
The pay isn’t bad either. The average journeyman commercial electrician in the U.S. earns around $35 an hour, and that number can climb much higher depending on experience, certifications, and specialization. Sure, you won’t start at that rate, but this trade is about the long game. With some grit, consistency, and a willingness to learn, the opportunities for advancement and financial stability are massive. The electrical trade rewards you for your effort. Show up, work hard, and take pride in your craft, and you’ll see results. If you want to give yourself a real edge:
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Be dependable: Show up on time. Every time. Your coworkers and foreman will take note.
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Invest in Yourself: This can be done through taking care of your health or always having a thirst to learn. TES offers an Electrical Guidebook that goes into depth over electrical systems, electrical automation, print reading, etc.
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Stay positive: Nobody wants to work next to someone with a bad attitude. Keep your energy up and contribute to the crew's morale.
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Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep and avoid relying on junk food from gas stations. Poor habits lead to poor focus, and that’s dangerous when you’re working with electricity.
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Stay organized: A cluttered tool bag is a fast track to frustration. Keep your tools neat, labeled, and ready to use. It saves time and shows you care about your work.
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Be teachable: The fastest learners are the ones who ask questions and take notes. When a journeyman teaches you something, write it down. This signals that you take your trade, and your future, seriously.
What people won’t tell you when starting out in the electrical trade.
When you first step into the electrical trade, you’ll quickly learn that no amount of classroom time or YouTube tutorials can prepare you for what it’s really like. The job site is a wild mix of hard work, hard lessons, and different personalities. This article isn’t intended to scare you, it’s here to give you an honest look at what to expect and how to survive with your reputation, and your wire strippers intact.
Respect Is Earned, Not Handed Out
Let’s start with the big truth. Most experienced electricians will not respect you on day one. In this trade, respect is earned through reliability, willingness to learn, and effort. Show up early (not just on time), bring a good attitude, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t pretend you know everything, because they’ll test you if you act like you do. If you do not know something just own up to it. Over exaggerating your capabilities can backfire. Your foreman could put you on a difficult project, where your lack of knowledge and inexperience will become very evident.
A big part of earning respect also comes down to having the right tools. Many companies will supply power tools, but most will expect you to have your own set of hand tools. You don’t need the most expensive gear in the world, but you do need dependable, clean tools that you can keep track of. And if you borrow something, return it in better shape than you got it. You might not be the fastest apprentice but being the one who’s always ready to work will set you apart.
Self-Control Saves Your Job
Here’s a lesson most new guys learn the hard way. Not everyone on the crew is going to be your buddy. You’re going to meet folks from all walks of life, some patient and wise, others... Let's just say less so. If someone gets under your skin, don’t escalate. Walk it off. Take a minute to go get some water. If you’re lucky enough to get paired with a journeyman who enjoys teaching, appreciate it. Stick with them. Soak up everything. That’s one of the fastest ways to grow and avoid dumb (and expensive) mistakes. If you get stuck with someone who treats you like a ghost or a nuisance, do your best. But also don’t be afraid to respectfully ask to work with someone else. Your training depends on your ability to actually learn, not just being a “material fetcher”. When you do mess up, and you will, be honest about it. Trying to hide a mistake is far worse than admitting you made a mistake.
Dress for work, not style
Nobody tells you how much clothing matters in the trades. If you’re freezing, soaked, or cooking alive under the summer sun, you won’t be productive. Dress for the weather, invest in good boots and gloves, and always have backup socks. You’ll thank yourself. Keep in mind. Cold fingers and numb toes don’t pull wire well. Likewise, sweating through your shirt by 8 a.m. isn’t ideal either. Function over fashion. Always.
Take Care of Your Body, It’s Your Best Tool
Long shifts, tight spaces, and heavy lifting will drain you faster than you think. Don’t make it worse by living off gas station pizza and vending machine junk. Try packing a halfway decent lunch and drinking water instead of five energy drinks a day. Also get some sleep. You can’t focus when you’re running on fumes. You might think, “That sounds obvious.” But the truth is, you’ll see coworkers pass out from heat exhaustion or drag themselves through shifts after partying all night. Don’t be that person.
It’s not just about what you eat either. How you treat your body off the job affects how well you perform on the job. Try to make time for yourself. Take a weekend off if you’re able to and go exercise. Gyms are a fun way to burn steam and feel better. Hiking, biking, or going for runs will drastically improve health as well.
Take care of your finances
Congratulations, you got hired by a good company and the pay is pretty good. You feel like you need to reward yourself and buy yourself a little “treat”. You buy a brand new truck and take out a loan. The truck looks super awesome and you show it off to your buddies. Six months go by and the work slows down. Now, there is no more overtime and you are struggling to pay rent and bills with a truck payment. This is a common mistake made by many. Do not overstrain yourself to buy things you cannot afford. Try to save your money and make a budget if you are able too. It is also important to start investing as soon as you can. Depending on the company you work for you can either get a 401K or a pension. Do not put your retirement on the side burner. Before you know it a few years will fly by, this is time that can have been used to invest.
The future of the electrical trade.
The electrical trade has long been the backbone of modern infrastructure, but like all industries, it’s going through a generational and technological shift. Many veteran electricians are retiring, and there is growing concern about what lies ahead for the workforce. At the same time, the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced building systems is reshaping the way electricians work. But one thing remains clear, the human touch in electrical work is irreplaceable.
Why the Trade Won’t Be Replaced by AI
While artificial intelligence is revolutionizing many industries, the electrical trade stands on firm ground. Unlike repetitive manufacturing jobs or clerical work that can be automated, electrical work requires on-the-spot problem-solving, physical dexterity, environmental awareness, and most importantly judgment. You can't teach a robot how to safely troubleshoot a live circuit, or bend conduit and install it.
Yes, we may see more “smart tools,” automated diagnostics, and virtual planning software, but the trades will always need skilled professionals to interpret results, work in dynamic environments, and make safety-critical decisions. This creates long-term job security that simply doesn't exist in many white-collar fields being automated away.
The Experience Gap: A Silent Crisis
The most pressing challenge in the trade isn’t technology. It’s the loss of experience. As many seasoned electricians hang up their tools, they're taking decades of knowledge with them. These are the people who’ve seen everything from outdated systems in hundred-year-old buildings to the latest in smart home tech, and they’ve figured out how to fix it all.
When a new apprentice comes onto a jobsite and doesn’t have a skilled journeyman to guide them, they’re starting from square one. That loss of mentorship has a ripple effect. It slows down productivity, increases jobsite mistakes, and ultimately makes the trade less efficient and more dangerous.
Unfortunately, some electrical training programs today are being led by instructors who’ve never actually worked in the field. They may know the codebook cover to cover, but they’ve never had to pull wire in a crawlspace or troubleshoot a control panel under pressure. Real-world experience is something you can’t learn from a textbook alone.
Breaking the Stigma
One of the barriers to attracting new talent is the stigma around the trades. Society often paints construction workers as unskilled or uneducated, which is flat-out wrong. In truth, many electricians are incredibly sharp, solving complex technical problems, managing high-stakes projects, and reading blueprints that rival the complexity of any engineering plan.
Working in the electrical trade requires physical skill, mental sharpness, communication, and a strong work ethic. It’s not just about changing a light bulb, it’s about understanding systems, troubleshooting, safety, and precision. There’s a level of craftsmanship and pride involved that deserves more respect.
Embracing Innovation Without Fear
Innovation is not the enemy, it’s an ally. From thermal imaging and digital torque tools and 3D system modeling, the tools of the trade are evolving. Electricians who embrace these tools can work faster, safer, and smarter. The future will likely involve more integration with low-voltage systems, solar technology, EV infrastructure, building automation, and space-based systems. That’s right, the sky is no longer the limit, there are no longer any limits. As we expand into space technologies, electricians are finding opportunities in aerospace, satellite systems, and high-voltage space infrastructure. What this means is the trade isn’t shrinking, it’s vastly expanding in scope. The roles may look different, but the core need for knowledgeable electricians is growing. Not shrinking.