If you’re thinking about becoming an electrician, you’ve picked one line of work that’s doing well right now. In fact, it’s doing so well the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 23% increase in job opportunities for this profession – and in this economy, that’s pretty good.
However, a life as an electrician isn’t for everyone. Maybe you want to go to electrician schools, but would like to do something a little different, but still work within the electrical field. Well, you’re in luck, as you can do more with the skills you acquire than just installing lighting systems and inspecting circuit breakers.
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers
If you view fixing broken equipment as a challenge, rather than a hassle, maybe you’d do well as an electrical and electronics installer and repairer.
What they do
Essentially, these professionals do exactly what their job titles imply, across a range of industries, including utilities, transportation and telecommunications. One day, they may be repairing a motor and the next they’re replacing a gasket. While you will receive training for this line of work in technical schools, you’ll also have service guides and schematics to work from, since every piece of equipment is different.
As you’re training for this profession, you can choose to specialize in a certain area of interest. For example, the BLS says commercial and industrial equipment electrical and electronics repairer could work with transmitters and antennas. Other areas you may be interested in focusing on include electric motors, power tools and substations.
What they earn
According to PayScale, you could be making anywhere between $43,402 and $92,462 each year, which works out to an hourly rate running from $20.13 to $38.62.
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
Are you looking for a career that mixes your love of math, problem-solving and design work? Then it may be time to consider a future as an electrical and electronic engineering technician.
What they do
All those electronics have to come from somewhere. While you won’t be solely responsible for creating everything from computers to navigational equipment, you’ll assist the engineers who do. When new products are being assembled, in your role as an electrical engineering technician you may help test them and find ways of correcting design flaws. As an electronic engineering technician, your responsibilities may include building prototypes, making parts and looking for malfunctions.
Before you become either an electrical or electronic engineering technician, you’ll typically have to hold an associate degree from a technical school, according to the BLS.
What they earn
If you enter this field, you stand to make between $31,696 and $70,189 on a yearly basis, according to PayScale. This breaks down to anywhere from $14.44 to $29.44 an hour.
So based on this information, what do you think? Does the idea of entering one of these professions appeal to you more than another, or are you giving a career as an electrician some more consideration? Let us inside your thought process in the comment space below.



