5 Reasons to Become an Electrician

Choosing a career that embodies all the important aspects for a long career can be a difficult choice. However, despite the current jobs climate and unemployment levels, there are several industries that are surviving with demand remaining constant for their services. One such example of these industries is electricians.

Electricians make solid salaries and with their skills always in demand for installation, maintenance and repair work on a multitude of electrical projects. Being an electrician offers jobs security, decent benefits, and quality wages. Below you will find five of the best reasons why people move into the field of electricians and the long term benefits.

1. Salary

One of the most attractive aspects of the job and reason why many people get into the field of electrician is the potential high salary earnings. An electrician's salary is determined by several factors including the type of job, number of years in the job, and the level of licence held. Self-employed electrician salaries can potentially be much higher than those who work for a company due to the fact that there is the removal of overhead and benefits. However, self-employed workers have to cover their own benefits.

The electrician salary will vary depending on where the electrician is based, are self employed and what kinds of projects they take on.

Starting salaries for qualified electricians are between $32,000 and $35,000, with more experienced electricians sometimes earning up to $80,000 per year. This is also dependent on the individual electricians qualifications, for example electrician salaries for those trained to install or repair elevators will earn anywhere from $39,500 to $86,000 per year.

2. Electricians are Careers, not just Jobs

"The electrical industry is experiencing rapid technological change, and therefore requires entrants to this field to have the ability to meet the demands of this flexible, challenging and life-long rewarding career. Positions and opportunities range from trade level through to middle management, engineering roles and business ownership," according to an Electrical Contractors Association spokesperson.

Choosing a career as an electrician opens a range of career and specialty options with choices between being self-employed or as part of a larger business. What's more, within the electrical industry many electricians' select a specialty that they focus on whether it is manufacturing, mining, building and construction, energy or water supply industries with jobs being even more focused within these various sectors.

3. Electrician Skills Shortage

Due to the increasing skills shortage that is emerging in the electrician industry, there is a great deal of interest as people are looking for jobs security in the face of an uncertain Australian jobs market. Becoming an electrician offers a lifelong career as the need for electricians cannot dissipate while electrical systems need to be installed and maintained by professional, on both a residential and commercial front.

4. Mentally and Physically Challenging

Electricians are able to take on various different jobs and projects, ranging from major commercial projects in large cities to various small residential wiring jobs. Being an electrician offers mental skills such as interpreting electrical or electronic drawings and determining wiring layouts in addition to the obvious physical skills including use of various sophisticated equipment and electrical projects.

5. Changing 'Office'

Being an electrician allows for a diverse and changing work environment with various individual jobs being part of many electrician average working weeks. Your average electrician can easily move from outdoor projects such as supply cables and street lighting to indoor projects including buildings under construction or residential projects. This diversity can differ depending on the jobs focus of the electrician with electrical jobs arising anywhere from commercial, housing, industrial and mining sectors.