Steps to Become a High Paid Electrician

Course Work Requirements

If you want to earn the highest electrician salary possible, then you'll have to work up to becoming a master electrician or electrical contractor. This can take anywhere for 6 to 8 years depending on the state you live in and that state's licensing requirements.

No matter what state you live in, you will have to have a certain number of hours in electrician courses plus a certain length of time working in the electrical field before you qualify to take the state test for master electrician. Becoming a master electrician or electrical contractor requires a certain number of steps. First is the position of apprentice electrician. After accruing enough hours as an apprentice and completing the required amount of electrician courses, individuals are eligible to take the journeyman electrician exam. Once licensed as a journeyman, an additional number of hours working in the field are needed before the individual qualifies to take the master electrician or electrical contractor licensing exam.

What Type of Electricians are the Top Earners?

It shouldn't be any surprise that a master electrician or an electrical contractor makes the highest electrician salary. These individuals have progressed through a required number of steps before they have reached the top of the electrical licensing ladder. They have truly earned their positions and great pay.

Each state has different requirements before an individual can become a master electrician or electrical contractor. Starting out as an apprentice, an individual must work in that position for a certain amount of time and take a certain number of credit hours in electrician courses before they qualify to take the test to become a journeyman electrician. Individuals that pass the test for a journeyman electrician license must continue to work in the field another designated amount of hours before they are eligible to take the exam to become an electrical contractor or master electrician. This whole process can take as much as 6-8 years before an individual can become a master electrician or electrical contractor. It's no wonder these individuals earn a hefty pay.

Future Electricians Who Like the Outdoors

If you'd like to earn a high electrician salary and like to work outdoors, you might want to consider becoming an outside lineman working for your local electric company. Outside lineman generally make more money than average electrician salaries. However, make no mistake about it: you will earn that higher pay!

Outside lineman install and repair the high voltage wires that supply electricity to various structures. They work in all sorts of weather and can be called out during all hours of the day or night to restore power in a community. The job of an outside lineman is also physically taxing as there will be instances where the individual is required to do things like climb a power pole. Certainly, an outside lineman earns their higher than average electrician salary.

Electricians Command Competitive Incentives

Companies in the know offer a high electrician salary and other incentives to attract and keep their electricians happy. The need for electricians is on the rise and projections from government agencies such as the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predict that job growth in the electrical field will continue to rise for many years to come.

Some of the incentives that companies offer to keep their electricians happy are medical insurance, dental plans and retirement plans. Wise companies realize that with the need for electricians so high, they have to be competitive in terms what they offer their electricians or they will lose their electricians to another company. For electricians, all these extra job perks add up and allow them to lead a very comfortable lifestyle.

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