Taking Charge - YOUR JOB As a Construction Electrician

Thank an Electrician Today

If you fired up your computer, started up a light, or simply got a cold drink out of your refrigerator, chances are there's a construction electrician out there that you owe thanks. Construction electricians are in charge of installing the conduits and wiring that bring electricity into buildings, offices, and residential structures. Construction electricians are also in charge of installing signal communication systems, alarms, along with other electrical equipment needed to create a structure livable.

What's the Job Like?

Although construction electricians usually work inside on construction sites, where they're responsible for installing the electrical hardware of a building or worksite, they could occasionally have to work outside in sun and rain. Construction electricians usually begin work shortly after the structure is framed, as their job requires threading metal electrical conduit (a kind of pipe that protects the building wiring) through the walls and floors of the building. As the conduit goes in, in addition they link electrical plugs, switches along with other electrical management hardware to it, threading wires through the conduit, and connecting it to these power points. Construction electricians use screwdrivers, pliers, along with other hand tools, as well as electrical test meters to check on voltages and pipe benders and hacksaws to cut and bend the conduits they install.

Construction electricians tend to be more than just pipe fitters and wire cutters. They need to also know how to read the blueprints that describe the locations of where electrical wiring runs in a building. They have to know about all local and state building codes and the specifications for all types of residential and commercial electrical hardware. They also need to know the best ways to prevent short circuits or other electrical dangers that could come up in the wiring of a structure.

Since construction electricians sometimes work outside, they may be subjected to wind, rain and other inclement weather. Working conditions require standing several hours on ladders, work platforms, or in cramped workspaces. Construction electricians must also be careful to avoid dangerous shocks and injuries from the high voltage equipment they need to install. In the case of factory or commercial construction, they may suffer from extremely powerful transformers, switch systems, and circuit breakers handling a huge selection of watts of electricity.

Qualifications

Even though many construction electricians learn their trade as apprentices to senior electricians, others learn the ropes through formal training programs available through community colleges and vocational schools. These programs typically require a senior high school diploma or GED equivalent. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association both offer four-year programs, and assigning apprenticeships between locations and providing work programs that bring experienced electricians and apprentices together.

Under these formal programs, apprentices are expected to understand 144 class hours per year, as well as four years of on-the-job training under a senior electrician. Classes include training in wiring layout, electronics, blueprint reading, mathematics and electrical theory and applications.

Salaries

The median salary for a construction electrician is $20.33 one hour, with some variation predicated on location and experience. Generally, since these positions are often union-affiliated, salaries are virtually equal across a geographical area.

Employment Outlook

About two thirds of the 659,000 electricians employed in the United States are employed in the construction field or related jobs. With the expansion of computers, smart houses along with other sophisticated electronic systems, the projected need for skilled construction electricians is likely to be very good through the next decade, although recent downturns in the housing construction market could have a cooling influence on this growth. However,  Domestic Electricians Fife  is expected to hold equal with the national average through 2014.

How to locate Work

Although some construction electricians enter the field by working as helpers under a senior electrician at a local job site, the most effective way to start a career as an electrician is though one of the many apprenticeship programs offered through a union or the National Electrical Contractors Association. Because so many construction electricians are also union members, they are often referred by the union for jobs in a local area.

Potential for Advancement

The prospect of skilled construction to advance is normally quite good, with experienced electricians frequently upgrading to management jobs as estimators, superintendents, and job site supervisors. From this point, they may opt to start their very own contracting businesses or work as consultants, handling electrical bids for other contractors. Many senior electricians have the ability to parlay their experience into related fields, such as factory, aircraft construction, or shipbuilding electrician roles.

Conclusion

If you're looking to take charge of your future (pun intended), you won't have to look further than a lifetime career as a construction electrician. A vital area of the construction industry in both residential and commercial areas, this is one job that'll be in demand as long as people need lights, air conditioning, and electrical outlets in the spaces they live in.