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ELECTRICIANS ARE well paid as a general matter,
with federal data indicating median pay of $54,110.
And the closer these trade professionals get to the
engineering end of the spectrum, or the better their
management and organizational skills, the more
they make. Those credentials don’t come easily
or overnight and usually require advanced train-
ing in technology, engineering, or business—or all
of the above.
Electrical work is cleaner than plumbing, but
it’s still hard, dusty work. These tradespeople are,
essentially, metalworkers. They spend a lot of time
routing and installing cable, hooking up switches
and outlet receptacles, and installing fixtures—all
are metal. On the far end of the electrical spectrum,
they may troubleshoot, test, and repair high-voltage
components like switchgear and circuit breakers.
High-voltage electricians wear protective clothing
to shield them from the explosive power of a high-
voltage arc flash—a high-energy spark that jumps
through the air from one conductor to another. Its
energy is so great that it ionizes the air, causing it to
become conductive.Calling it a flash is a bit of under-
statement. Electrical explosion is more apt.Sounds
unlikely to you? Look up arc flash protective equip-
ment. It looks somewhat like a bomb-disposal suit.
Okay, so no high-voltage work for you? That’s okay.
Many electricians never touch the stuff. But all of
them have to get used to working on ladders, roof-
tops, scaffolding, and scissors lifts. That’s the life of
an electrician.Zachary
McKee
ELECTRICAL
TECHNOLOGIESElectrician