Average salary journeyman electrician

The average salary journeyman electrician gets varies from state to state. In Alaska a journeyman electrician can earn about $45,000 per annum while wiring in North Dakota it is about $36,000 per annum.

This is based on how much a non licensed journeyman electrician gets. In states where a journeyman electrician has to sit an examination and obtain a licence to operate, his salary is higher. In Alaska a licensed journeyman electrician gets $51,000 per annum while in North Dakota he can get $40,800 per annum just for repair. This is at least 10% more than what a non licensed journeyman electrician gets.

This is like any other profession dependent on the demand, we need electricity. In some states there is lesser number of journeyman electricians and in such states their wages are higher. In some states you get too many journeyman electricians making the work available lesser per journeyman electrician thus the wages are lower.

Journeyman electricians will be better off if the form an association in states where they are less paid. The association can fix rates for various works undertaken and all the members can stick to it so that all have a fair chance to get equal and reasonable wages.  However, there is some expenditure involved in having an association and each of the journeyman electricians will be required to contribute some amount as membership or careers. This membership could be tied to their income and it will be proportionate to their earning capacity.

The reason for lesser pay for a journeyman electrician without a license is because of the fact that he is required to carry out electrical work under the supervision of a Master Electrician or another licensed Journeyman. A licensed journeyman electrician may supervise up to three other unlicensed electrical workers. Therefore, getting a licence is the best thing an electrician could do to increase his earning capacity.

A journeyman electrician installs equipment for new electrical services (120v, 240v, and 480v three phase), including wiring, conduit, panels, breakers, contactors, relays, times and controls for athletic field lighting/irrigation systems, restrooms, shelters, scoreboards, clubhouses, aquatics facilities and workshops. A journeyman electrician is responsible for acquiring necessary electrical permits, as required by the City where the work is performed. He also performs electrical maintenance and repair work; installs or replaces fixtures, switches, lighting, receptacles, and wiring. Performs heating, ventilation and air conditioning work; repairs and installs heating and air conditioning units using his or her license well.

A journeyman electrician also knows to operate a variety of standard electrical power tools, equipment and trenchers in electrical installations, maintenance and repair activities on a regular basis.

4. Become an licensed Electrician

Before you decide to become an electrician there are a few questions that you will have to ask your self. The first among those questions is whether you are adaptable and interested in working with your hands. An electrician’s job is a hands on job. Would you mind your hands becoming dirty if you are using the gloves? If you can answer yes to the first part of the questions then you can proceed to the next.

While at school have you studied math, science, electronics and mechanical drawing, if that subject was offered in high school like some type of contractor? If so, how well did you fare in those subjects? If you have not done those subjects at high school then it would be better if you do a crash course in these subjects. It will be very useful to you as you proceed in your career as an electrician. You will need to obtain several licences from state authorities on your way up as an electrician. At each stage you may be required to sit for an examination. Such examinations will be based on your experience as an electrician as well as some technical knowledge. In order to understand the technicalities it will be useful to have basic knowledge in subjects mentioned above.  

Once you have answered yes to the questions above, you can consider taking advantage of military training in the electrical field as a certified technician. The Army and the Navy recruit trainee electricians. There are several Army and Navy programs in particular offer excellent preparation for aspiring electricians. You will be working under some of the best electricians, Master electricians and Electrical Engineers. This will be a good steeping stone for a good career as an electrician.

If you are not interested in a career as an electrician in the Army or Navy, you may contact an organization that sponsors an education apprenticeship program, such as The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee or the National Electrical Contractors' Association for openings as a trainee. It's not just changing light bulbs. Here electricians participate in programs, which provide at least 144 hours of classroom instruction and 8000 hours of on-the-job training over the course of a 4-5 year apprenticeship. On completion of the course you should get your license. Almost all municipalities require electricians to pass a licensing exam that tests their knowledge of electrical theory, the national electrical code, as well as local electronic and building codes. Once you have this licence, you can be on your own and start earning handsome pays and seeing a bunch of electric cable.