Electrician

Electrical fitter, electrical technician, installation electrician

Electricians fit, service and fix electrical equipment, circuits, machinery and wiring.

Salary Range: £18,000 to £42,000

How to become an electrician

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You can take a Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation, which may help you to find a trainee position with a company.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You can do an installation electrician advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Direct application

You may be able to move into electrical installation work if you’ve got experience and relevant qualifications from a related industry, for example building services or electrical engineering.

More information

Registration

• you’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an electrician from Electrical Careers and Go Construct.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• knowledge of building and construction
• maths knowledge for understanding technical plans
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• problem-solving skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with your hands and use equipment safely
• customer service skills for working with colleagues and clients
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your work will depend on what type of electrician you are, for example:

• installation electrician – install power systems, lighting, fire protection, security and data networks in buildings
• maintenance electrician – check electrical systems to make sure they’re working correctly and safely
• electrotechnical panel builder – make and install control panels that operate electrical systems in buildings, like heating or alarms
• machine repair and rewind electrician – fix and maintain electrical motors and transformers found in industrial equipment
• highway systems electrician – install and maintain street lighting and traffic management systems

Working environment

You could work on a construction site, at a client’s business, at a client’s home or on the streets.

Your working environment may be cramped, at height and outdoors in all weathers.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into design engineering, site or project management, consultancy work or training.

You could also set up your own business.