Is Becoming an Electrician in New England Worth It?

electrician job
electrician job

Is Becoming an Electrician in New England Worth It?

Electricians keep our homes, businesses, and cities powered up and safe. Could you imagine a restaurant that couldn’t cook or refrigerate food? What if your home had no lights, television, or computer access? Here are the reasons why becoming an electrician is worth it.

Why Become an Electrician in New England?

Electricians are in demand across the U.S. Every school, bank, grocery store, and residential area runs on electricity and electricians are the professionals who help make that happen. As long as we use electricity, we’ll need electricians. Here are a few more reasons why this is a good career:

  • Job Growth: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations.
  • Steady Income: Because of high demand, electricians are well-paid trades people. And in some states, like Massachusetts, you have the potential to earn more than your peers across the country. Massachusetts is not only among the top 15 employers of electricians in the country; it also ranks number six for the mean salary it pays.
  • Variety: As an electrician in New England, you could work across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, indoors or outdoors. You might find yourself in someone’s home or working on a huge project as part of a team. And you’ll probably travel to different work sites for different projects. If the idea of sitting in an office all day bores you, this profession could be a good fit for you.
  • Self-Employment Opportunities: With the skills and knowledge you’ll have as an electrician, you might take on side jobs throughout your career. But many electricians are also self-employed, which means they set their own schedule. As a self-employed electrician, you’d probably work on residences—maybe even in your own city or town.
  • Career Advancement: Before you become an electrician in New England, you’ll need to pass your state’s Journeyman’s exam to obtain a license. Once you complete 4,000 hours of work as a journeyperson, or roughly two years of work, you may be eligible to sit for the Master Electrician exam. As a master electrician, you’ll have more opportunities to expand your knowledge, advance your career, and increase your salary potential.

How to Become an Electrician

As an electrician, you’ll be responsible for more than just the installation and repair of light and power systems. You’ll also have to read blueprints, use testing devices to identify problems, and be familiar with the National Electrical Code as well as state and local building regulations. How can you learn all of this?

  1. Get Your High School Diploma: You’ll need a high school diploma or a GED. This will give you the basic foundation in math and science, which every electrician needs. It is also a requirement for an electrician licensure in most New England states.
  2. Attend an Electrician Training Program: To learn what you need to become an electrician, you need training and experience. One way to get both is through an accredited Electrician Training Program at a technical school. At Porter and Chester Institute, you can complete your training in as little as one year.
  3. Gain Electrical Work Experience: Before you can become licensed, you’ll need to meet the experience requirements of your state. In both Connecticut and Massachusetts, in addition to training, you need to clock 8000 work hours over four years.

Once you accumulate enough hours of training and work experience, you can qualify to sit for your licensure exam. As a licensed electrician in one New England state, you may also have the opportunity to apply for licensure in states with reciprocal license agreements. For example, New Hampshire recognizes a license from Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont as equal to its own.

 

At Porter and Chester Institute, we can provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to become an electrician through our Electrician: Industrial, Commercial and Residential program. We’ll provide you with hands-on training and experience. To learn more, fill out the form today.