Do you want to pursue a potentially lucrative career without spending four years (or more!) attending college to pursue a potentially lucrative career?
Becoming an electrician may be a good option for you. There are currently more than 650,000 electricians in the United States, and that number is growing every year. (According to the BLS as of December 2018)
While most jobs now require a four-year degree, one of the great things about working as an electrician is that you don’t need to go to a college or university to do it. Instead, you can enroll in electrical technician training programs that will teach you what you need to start your career as an electrician.
But before you sign up for an electrical training program, you should take the time to understand the risks and rewards of becoming an electrician. It will let you know if life as an electrician is right for you.
The Risks of Becoming an Electrician
There are many benefits to being an electrician. We’ll discuss them later, but until then, there are some risks you should be aware of before enrolling in an electrical technician training program.
Take a look at some of the risks you should carefully consider below.
1. You won’t become a full-fledged electrician right away
Some people are under the impression that the only thing you need to do to become an electrician is to attend one of the electrical technician training programs mentioned above.
You will indeed need to take classes at trade and vocational schools before you can become an electrician. But that’s not the only step you need to take to start your new career.
You will also need to apprentice under a master electrician for at least a few years. This electrician will be responsible for showing you the ropes and teaching you everything you need to know to become a full-fledged technician.
As an apprentice, you probably won’t be forced to do a lot of dangerous work. But you will be burdened with a lot of work that experienced electricians don’t want to do. You’ll have to pay your dues before you can finally become a real electrician.
2. You will have to work a lot of overtime
Working as an electrician is not a normal 9 to 5 job.
Sometimes you will be out making electrical repairs to someone’s home after they wake up and realize they have no power. Sometimes you will be answering phones late at night.
The people in your community will rely on you to help them with all their electrical needs. And, if you want to show them that they can count on you, you will sometimes have to sacrifice work-life balance to do so.
At the same time, you need to make sure you can focus on the task at hand while logging long hours. If you take the wrong action when using power, it could put you and others at risk. 3.
3. Your job is usually physically demanding
Some electrical jobs are relatively simple. For example, replacing lighting or installing a new outlet for a homeowner isn’t exactly a strenuous task.
But sometimes you will be pushed to your limits when handling electrical work. You may have to climb a high ladder or crawl through a dark basement to get the job done.
When you’re 25, 30, or even 35, doing these things isn’t as difficult. However, once you reach 40, 45, 50 or older, you won’t be able to get around as much as you used to.
Working as an electrician can take a toll on everything from your back and shoulders to your knees and feet. Make sure you are ready to handle the physical demands.
4. Your job can be dangerous at times
No matter how well you do in your electrical technician training program and how long you work as an electrician, the risks associated with electricity are always present.
If you make a mistake while installing wiring or installing a new electrical panel for a home or business owner, you could end up getting electrocuted. Unfortunately, nearly 200 electricians are killed on the job each year.
That’s only a small fraction of the total number of electricians. Still, it is a reminder that working as an electrician can be a very dangerous job.
The rewards of being an electrician
As you can see, working as an electrician can be a risky job. However, the rewards of becoming an electrician far outweigh the risks and are worth it.
If you choose to pursue a career as an electrician, here are some of the rewards you will receive
1. You won’t be saddled with a mountain of student loan debt
As of today, more than 40 million Americans are carrying at least some student loan debt. In total, they owe more than $1.5 trillion, while the average college graduate leaves school with about $37,000 in debt.
If you decide to enroll in an electrical technician training program, there will be some costs associated with it. However, if you are going to college, you will not owe anywhere near what you owe.
Those who wish to avoid student loan debt at all costs should consider a vocational school job like that of an electrician. This will allow them to start their careers without having to worry about paying off a bunch of student loan bills. 2.
2. You shouldn’t have trouble finding a job
Once you go through an electrical technician training program and serve an apprenticeship, you will become a full-fledged electrician. At that point, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a job as an electrician.
Many new electricians spend time working for the same company they worked for as an apprentice. But this is not your only option.
You can start your own electrical repair company. You can also find work with a commercial or industrial company that employs electricians. The possibilities are almost endless.
Despite a strong job market, there are still many college graduates who won’t be able to find a job in 2018. This will not be a problem you have to deal with.
3. you can earn a good salary
When you work as an electrical apprentice, you may be paid an hourly rate. But once you become an established electrician, you will start earning a good salary.
Your salary depends on the specific job you are doing. It’s a good idea to look for any websites specific to your field for salary data. These sites may have information about average industry salaries, especially if your field is relatively uncommon.
You may also decide to start your own electrical business, which may be more lucrative than working for someone else. While this comes with a lot of responsibility, if you can turn your business into a success, you can make a fortune.
4. You will also change people’s lives
The money you make while working as an electrician will be great. Year after year, you will be surprised at how much money you can make.
But the thing you may end up enjoying most while working as an electrician is how much of an impact you will have on people’s lives. They will appreciate it when you show up at their home or business to do work on their electrical system.
Many people don’t realize how rewarding it is to play the role of an electrician in their community. But once they start working as an electrician regularly, they will see firsthand how much of an impact they can have in their city or town.
Is becoming an electrician the right career for you?
If you’ve ever thought about becoming an electrician, make an effort to learn more about working as one.
Many electricians in your community may be happy to discuss their work with you. You can also use the Internet to your advantage by reading blogs about pursuing a career as an electrician.
In addition, you can contact people in trade and vocational schools and ask them about the training programs they must offer for electrical technicians. They can discuss with you in detail the costs associated with these programs and what you will learn in them.
Professional Electrician Tools
If you are ready to return to work after a workplace accident, excellent electrical tools are your best bet. Knoweasy tools are professional electrician tools that can meet the various needs of electricians when working and effectively improve the efficiency and safety of their work.