Are you looking for a career path that will guarantee you a stable income and plenty of steady work?
Well, you don’t have to look any further!
Electricians in Pennsylvania make more than $60,000 a year on average, and as demand for electricians increases, so does the salary!
So, if you think you have what it takes to become an electrician, keep reading to find out how to enter the field!
Table of Contents
Electrician Job Duties and Skills In Pennsylvania
In order to thrive in the electrical field, you’ll need to develop a wide variety of skills.
There are also a lot of job duties for future electricians to expect to have.
Here are a few:
- Good communication
- Management skills
- Empathy and compassion
- Customer service
- Critical thinking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Basic math skills
- Basic computer skills
- Blueprint reading
- Sketch Interpreting
- Installing and maintaining electrical wires
- Inspecting electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers.
- Identifying electrical problems using a variety of testing devices.
- Repairing or replacing wiring, equipment, or fixtures using hand tools and power tools.
How to Become an Electrician In Pennsylvania
The path to becoming an electrician in Pennsylvania can be broken down into three big steps.
One – Meet the Education Requirements
In Pennsylvania, it’s mandatory to gain anywhere from 750 to 900 hours of classroom training.
You won’t be able to get your electrical license without meeting these criteria, so it’s very important that you do.
But how do you get the hours?
You’ll need to enroll in a school of your choice.
You can attend a community college, or you can opt to go through a technical or vocational college instead.
Two – Meet the Work Requirements
Similarly to the obligatory classroom hours, Pennsylvania has mandatory work hours too.
You’ll need to gain about 8,000 hours of work experience before you can qualify to obtain the license.
You can gain this work experience by joining an apprenticeship program and becoming an apprentice.
This is also a good way to gain more classroom hours, as most apprenticeships will offer at least a few if not all of the classroom hours you’ll need.
Three – Apply for Your License
It will take a few years to gain the class and work experience required to obtain your license, but once you do, you’re free to apply for it!
You’ll need to take a licensing exam, and if you pass, you’ll receive your license!
This is an open-book exam that has 100 multiple-choice questions and you must score 70% to pass.
Training Programs for Electricians In Pennsylvania
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School offers a Specialized Electrician Diploma Program.
The course lasts for nine months and teaches students about the following:
- Constructing and wiring solar panels and windmills
- Creating solar energy
- Hands-on learning of the mechanics and operation of windmills
- Understanding geothermal energy
- Participating in turning geothermal energy into electricity
- Studying the operations of an electric vehicle
The program also covers commercial and residential wiring and teaches the National Electrical Code and the fundamentals of electricity.
Students in this program can also expect to learn about Installation and Inspection and Technical Mathematics.
Rosedale Technical College
Rosedale Technical College’s Electrical programs offer specialized training depending on what the student is interested in.
There are currently two program options available:
- The Construction Electricity Program
- The Industrial Electricity Program
The Industrial program teaches students all about installing, repairing, and maintaining this equipment, as well as troubleshooting any problems that may arise while using it.
It also teaches students about programming PLCs and robotics.
The Construction program teaches students to work in tight spaces and at heights at times.
It also teaches students about wiring homes and businesses that are in the construction phase as well as maintenance and repairs on existing buildings.
Orleans Technical College
Orleans Technical College’s Electrical Training Program goes in-depth about job training in the residential and commercial electric fields.
The program emphasizes teaching students practical, hands-on knowledge needed to be successful in the high-demand building and construction trades industry.
Completing the program will result in the graduate receiving certificates and a diploma.
The program lasts for six months and provides both day and night classes so students can choose which works best for them and their particular schedules.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Penn Commercial Business/Technical School | 242 Oak Spring Rd, Washington, PA 15301 |
| Rosedale Technical College | 215 Beecham Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 |
| Orleans Technical College | 2770 Red Lion Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19114 |
Electrician Salaries In Pennsylvania
You have now learned everything from what kind of skills and expertise are expected of an electrician to what kind of duties an electrician will need to perform, plus what kind of training and education an electrician will need to meet the licensing requirements.
So, what’s left?
Well, the salary, of course!
An electrician’s salary can vary based on a ton of different circumstances, like knowledge, expertise, specialization, and even location.
Below, you can see what the salary is like for electricians living in the top ten cities in Pennsylvania.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bensalem | $71,137 |
| Philadelphia | $69,254 |
| Merion Station | $69,254 |
| Upper Darby | $69,254 |
| Allentown | $65,769 |
| Bethlehem | $65,769 |
| Reading | $64,919 |
| Pittsburgh | $64,281 |
| Scranton | $60,576 |
| Erie | $60,281 |
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,240 | $74,140 | $35.65 | $127,370 | $42,550 |
| Altoona, PA | 130 | $58,330 | $28.04 | $90,370 | $36,580 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 60 | $54,680 | $26.29 | $73,960 | $38,110 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 110 | $59,870 | $28.79 | $88,260 | $37,980 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 190 | $61,730 | $29.68 | $96,440 | $39,740 |
| Erie, PA | 330 | $58,790 | $28.26 | $84,560 | $36,730 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 100 | $57,730 | $27.76 | $77,640 | $36,350 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 930 | $67,110 | $32.27 | $94,810 | $38,450 |
| Johnstown, PA | 130 | $64,680 | $31.1 | $108,340 | $38,390 |
| Lancaster, PA | 1,230 | $68,520 | $32.94 | $121,010 | $38,700 |
| Lebanon, PA | 250 | $66,870 | $32.15 | $92,970 | $43,490 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 10,070 | $79,770 | $38.35 | $133,000 | $43,960 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 4,210 | $71,030 | $34.15 | $103,610 | $40,570 |
| Reading, PA | 690 | $69,790 | $33.55 | $95,940 | $41,380 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 920 | $69,130 | $33.23 | $102,290 | $37,270 |
| State College, PA | 150 | $60,740 | $29.2 | $98,520 | $40,250 |
| Williamsport, PA | 150 | $61,670 | $29.65 | $91,240 | $38,750 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 710 | $69,150 | $33.25 | $119,490 | $37,840 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specializations for electricians are there in Pennsylvania?
Electricians in Pennsylvania can specialize in doing industrial, commercial, or residential electrical work.
They can also focus on working with particular systems, such as fire alarms or security systems, etc.
What is the average salary for electricians in Pennsylvania?
The average salary for electricians is close to $70k per year.
Most will earn around $69k per year.
How many classroom hours are required to become an electrician in Pennsylvania?
Around 750 to 900 classroom hours are required to become an electrician in Pennsylvania.
Electrician Info by State
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