Electricians keep our world running, but the term electrician gets used like a one‑size‑fits‑all label. There are different types of electricians, and each niche has its own set of responsibilities. Some focus on houses, others on industrial buildings, while others specialize in newer technologies.
So what are the different types of electricians? This is a trade that touches nearly every facet of modern life, so teh answer is just as varied. There are formal distinctions, like apprentice versus master electrician, but also distinctions based on what industry they work in. Below is a nuanced look at all these roles that electricians play.
Levels within the trade
Before any specific specialties, it helps to understand the career ladder that exists across most electrician careers. In all these stages, the location, additional certifications, and union affiliation make earnings differ, and can push them higher.
- Apprentice Electricians. This is a beginner electrician who is training and working in an apprenticeship. Here,you train under licensed professionals, mixing classroom instruction with experience at real jobs. The earnings are on the lower end, but they rise as they gain expertise.
- Journeyman Electricians. After completing their training and passing the exam, the next step is becoming journeyman electricians. These electricians hold licensure, can work independently, and supervise apprentices. This is usually the moment people decide to specialize further, such as in commercial or industrial work.
- Master Electricians. These represent the top tier, and can design electrical systems, pull permits, and own or manage a business with broader responsibilities.
In many states, these levels are regulated by state licensing boards. For example, the California Department of Industrial Relations oversees electrician licensing in California, and similar agencies exist in each state.
If you want to learn more about the different electricians and the training paths towards mastering the trade, read our article, what do you need to be an electrician.
Residential Electricians
Residential electricians are those who work in houses and respond when something goes wrong in our houses. Their work follows the national code (NEC), and their workday consists of troubleshooting many problems. It can range from flickering lights to overloaded circuits, but it’s usually all small incidents inside. They work with simpler systems, but through the years many also learn how to deal with newer technology, such as smart home systems. As an electrician, no matter what you choose, you need to keep learning, to be on top of innovations.
Wages for residential electricians in the US are usually somewhere in the middle; salary estimates vary, but many earn lower compared to other electrician types. The environment is not as dangerous, though, when interacting with homeowners, you need to have good communication skills.
Commercial Electricians
Commercial electricians are a step up in complexity. Offices, hospitals, schools, big retail stores, they handle systems that are a lot bigger than your home’s electrical system. They care for bigger power loads, backup generators, security systems, and sometimes lighting setups that can even power up a stadium. These are systems that serve hundreds or thousands of people each day, so the pressure is a lot higher. Electricians in this specialization bring home higher pay, especially if they are licensed at the journeyman or master level.
Industrial Electricians
Where heavy machinery runs nonstop, industrial electricians keep things going. Factories, production areas, power plants, and warehouses depend heavily on skilled professionals. When handling massive electrical systems, being exact matters. Large-scale electrical setups demand knowledge, and above all, following every safety rule without exception. Complexity is common, so is the need for steady, accurate work. One small mistake can stop production lines or create serious problems.
Because of the knowledge and the risks involved, industrial electricians are among the best-paid professionals.
Construction Electricians
Construction electricians are essential during the build phase of projects. Their work starts before constructions are finished, they prepare buildings for future electrical use. Construction electricians have to know how to read blueprints and how to coordinate teams. With a job like this, you need to be ready to face any unpredictable outcome and solve it immediately, at any hour of the day. It’s a dynamic role, fit for someone who loves challenges and knows how to keep things going no matter what.
Renewable Energy Electricians
With the rise in electric vehicles in the United States, over 2 million EVs sold in 2024 alone, the demand for certified EV charger installers has grown. These electricians work together with residential and commercial electricians, coming with expertise in complex energy systems. These electricians also specialize in solar panel installation, wind turbine systems, and energy storage. The U.S. Department of Energy shows that in certain states, like California and Texas, states with more aggressive renewable energy policies, the growth is even higher. These roles need you to have traditional electrical skills, but also be able to learn new modern energy technology that keeps evolving.
Low-Voltage Electricians
Many people don’t realize that there is a separate type of electrician for lower-voltage systems. This specialty exists because modern buildings rely on communication and data systems, and those operate differently from standard power circuits. These include telecommunications, fire alarm systems, security wiring, audio/visual systems, and networking cabling. They can work in a variety of environments, ranging from commercial buildings to industrial facilities, and require a lot of precision. Low-voltage electricians often intersect with IT, and tier skills are becoming more and more needed as more buildings integrate smart technology. Pay is lower than in high-voltage work, but take into consideration that the role is less dangerous.
Maintenance Electricians
Some electricians focus less on installation and more on keeping existing systems running. Electricians are needed specifically for this role because electrical failures can shut down entire facilities. Maintenance electricians inspect and repair electrical equipment promptly, to prevent costly downtime. They work in different settings with a wide range of system types, so their knowledge is vast, and they continuously learn new things. As a maintenance electrician, you work with preventive tasks, and the demand is steady throughout the years. Salaries generally reflect this balance of technical skill and job stability and are within the median range.
Electrician salary ranges
Electrician salaries in the United States vary based on many things that aren’t always in your control, like experience, specialization, and location. In 2023, electricians pulled in a middle paycheck of around $66,900 each year, roughly $30 an hour. That number comes from the government job data tracker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The lowest 10% earned around $38,400 per year, and those are usually beginners and people working in rural areas. On the other end, the highest 10% earned more than $100,000. The states paying electricians the best include Washington, Illinois, Oregon, Alaska, Massachusetts, and New York. Once certified and experienced, earnings climb, and bigger jobs on factory sites often pay best.
Annual salary ranges:
- Apprentice Electrician: $40,000 – $50,000
- Low-Voltage Electrician: $45,000 – $65,000
- Residential Electrician: $50,000 – $65,000
- Maintenance Electrician: $55,000 – $70,000
- Commercial Electrician: $60,000 – $75,000
- Industrial Electrician: $70,000 – $90,000
Final Thoughts
A trade that’s so indispensable to modern infrastructure should have the recognition it deserves. People group electricians as a single profession, but in reality, there are many different types of electricians, and their roles depend on the kind of work they do. All of these paths exist because electrical systems vary in scale and what they’re needed for. If you are planning to begin a career as an electrician, you have to understand these differences to set realistic expectations. You may need different training, you’ll have different responsibilities, and you’ll earn more or less. But one thing is sure: as construction and technology continue to grow across the United States, the need for skilled workers in all specialties will remain steady.
