Electrical work in the United States is not a uniform career. It’s a network of specialties that’s always shaped by the demands of modern infrastructure. Someone entering the field often starts with a question: What types of electricians are there? But you quickly realize there is no short answer.
Electricians operate in different environments. Each path comes with its own training, routines, but also its long-term opportunities. This guide breaks down the main types of electricians and outlines the skills required if you are planning to join the U.S. job market as an electrician.
How the Electrician Profession Works in the U.S.
If you want to become an electrician, there are a few things to remember. You are required to complete a formal apprenticeship, followed by licensing at the state or local level. Apprenticeships are programs that combine classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job training and last four to five years.
Licensing rules vary by state, but electricians must pass an exam based on the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is published by the National Fire Protection Association. You can learn more about the NEC and its role in electrical safety here.
Once the basics are in place, people often specialize. That’s where the real differences appear and where the question of what kind of electricians are there finally gets a proper answer.
Electrician licensing in the U.S. is handled state by state, meaning exact requirements vary. However, the core path is: apprentice, then journeyman, then master. This is consistent nationwide. National certifications like NCCER, OSHA, NICET, and NFPA 70E also help.
Employment demand for electricians is strong nationwide, and it’s only growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrician jobs are projected to grow steadily over the next decade. Salaries vary, but wages range from $30,000 for apprentices to over $80,000 a year for experienced, licensed electricians in high-demand U.S. markets.
Residential Electricians
Residential Electricians are the ones people call first. All houses rely on electricians who work with residential spaces. This is usually the image people have when they think of electricians.
They install and maintain wiring, outlets, lighting fixtures, breaker panels, and home electrical upgrades. They also do a lot of troubleshooting, especially in older homes where wiring doesn’t meet modern standards, and help owners with decisions for their home’s electrical safety.
To be a residential electrician, it’s mandatory to understand local and state electrical codes and be able to communicate clearly with homeowners who may not know as much about electricity. Safety is another big part, because much of the work involves live circuits. Housing demand remains steady, residential electrical work offers consistent employment across the United States, and this is commonly where apprentices begin gaining hands-on experience.
Training and licensing
To work as a residential electrician, you will need to complete an apprenticeship and passyour Journeyman Electrician License. You don’t need additional certifications, but they can improve your chances of getting hired. Many residential electricians earn OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 safety certification, widely recognized by contractors. Some states and utilities also value NCCER Electrical Level 1–4, because these credentials transfer between states.
Commercial Electricians
Move out of the home and into offices, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers, and you’ve stepped into commercial work. For many people who are deciding what kind of work to do, this is the next logical category.
The work is more complex than residential projects and often requires close coordination with contractors and inspectors. It also has greater risks and more people that depend on you, so usually a higher pay, but also bigger pressure. They have many responsibilities that fall under the umbrella of keeping buildings powered and safe.
For a job like this, you need to know electrical theory and follow codes to the letter to keep yourself and others safe. The work offers steady employment because commercial spaces need ongoing maintenance.
Training and licensing
Just like with the other trades, you will need a Journeyman Electrician License. For further progress, you might get to Master Electrician for supervising projects or pulling permits. Other certifications that you may need are NCCER Commercial and Industrial Wiring, OSHA 30, and manufacturer-specific training for fire alarm or emergency power systems.
Industrial Electricians
When a factory goes dark or a conveyor belt suddenly stops, industrial electricians are the specialists who step in. If you have a career like this in mind, you need to be ready to work with some of the most complex electrical systems. Industrial electricians install and repair high-voltage equipment, motors, control panels, and automated systems.
If this is a career path that you feel drawn to, remember that you need precision and speed. Industrial electricians must have strong mechanical awareness and remain focused in environments that get very tense. It’s a smart career choice, as these specialists are in consistent demand across the U.S. Their salaries are higher compared to other electrical careers.
Training and licensing
Besides a typical Journeyman or Master Electrician License, employers prefer electricians certified in PLC systems, such as Allen-Bradley or Siemens training programs.
Maintenance Electrician
When a system fails in a hospital or a university, it’s the maintenance electrician who makes sure everything continues. As electricians, they focus on new installations, but this role centers more on keeping older systems alive. Maintenance electricians do inspections and carry out preventive maintenance, replacing worn parts before they cause problems. When unexpected issues arise, they must be able to see the problems quickly and resolve them under pressure.
In the United States, maintenance electricians are in great demand because every facility with electrical systems needs ongoing maintenance. In practical terms, maintenance electricians can expect steady job prospects.
Maintenance electricians work normal daytime shifts, but they may also need to be ready to be scheduled for nights, weekends, or emergency call-outs. This is what to expect when your work is associated with facilities that operate 24/7. But because it’s mostly maintenance work, it tends to be more stable.
Training and licensing
To get to a maintenance electrician, you can advance with certifications like:
- Certified Maintenance Electrician (CME)
- National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)
- Journeyman or Master Electrician License (varies by state)
To find out more about what to expect when you start your electrician career, see our guide on Steps on How to Become an Electrician: From Training to Licensure.
Construction Electricians
Construction electricians are those involved before a building becomes usable, to turn architectural plans into functioning electrical systems. Their work starts with reviewing blueprints and electrical layouts, then installing, wiring, grounding systems, and power distribution equipment. This is completed before walls and ceilings are finished, so construction electricians have to be as precise as possible. If they commit any errors at this stage, it means delays and rework that cost money.
Construction electricians represent a big segment of the electrical workforce in regions with many new constructions.
As one, expect a salary of around $60,000 after a few years of experience. At first, apprentices and beginners earn between $35,000 and $45,000 per year, but experienced journeymen earn between $55,000 and $75,000, depending on location and their union. In busy areas or on very big commercial projects, earnings go up to $80,000 with overtime.
Training and licensing
Construction electricians usually enter the field through an apprenticeship program and progress to a Journeyman Electrician License. Because their work is tied closely to active job sites, safety certifications matter a great deal.
Lots of construction electricians carry OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification and complete NCCER Construction Electrical training. In unions, certifications and licensing are managed through IBEW apprenticeship programs.
To find out more about apprenticeships and what type of electricians are there, as well as what fits you best and the schools near you, check out the Electrical Training Alliance.
Final Thoughts
When you try to picture your own future, the kind of electrician you may become isn’t as clear as you may like. People want to know where they’ll work, how technical the job will be, and what kind of growth they can expect. The U.S. electrical trade has multiple paths, each different. What matters most at the beginning is building a solid foundation. Completing a state-approved apprenticeship, understanding the Electrical Code, and earning a license open doors to many types of work. You may think you’ll prefer residential work, but end up in construction work, handling teams. Many electricians shift roles over time, moving into sectors that pay better or are more stable. What matters is that demand is not going anywhere, so whatever you choose, your skills as an electrician will always find you a place to work and get your hands dirty.
