by our College Data Analytics TeamElectrician was the 247th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 19,581 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 4.7% increase in electrician degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 18,666.
Our 2023 Best Electrician Schools ranking analyzes 38 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for electrician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of electrician programs later in this article.
When studying Electrician, you’ll learn that using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most electrician degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic electrician program qualifications, to serve in some electrician careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different electrician degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in electrician to something that takes less time like a . Different electrician degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to electrician, with approximately 12.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to electrician tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 41.9% |
| High School Diploma | 26.7% |
| Some College Courses | 14.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.6% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in electrician have received.
The education level required is different depending on the electrician career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your electrician degree? Electrician careers are expected to grow 10.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to electrician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 726,500 | 8.9% |
| Construction Trades and Extraction Worker Supervisors | 678,300 | 12.6% |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 82,600 | 14.2% |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | 10,200 | 2.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for electrician graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for electrician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers electrician grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Construction Trades and Extraction Worker Supervisors | $70,540 |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $67,800 |
| Electricians | $59,190 |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | $48,540 |
With over 841 different electrician degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased electrician school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Electrical & Power Transmission Installers area of study, Electrician has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Lineworker | 2,155 |
| General Electrical & Power Transmission Installation/Installer | 1,651 |
| Other Electrical & Power Transmission Installers | 140 |
