The salary of a master electrician is dependent on various factors. The aim of this article is to discuss and provide insights into the earning potential in this profession.
Among the jobs that are available in the market, each one has its own importance and value. Jobs that help us make our life comfortable like that of plumbers, drivers, and electricians are very important for the society. The worth of electricians is realized when we encounter electricity problems in our homes. Electricity is the most basic requirement of today’s world and master electricians are the professionals who work on solving problems related to electricity. The job of an electrician is full of challenges, and it demands proper training and educational qualifications.
Average Salary: Statistics and Trends
As per PayScale, master electricians are expected to earn in the range of $39,492 – $93,017 annually. The average wages of a master electrician per hour are $25.52 per hour (Source: PayScale). The average earning potential of master electricians is expected to be around $52,000 per year. We have to keep in mind that this data just represents an average salary, and many electricians may be earning lesser than this. For instance, in several states, master electricians in the same year earned anywhere between USD 20,000 to USD 40,000. The salaries vary because of certain factors, which have been mentioned further.
Geography: When we are discussing salary, we have to understand that salaries are not a factor of some fixed quantities or parameters. Instead, they vary depending on many parameters, chief among them being the location of the job. Since master electricians have fluctuating demands in different states, a significant variance in the salaries of various states is bound to occur. The industrial and residential developments in an area fuel the demand for skilled electricians. In areas where a large number of industries and factories are planted, the demand for electricians also shoots up to take the additional work. In a city like New York where the cost of living is higher in relation to other states, a master electrician’s salary is expected to be higher than the less expensive states. But again, it is not just one factor that determines salaries. There are many parameters at play in determining the earning potential in a profession.
Groups, Affiliations, and Networks: Generally, to increase the prospects of earning better salaries, electricians work in coordination and form their groups and associations in the specific areas. This helps them build better contacts and hence better employment opportunities. Groups and associations like National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Joint Apprenticeship Council in the USA, help in maintaining effective connections with professionals in the electrical industry.
Hourly Rates: As an electrician, on-the-job experience is what really counts in the initial years. The salary is mostly paid on an hourly basis depending on the number of hours for which an electrician works. The hourly rates can be anywhere in the range of $18.53 – $39.25 per hour (Source: PayScale), in the starting years. It all depends on many factors like the area one is working, the type of employer and especially the skills of the electricians.
Educational Qualifications and Work Experience: The salaries of the apprentice electricians, airline electricians, licensed journeymen, and master electricians vary significantly. This is due to the fact that the electrician salaries are decided on the educational qualifications the electrician has gained and the level of training and expertise he has reached. Work experience undoubtedly forms a crucial part in the earning of master electricians. The residential, commercial, and industrial buildings often hire master electricians for monthly visits for solving the problems of electricity. For ensuring electrical safety at home, master electricians must have the capability to resolve any issues in the house electricity wiring.
The salary increases steadily and one needs to show competence and hard work to achieve the necessary skills. In the first few years of working as a master electrician, the focus should be on gaining expertise and acquiring the skills effectively. Establishing yourself as a good electrician in the market also increases the prospects of making good clients who will always contact you if they encounter problems related to electricity in their living areas/locality.
The fact is that just like any profession, the need to be an expert in your chosen field matters a lot. While finding job opportunities may be best done through electrical contractors associations, it is also advisable to become a master in your field, so that employers and customers value your work and chase you every time they have some work to be done. Work experience will obviously play a crucial role in boosting your pay scale in this profession.