What Does a Construction Electrician Do?

A Construction Electrician lays out, assembles, repairs, maintains, connects and tests electrical fixtures, apparatus, control equipment and wiring in just about every kind of residential and commercial building you can imagine.

Job -Related Skills, Interests and Values

reading and interpreting drawings and electrical code specifications
splicing and connecting wire to fixtures and components to form circuits
testing and troubleshooting circuits to ensure that systems operate safely
pulling wire through conduits and through holes in walls and floors
communicating effectively as a member of a team with supervisors and other skilled tradespeople
working on a variety of different projects and tasks

To view the Essential Skills necessary to work as a Construction Electrician, click on the following link and scroll down to NOC code 7241: http://srv600.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/esrp/english/general/all_profiles.shtml

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

To become a Construction Electrician, you must complete an apprenticeship of 9000 hours, comprised of on-the-job and in-school training. Although the minimum entry requirement for this skill trade is grade 10 under the TQA, most employers require a minimum of Grade 12. Related training in highschool through co-operative education, technical courses or OYAP is an advantage.

What’s Your Future as a Construction Electrician?

Most workers employed as Construction Electricians work full-time, sometimes seasonally or on a project-by-project basis, or can be self-employed. There is always a risk of injury on the job as you are working with electricity and sometimes on construction sites.Potential employers include:

Residential and Commercial builders
Electrical sub-contractors
Self-employment

The trend in the last decade, as with many trades, is toward the use of 'smart' technology. Electricians must keep up with advances by learning about and operating computer-controlled equipment and by learning to deal with fibre optics, local area networks and coaxial cable. For additional information about this career, check out the construction sector website at: www.CareersInConstruction.ca.

Wage Rate

you start at a wage rate that is less than that of a journeyperson Construction Electrician
this rate increases gradually as you acquire skills and gain competency
the journeyperson’s wage rate varies in the range of $15.00 to $35.00 per hour, often with benefits and the opportunities for overtime

Self-Rating

Ask Yourself: Is Working as a Construction Electrician for You?

Do you enjoy working with your hands using a variety of tools and equipment?	Yes No
Are you physically able to stand for long periods, stoop, bend, crouch, and pull wires through walls?	Yes No
Do you enjoy figuring out what's wrong with something and then finding a solution?	Yes No
Are you visually able to tell different colours apart?	Yes No
Can you look at a blueprint or drawing and figure out how things should come together for them to work?	Yes No
Do you enjoy keeping up with and learning about new technology?	Yes No
Can you communicate effectively as a member of a team with supervisors and co-workers?	Yes No