Entry Level Electrician Jobs
| Update: July 30, 2025
Electrical work is a rewarding career where you get to tackle real-world challenges and see the direct results of your efforts in action. So how do you become an electrician? Entry-level jobs are where it begins. If you’re thinking about entering this field, here are five entry-level electrician jobs that will kick-start your career.
How Long Is Trade School for Electrician Training?
Before diving into specific jobs, it's helpful to understand that not all electricians do the same type of work. The field is full of variety, with specialties to match different interests and work environments. For example:
- Residential Electricians
- Commercial Electricians
- Industrial Electricians
- Maintenance Electricians
- Construction Electricians
These are just a few of the common roles in the field, but as you gain experience, you can choose to specialize in areas like solar energy, marine electrical systems, or roadway lighting and traffic controls.
Electrician Jobs
These jobs are generally accessible after completing an electrician program and require little to no field experience. They often serve as stepping stones into longer-term careers.
- Electrician Apprentice: To become a licensed electrician, you’ll typically first work as an electrician apprentice. You’ll learn the ropes working and learning skills under a licensed electrician.
- Electrician Helper or Assistant: This job is all about supporting the team. You’ll set up tools, fetch materials, and help with basic tasks like running wires or cleaning up the work area.
- Installation Technician: This position focuses on installing systems, usually under supervision. It can include electrical wiring, telecommunications, home entertainment systems, or general electronic devices.
- Electronics Test and Assembly Technician: This type of technician specializes in building and testing electronic components to make sure they work exactly as they should. Whether it’s in a high-tech lab or a busy manufacturing floor, technicians in this role help bring devices to life, ensuring they’re safe, reliable, and ready for use.
- Security Installation Technician: In this role, you focus mainly on installing and setting up security systems (cameras, access control, etc.). This specialty includes jobs like Alarm Technician and Fire Alarm Technician.
Electrician Careers
These roles generally require more experience, additional certifications, or advanced training, and they represent long-term career paths.
- Electrician: This is a licensed professional who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems. This is a full-time career with opportunities for specialization and advancement.
- Electrical Troubleshooter: This role focuses on diagnosing and resolving complex electrical issues.
- Maintenance Electrician: This type of electrician handles the regular upkeep, testing, and repair of electrical systems, often in commercial or industrial facilities.
- Industrial Electrician: These electricians work in manufacturing plants or factories, maintaining heavy-duty electrical equipment and systems.
- Housing Maintenance Electrician: They maintain and repair residential electrical systems, often within apartment complexes or housing authorities.
- Service (Electrician/Technician): This career typically involves traveling to job sites to install, maintain, or repair systems.
- Security Technician: This is often the next step after starting out as a Security Installation Technician. Security Technicians take over after the installation and handle maintenance, repairs, and ongoing support for security systems.
Entry-level roles are just the beginning of rewarding electrician careers. If you’re thinking about trade programs, consider UEI College to start your training now.
Find a campus near you to get started.
