The Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Electricity and the Contractors
The electrician, installs and maintains electrical and power systems for the single family home, apartment complexes, businesses, and our factories. They also are responsible for the installation and maintenance of the wiring and control equipment that electricity flows through.
A more detailed look at what they do on a daily basis at the factories is they install and maintain electrical equipment and machines as well as doing the same in a wide range of other businesses.
They often focus on one discipline, either construction or maintenance, although many will do both. Those that specialize in construction primarily install wiring systems into factories, businesses, and new homes. The ones that choose maintenance, fix and upgrade the existing electrical systems, along with repairing the electrical equipment.
Regardless of what discipline they work under they all must follow the State and local building codes as well as the National Electrical Code.
The electrician and the electrical contractor are related terms. The electrician is an individual, a tradesman. The electrical contractor is the owner of a business who employs them. They both, along with the electrical engineer; design, install, and maintain electrical systems.
The electrical contractor generally fits into 3 major categories of work.
- The outside or line contractors, handle the high-voltage and distribution lines. They build and maintain infrastructures that support power plants and the transportation of electricity. They utilize high-voltage transmission lines that go to the various substations before it gets to the industrial, commercial and residential end user.
- The inside contractor, provides the electrical wiring and maintenance for any structure or building including, outdoor lighting and substations. They handle the installation of the wiring, the cabling design, and the maintenance for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential buildings.
- The integrated building systems (IBS), contractors; work with the installations of low voltage units that are used for back-up power devises, climate controls systems, and the packaging of wireless networks, telecommunications, fiber optics, and security systems. IBS contractors integrate these system to maximize efficiencies and performance.
- For a directory of contractors visit, The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), is the largest trade association in the electrical contracting industry. Approximately 4500 contractors are members of NECA.
Electrical contractors employ workers in many capacities, from the master electrician, to the day laborer, and several other positions determined by the level of training and experience. Here are a few of these jobs:
- The master electrician, he has accomplished all educational, apprenticeship, and licensing requirements. His next step is to become an electrical contractor if so desired.
- A project supervisor or manager oversees the workforce and works with the contractor, the sub contractors, and the inspectors, in an all out effort to meet project deadlines, and budget.
- An estimator, does just that, they calculates a project’s duration and cost, including all materials, overhead, and labor. Estimates are submitted as bids on the particular project, and will serve as the guide for scheduling, material needs and the time frame for completion. Profit and loss hinges on this initial step.
- The journeyman, installs, modifies, repairs, and maintains power and lighting systems. They work off of blueprints, and install the wiring from the drawings. They have completed their apprentice program and have earned their journeyman’s license. They normally supervises the apprentices and electrical laborers.
- The apprentice, receives on-the-job training and attends classroom instruction from the licensed journeymen, and at school. Most apprentice programs last 3 to 5 years before they are eligible to get licensed.
- The laborer, day laborer, or the electrical laborer, how ever you want to refer to them again are the blood sweat and backbone that make this industry function efficiently.
A career as an electrician, takes time, effort, and the application of your mental capacity. The rewards are great, the electricians earn a very professional income over their working lifetime.
Do you want to become an electrician, visit my page on the various trade, and vocational schools that are available in your area.
As always my wire nut carrying, double splicing friends; until we meet again;
