Hot jobs: Future for electricians is wired for growth

It shouldn’t come as a shock to learn that electricians are in high demand.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development ranks electrician No. 10 on its list of Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs of the future, with predicted growth of 15.44 percent and an average salary of $60,310. The number of electricians in Indiana is projected to grow from 14,452 in 2012 to 16,684 in 2022.

Roger Davenport ventured into the field six years ago, starting out on a part-time basis and working his way up in electrician roles with two companies, Candlelight Services and AMPS Electric, as he simultaneously worked to complete an electrician apprenticeship program.

“I was attending school at Ivy Tech for computer networking and started working for a friend of mine, Jason Rickel, owner of Rickel Electric,” Davenport said, recalling how he got interested in the industry.

Several avenues are available to people who want to pursue training in electrical work, Davenport said.

“You can join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Apprenticeship program, or you can get training through Associated Builders & Contractors Inc.,” he said. “You can also get on-the-job training through a private employer.”

For those with the skills and the training, electrical work offers job security as well as many opportunities in a number of environments, including communications, residential, commercial, industrial and motor controls.

“There isn’t much you can do without electricity in one form or another,” Davenport said.

Question: What does your job entail on a daily basis?

Answer: “I work in residential, so it can change with the weather. It’s pretty strong from spring to fall, then it slows sometimes in the winter. Being a residential electrician means not having a typical day. You could be installing lights to begin your day and be troubleshooting or upgrading a panel by the end of it. It’s rarely monotonous. The hours vary. A lot of times, you have to work with the client’s schedule. You might be at work from dawn to dusk some days. I’ve taken service calls at 3 or 4 in the morning.”

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: “Being able to help someone when they need it most, and enjoying what I do for a living. I love my job.”

Q: What do you enjoy least about your job?

A: “Taking too long to diagnose or repair a problem.”

Q: What skills and characteristics are needed to be successful in your line of work?

A: “You definitely have to be mechanically inclined, be a good problem solver and be able to think on your feet and outside the box. You also have to be sociable and be able to read people and adjust accordingly.”

Q: What advice would you give someone who’s considering going into the electrician field?

A: “Take pride in your work and do it correctly the first time.”

Q: What do you think is the employment outlook for electricians?

A: “I think the need for good electricians will continue to grow. With the continuing development of alternative energy sources, I think there will be a lot of opportunity in that field.”

More about Roger Davenport:

Age: 37.

Title: Residential electrician.

Education/training: Some college; six years of on-the-job training.

Family: Wife, Amy; four daughters; two older sisters; mother.

More about electrician careers*

Average salary: $60,310.

Education/training: Certification.

Major industry: Architecture and construction.

Related occupations: Electrical and electronics repairer, solar photovoltaic installer.

2012 employment: 14,452.

2022 projection: 16,684.

Growth: 15.44 percent.

*Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs