Starting Electrician Salary
An electrician's job involves installing and repairing electrical systems and wires. Electricians work in houses, offices and other structures such as sports stadiums and factories. They need to have a full understanding of how electricity flows and how to control that flow with wires and switches. Electricians may work inside or outside, depending on their role. They typically work during the day but, depending on the work, may be asked to be on call or work at night.
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Apprenticeship
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Someone who wants to become an electrician will need to go through a four-year apprenticeship program that includes class work and on-the-job training. On-site apprentices perform simple jobs such as drilling holes and attaching conduit. They may also be allowed to install and test wiring, under the watchful eye of a mentor. These jobs are typically low-paying, because these electricians are just starting out and have no experience.
National Average
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According to Salary.com, an electrician with less than three years experience made $42,117 a year in base pay in fall 2009. The top 25 percent made $49,125 annually while the bottom 25 percent made $35,110 a year in fall 2009. The top 10 percent made more than $55,000 a year while the bottom 10 percent made $28,800.
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Bonus
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Starting electricians earned small bonuses in some cases in fall 2009. Bonuses depend on individual employers as most starting electricians do not earn a bonus. The average yearly bonus earned by an electrician with less than three years experience was $280. With base pay, the national average earned in fall 2009 was $42,401.
Benefits
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According to Salary.com, the median yearly base pay for all electricians with less than three years experience was $41,946 in fall 2009. This represented 69 percent of their total salary package. These electricians earned $5,529 in paid time off, $1,945 in a pension and $5,722 in health care benefits. In all, starting electricians received an annual compensation package of $60,658 in fall 2009.
Paycheck
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According to Salary.com, an electrician with less than three years experience is expected to make $1,613 in gross pay biweekly. For a person with a tax-filing status of single claiming no exemptions, the paycheck would be decreased by $244.75 in federal withholding, $100.02 in Social Security and $23.39 in Medicare deductions.
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