How to become an Electrician
Also called: Aircraft electrician, Building electrician, Building maintenance electrician, Installation electrician (building), Locomotive electrician, Motor vehicle electrician, Ship electrician, Stage and studio electrician, Theatre electrician, Train electrician, Vehicle electrician, Aircraft electrician
Electrician installs, maintains and repairs electrical wiring systems and related equipment and fixtures.
Main tasks
- Installing, maintaining and repairing electrical wiring systems and related equipment in various buildings such as schools, hospitals, commercial establishments, residential buildings, other structures and machineries
- Examining blueprints, wiring diagrams and specifications to determine sequences and methods of operation
- Planning layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures, based on job specifications and relevant standards
- Inspecting electrical systems, equipment, and components to identify hazards, defects, and the need for adjustment or repair
- Selecting, cutting and connecting wire and cable to terminals and connectors
- Measuring and laying out installation reference points
- Positioning and installing electrical switchboards
- Testing continuity of circuit
How to become one
Electricians typically possess an electrical installation licence from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) or its equivalent.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Work-study diploma. Related ITE work-study diplomas: Work-Study Diploma in Electrical Engineering. You are employed by a company and study at ITE at the same time. Peernovo matched these from course names.
- Polytechnic or ITE: ITE course (Nitec or Higher Nitec). Related ITE courses: Higher Nitec in Electrical Engineering. Peernovo matched these from course names; ITE does not publish which jobs each course leads to.; Polytechnic diploma. Related diplomas: Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Ngee Ann Polytechnic). Peernovo matched these from course names; polytechnics do not publish which jobs each course leads to.
- Licence or registration: Electrical installation work must be done or supervised by an electrical worker licensed by the Energy Market Authority. The licence grade you can hold depends on your qualifications and experience. Law: Electricity Act 2001. Regulator: Energy Market Authority (EMA) (https://www.ema.gov.sg).
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $36,000 a year. The middle half earn $25,740 to $51,600 a year.
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Electrical fitter
- Electrical lift/escalator and related equipment fitter
- Electrical household appliance repairer
- Electrical line installer (overhead)
- Electric cable jointer
- Underground electrical line installer/repairer
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an Electrician?
Electricians typically possess an electrical installation licence from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) or its equivalent.
How much does an Electrician earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $36,000 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $25,740 to $51,600.
Will AI change the work of an Electrician?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat): Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) 2024 (SSOC 2024 (definitions and index updated 2026-06-24)), Singapore Open Data Licence, retrieved 4 October 2026
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026
