How to become an Electrical and Electronics Repairer
Official title: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Also called: Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician), Electrical Technician, Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Technician), Instrumentation and Control Technician (I and C Technician), Relay Technician, Substation Electrician, Substation Mechanic, Substation Technician, Substation Wireman, Wireman
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Main tasks
- Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
- Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
- Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
- Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
- Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
- Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
- Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
- Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
How to become one
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers typically need at least a high school education, but most specializations require further preparation through a combination of advanced education, on-the-job training, or work experience.
Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Electrical Maintenance Technician.
- Apprenticeship: Electrician, Powerhouse.
- Apprenticeship: Relay Technician.
- Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician; Power Plant Technology/Technician; Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $103,020 a year The middle half earn $81,860 to $118,870.
- About 20,900 people work in this job now, and about 22,900 are projected by 2035. (+9.7%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Avionics Technicians
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Electrical and Electronics Repairer?
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers typically need at least a high school education, but most specializations require further preparation through a combination of advanced education, on-the-job training, or work experience.
How much does an Electrical and Electronics Repairer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $103,020 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $81,860 to $118,870.
Is an Electrical and Electronics Repairer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 20,900 to about 22,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Electrical and Electronics Repairer?
Usually not. Only 11% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Electrical Maintenance Technician.
Will AI change the work of an Electrical and Electronics Repairer?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.