What skills should I put on an electrician resume?

The top skills to put on an electrician resume are installation, troubleshooting and repairing. Employers also look for dependability, attention to detail and cautiousness, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed. For software, list what the posting names; electricians most often use analytical or scientific and industrial control software.

  • Installation
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cautiousness

What software should electricians know?

No single program shows up often in electrician job postings. Electricians most often use analytical or scientific, industrial control and CAD software, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.

Type of workTools electricians use
Statistics and analysisConstruction Master Pro, Electrosoft FlashWorks, Elite Software E-Coord, Elite Software Inpoint, Elite Software Outpoint, Elite Software Short, Elite Software VDROP, SoftEmpire Electrical Calculations, Lighting calculation software
Industrial controlSupervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Programmable logic controller (PLC), AVEVA InTouch HMI
CAD (computer-aided design)Autodesk AutoCAD, One Mile Up Panel Planner
Databases and queriesSage 300 Construction and Real Estate, Insight Direct ServiceCEO, Resolve Systems Service Management, Shafer Service Systems, Database software
Process mapping and designSmartDraw
AccountingTurtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Document managementAdobe Acrobat
Project managementCraftsman CD Estimator
ERP (enterprise resource planning)SAP
Word processingMicrosoft Word, Socrates Contractor's Library
Office suiteMicrosoft Office
SpreadsheetMicrosoft Excel

Leave off Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Outlook: employers assume you know them.

What hard skills do employers want in electricians?

Electricians need installation, troubleshooting, repairing, and building and construction far more than most workers. Name these in your resume summary and prove each one with a bullet that shows you using it.

  • Installation · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
  • Troubleshooting · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Repairing · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Building and Construction · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Design · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Mechanical · Needed far more than in most jobs
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.

What soft skills do electricians need?

The most important soft skills for electricians are dependability, attention to detail and cautiousness. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.

  1. Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
  2. Attention to Detail: A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  3. Cautiousness: A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.

What keywords should an electrician resume include?

An electrician resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For electricians, common keywords include installation, troubleshooting, Control Electrician and Electrical Journey Person. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.

Screening software and recruiters look for the tool names in the posting. Paste your resume to see which electrician tools it mentions. Nothing leaves your browser.

How do I write electrician resume bullet points?

Start each electrician bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Worked from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures,” then end it with a measurable result: what changed, by how much, and for whom. These starters come from the job’s most important tasks.

Bullet starters from an electrician’s core tasks

  • Prepared sketches or followed blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes
  • Placed conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pulled insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes
  • Worked from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures
  • Used a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps
  • Assembled, installed, tested, or maintained electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools
  • Connected wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components
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  • Maintained current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations
  • Planned layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes
  • Directed or trained workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures
  • Tested electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system
  • Diagnosed malfunctioning systems, apparatus, or components, using test equipment and hand tools to locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem
  • Inspected electrical systems, equipment, or components to identify hazards, defects, or the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes
  • Installed ground leads and connected power cables to equipment, such as motors
  • Advised management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous
  • Repaired or replaced wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools

Resume summary starter

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

What are other job titles for an electrician?

Other job titles for an electrician include Control Electrician, Electrical Journey Person, Electrical Troubleshooter, Housing Maintenance Electrician and Industrial Electrician. Government job data groups them as “Electricians.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.

  • Control Electrician
  • Electrical Journey Person
  • Electrical Troubleshooter
  • Housing Maintenance Electrician
  • Industrial Electrician
  • Inside Wireman
  • Maintenance Electrician
  • Paper Mill Electrician
  • Wireman
  • Airport Electrician
  • Antenna Installer
  • Antenna Rigger
  • Commercial Electrician
  • Conduit Installer
  • Conduit Mechanic
  • Construction Electrician
  • Conventional System Lightning Protection Technician
  • Diesel Electrician
  • Diesel Maintenance Electrician
  • Electric Sign Wirer

What education do electricians need?

Most electricians need a high school diploma or equivalent to get hired. New hires typically get an apprenticeship. No prior work experience is usually required. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in building and construction, design, and mechanical knowledge. In a federal survey, 62% of electricians said the job requires a postsecondary certificate and 31% a high school diploma.

How much do electricians make?

Electricians earn a median salary of $63,190 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $42,640, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $108,510. Employment is projected to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 72,700 openings a year.

Median yearly pay, May 2025

$63,190

80% earn $42,640 to $108,510

Expected job growth, 2025–35

+9.2%

All jobs: +3.5%

Job openings per year

72,700

757,220 people work in this job

Typical education to get hired

High school diploma or equivalent

Turn this list into a tailored electrician resume

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Where this data comes from

  • Software, skills, traits, tasks, titles and education survey: O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor), occupation 47-2111.00.
  • Pay and employment: Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (OEWS), May 2025, occupation 47-2111.
  • Job growth, openings and typical education: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by MyCareerAI. Full attribution and changes