Industrial electricians inspect, install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls.
People in this occupation:
Source: Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Source: 2021 Job Bank Wage Report
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
10 year expected job openings: 1,280
Industrial electricians perform some or all of the following duties:
Industrial electricians typically work 40 hours per week, with possible overtime. Shift work is common since industrial electricians often work in pulp and saw mills, smelting and mining and other large-scale resource operations.
Industrial electricians in the Construction industry work both indoors and outdoors. When working outdoors, workers may be exposed to harsh weather conditions. Workers in other industries work mainly indoors.
The work environment can be noisy and dirty with strong odours. Work is also done in cramped spaces and at heights from ladders and scaffolding, so there is a risk of injury from electrical shock or falls. Workers may experience physical injuries such as muscle strains when working in tight spaces.
Industrial construction projects can require workers to temporarily relocate to remote jobs sites.
Source: 2016 Census
Completion of secondary school may be required to work in this occupation. To work as an industrial electrician in B.C., it is necessary to hold a certificate of qualification from the Industry Training Authority or be registered in a four-year apprenticeship that will lead to qualification. Requirements for trade certification include:
The industrial electrician apprenticeship requires a combination of work experience and class-time instruction. Apprenticeships programs:
For more information, please see the Industry Training Authority website at www.itabc.ca.
Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal certification) is available to qualified industrial electricians through the Industry Training Authority. Once individuals pass the IP exam (the final exam for this trade), they will achieve certification and will automatically have a Red Seal endorsement. Industrial electricians who work as independent contractors are required to have a Construction and Maintenance Licence. Industrial electricians who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check. For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the Industry Training Authority of BC and/or Technical Safety BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C. For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca. View a list of B.C. occupational regulators.
For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 35 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. You’ll also find the skill strength needed, letting you know how capable you must be in that skill.
Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
More than half of the job openings in the coming years are expected to come from new job growth.
Over the last few years, the combination of low interest rates and a growing economy has resulted in a rapid increase in industrial activity in the province, which has helped to create many new jobs for industrial electricians. Large construction and transportation projects in the Mainland/Southwest may continue to be a source of job growth for industrial electricians.
Automation has had both positive and negative effects on work for industrial electricians. New methods and tools result in fewer people needed to do the same amount of work. However, the increased use of automation in mills, mines, smelting, oil and gas operations and in construction will result in an increase in demand for industrial electricians who can install and maintain these new systems.
The industrial electrician trade has been influenced by enhancements and developments in diagnostic equipment. The result of new technology has been a reduction in the physical requirements of the trade and an increase in the specialized knowledge requirements. As the need for cross-functional workers continues, the flexibility and diversity of tasks accomplished by industrial electricians will expand. There is an increase in overlap among the skills required by the industrial electrician trade and those of construction, millwright, and instrumentation trades.
Career paths
Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, workers receive their journeymen papers and are certified industrial electricians.
After gaining experience in the field, some industrial electricians may choose to work as an independent contractor.
Industrial electricians with extensive experience may be promoted to an electrician supervisor position.
Additional resources