Working as an electrician in Canada

There is a high demand for electricians in Canada. Government statistics estimate that over the next 10 years there will be thousands of job openings for electricians in construction and industry across Canada. Much of this demand is driven by the retirement of the older generation.

In this article, we'll look at:

• categories of electricians in Canada;
• level of wages;
• job responsibilities by category: electricians, industrial electricians, electricians;
• working conditions for electricians in Canada;
• requirements for applicants by category;
• licenses and experience;
• specialty immigration programs.

Many people think that being an electrician is an unstigious and low-paying profession. But not in Canada! In this country, electricians have one of the highest incomes among "working" professions. Read on to see these cosmic figures!

The demand for electrical engineers is largely dependent on the growth of the construction industry. Housing construction is expected to increase over the next few years as more and more immigrants come to Canada in need of housing.

Electricians specializing in new technologies are also in higher demand in Canada, namely:

• alternative energy sources such as solar power, wind power and fuel cells;
• wiring for smart homes;
• automated systems for high-tech industries and complex computer offices;
• automated systems in factories, mines, the oil and gas industry and other enterprises.

There is an increasing demand for electricians who can install and maintain these new systems.

Categories of electricians in Canada

There are three main categories of electricians in Canada:

• Electricians who work for electrical contractors, building maintenance departments or for themselves.
• Industrial electricians who work for electrical contractors and in the maintenance departments of plants, factories, mines, shipyards and other industrial plants.
• Electrical Power Engineers who work in companies involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

Wages for electricians in Canada

According to official data, electricians in Canada earn on average $56,763 CAD per year or $4,730 CAD per month.

Industrial electricians earn $87,393 CAD per year or $7,282 CAD per month.

Electricians earn $89,044 CAD per year or $7,420 CAD per month.

Electricians who own their own business can earn more. And full-time electricians can also get benefits like paid sick leave and dental insurance.

Electricians in Canada — what do they do?

According to the Canadian Occupational Handbook, electricians in Canada:

• read and interpret blueprints, wiring diagrams and electrical code specifications to determine wiring diagrams for new or existing installations;
• pull wires through conduits and through holes in walls and floors;
• install brackets and hangers to support the electrical equipment;
• install, replace and repair lighting fixtures and electrical control and distribution equipment such as switches;
• connect and wire to fixtures and components to form circuits;
• perform other duties.

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