Electricians perform a variety of duties in many types of businesses and change work locations regularly, which may appeal to those individuals seeking constant challenge and diverse job locations.  Although most electricians work in the construction field and/or are self-employed, their services are also needed in high tech environments, natural gas and pipeline industries, as well as in governmental capacities.  From installing, maintaining and repairing electrical wiring to special equipment and fixtures, electricians are exposed to many different tasks at hand.  In addition to the typical installations of residential and commercial lighting, outlets and electrical wiring, these tradesmen may also be asked to install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.  Those who enjoy variety, such as working outside reading blue prints at a construction site on a Monday, but by Tuesday, move to stringing light fixtures inside of a new home, could be extremely successful and satisfied with a career as an electrician.

Due to many quick changes in technology today, electricians will also be constantly challenged with expanding and refining their skill sets, which keeps many from becoming bored with their careers.  Many specializations exist in the field, which allow for continual professional growth.  A new electrician may choose to focus on subway trains or automobiles, installing and servicing alarm systems or heating and air conditioning systems or may even want to assist with developing and wiring robot or cutting edge technology.  Channel Marketing Group and Allen Ray Associates provide a blog, updated several times per week, concerning the latest news and insights on the electrical industry:  http://electricaltrends.blogspot.com/

Careers in the field of electricity provide employees with job security and competitive wages.  Overall employment rates for electricians are estimated to grow by 12% by 2018, ensuring job security for those skilled in the trade.  The outlook is promising for the field with more and more jobs opening to support the home and residential needs of the growing population, as well as the continued maintenance for buildings as the age.  Average wages for those in the electrical profession are $22.00 per hour, with a range spanning $17 - $30 depending upon both location and specialized field.  Building and equipment contractors comprise the main employment for electricians in the U.S, however, the motion picture and video industries provide the highest wages.  The United States Department of Labor, posted in May, 2008, provides extensive information on the outlook for employment and wages for electricians: http://www.bls.gov/oes/2008/may/oes472111.htm#(3)

The Department of Labor provides a full Occupational Outlook for the electrician trade, posted in 2010.  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm#addinfo

1.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT offers various undergraduate programs, including degreed studies in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  Additional information:  www.eecs.mit.edu

2.  Stanford University

Undergraduate degrees are offered at Stanford in Electrical Engineering.  Academics focus on math, digital and analog electronics and electromagnetics.  Their courses are built on a foundation of physical science, mathematics, computing, and technology. Additional information:  www.ee.stanford.edu

3.  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois provides students with degree programs in Electrical Engineering.  The ECE department’s mission is to serve society through excellence in education, research and public service.  Additional information:  www.ece.illinois.edu

4.  University of California, Berkeley

The University of California offers students single major undergraduate degrees for Electrical and Computer Engineering.  The program focuses on integrated circuitry, digital and analog circuits, CAD, electromagnetics and acoustics.  Additional information: www.eecs.berkeley.edu

5.  Georgia Institute of Technology

Undergraduates may either choose a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or a dual Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degree program.  The GIT ECE department’s vision is to lead in the creation and development of intellectual and human capital in electrical and computer engineering. Additional information:   www.ece.gatech.edu

6.  University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan provides undergraduate degree programs in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  Students may also apply to the “Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering” program.  Additional information:  www.eecs.umich.edu

7.  California Institute of Technology

CalTech offers Electrical Engineering degrees for undergraduates and prepares students to advance to graduate level studies or work in research and development industries. At the heart of CalTech’s mission is unwavering dedication to honor, integrity, equity, and diversity. Additional information:   www.ee2.caltech.edu

8.  Cornell University

Admissions applications are open to high school sophomores for student’s wishing to apply to the Cornell Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering undergraduate degree program.  Additional information:  www.ece.cornell.edu

9.  Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon has a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree program offered through its Electrical and Computer Engineering department. Studies focus on applied physics, circuits and systems, computer hardware and computer software.  Additional information:  www.ece.cmu.edu

10.  Purdue University – West Lafayette

Purdue University provides Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering.  Coursework concentrates on the design, implementation and operation of electronic and electrical systems, as well as included components.  Specializations are offered in bioengineering, circuitry, controls and electromagnetics.  Additional information:  www.engineering.purdue.edu/ECE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been ranked as the Number 1 engineering school for the last 130 years.  The coursework focuses on life sciences, physical sciences and mathematics, as well as heavy inclusion in independent research and projects.  Students will learn how to analyze, design and experiment, and work with devices and circuits, communications, signal, and electrodynamics and bioelectrical engineering.  MIT offers graduate degrees in the form of Sc.D., Ph.D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering.  Currently, graduate studies will cost approximates $36,000 per year.  Graduate enrollment in 2010 totaled 2700 students.  Graduate school admissions website:  http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/

Stanford University has officially been ranked Number 2 by the US News & World Report graduate school ranking system for schools providing the best electrical and mechanical engineering as well as computer science.  However Stanford has adopted the Number 1 slot awarded by the National Research Council’s latest study for top post-graduate degree programs in electrical engineering.  Electrical Engineering graduate students are required to pass almost 24 months worth of credits in engineering science and design.  Graduate studies cost $38,400 annually.  Approximately 3400 students were enrolled in electrical engineering graduate programs in 2010.  More information on the Stanford Engineering Deparment can be found here:  http://soe.stanford.edu/

Computer science and electrical engineering are combined into one major at the University of California-Berkeley.  Students apply problem solving and analytical skills both technically and electrically.  Team building, tool utilization and development and communication skills are all employed to assist students in their studies.  Students can also study specialties, such as electronics, networks and systems, communications or computer science.  Joint majors are also offered with Materials Science and Nuclear Engineering.   There is no charge for tuition for residents of the State of California.  Graduate students applying from other states are charged $15,000 per year.  Graduates number almost 2000.  Information on graduate studies:  http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/

The forth ranked school for graduate programs in Electrical Engineering is the Georgia Institute of Technology.  Georgia Tech offers many graduate degree programs in Electrical Engineering.  The two main paths of study are Electrical & Computer Engineering and Engineering Science & Mechanics. The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Engineering Department is currently executing a strategic plan.  The team was asked to identify strategies to ensure that the Engineering Department can provide their students with world class educational opportunities.   Full-time, in-state graduate students will pay almost $6000 per year, and out-of-state graduate students will be charged almost $24000 annually.  In 2010, 2,500 graduate students were enrolled.

1.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT was established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1861. High school seniors admitted to MIT have a GPA of 3.9.  ACT test scores ranged from 30-36 for 80% of the incoming freshman, and SAT scores ranked from 1400-1600 for 60% of the incoming freshman.  Undergraduates number approximately 4000.

MIT’s Electrical Engineering department is the largest of any divisions at the school.  EECS offers three separate undergraduate specialized programs and also provides highly discriminating doctorate programs. Its mission is to “produce graduates who are capable of taking a leadership position in the broad aspects of electrical engineering and computer science”.  For more information on MIT’s Department of EECS:  http://www.eecs.mit.edu/

2. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley ranks first nationally in the number of graduate programs in the top 10 in their fields. On the staff of the University of California Berkeley, there are a multitude of fellows and award winners, including Nobel, Pulitzer Prizes and MacArthur Fellows.  In 1869, the University of California first opened its doors, with its Berkeley campus beginning in 1873.  Its engineering program is ranked second overall in the nation.  The average GPA of an incoming freshman is 3.9.  SAT scores of over 40% of admitted high school seniors range from 1200-1299.  The student body of undergraduates is almost 23,000 annually.

U of C, Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering combines computer science with electrical engineering to provide strong research and instructional programs.  EECS of Berkeley’s mission is to “educate the future leaders in academia, government, industry and entrepreneurial pursuit, through a rigorous curriculum of theory and application that develops the ability to solve problems, individually and in teams”.  To view additional details on EECS:    http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/

3.  Stanford University

Stanford University was established in 1891 in western California.  With an overall ranking of 5th of all universities in the nation, Stanford serves as a leader in both research and education.  Incoming freshman have an average high school GPA of 2.9.  ACT scores range from 30-36 for over 60% of high school seniors admitted, and over 60% receive SAT scores of 1400-1600.  Approximately 6500 undergraduate freshman are admitted each year.

Stanford’s Electrical Engineering Department prepares provides students with technical knowledge, laboratory and design skills, communications skills, as well as prepares their students for further study and professional development. Stanford’s EE Department has a mission that “augments the liberal education expected of all Stanford undergraduates and imparts a basic understanding of electrical engineering built on a foundation of physical science, mathematics, computing, and technology”. Find more details on Stanford University’s Engineering Department at:  http://ee.stanford.edu/

The current average wage for a licensed electrician is $22.00 per hour.  The overall range for an electrician’s salary, based on experience, location and industry, ranges from $17.00 through $30.00 per hour. 

These salary ranges are largely defined by the duties and responsibilities of the electrician, the level of experience and the state in which they work.  However, the overall responsibilities can cross over both industries and specializations.  The broader range in the skill set of an electrician, the more likely they will be to secure a stable job, at higher pay, with better benefits.

Electricians, at a high level, are responsible for maintaining, assembling and installing electrical equipment and instruments.  They will need to understand and be able to use and apply a variety of hand tools and technical instruments. Certain types of electrical testing equipment may include voltmeters, ohmmeters and oscilloscopes.  Licensed electricians will also be required to ensure the safety of the devices connected to the testing equipment.

Whether working in commercial or residential buildings, electricians will need to have the ability to successfully identify and connect wires to circuit breakers.  They will also be responsible for inspecting electrical systems and appliances, based on state or local policies and regulations.

Additionally, journeymen electricians will prepare blueprints of wiring systems, and be required to read and interpret existing blueprints.  In the Information Technology industry, electricians may be asked to install coaxial or fiber optic cables, while working in a telecommunication department.

The following are the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States today, based on the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook of 2010.  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm#outlook

1.  Motor vehicle and parts manufacturing electricians make the highest average income, at about $30 per hour.

2.  Electricians working for electric power generation, transmission and distribution industries currently average $28 per hour.

3.  Local government electricians average $26 per hour.

4.  Electricians in the Information Technology industry can average $24 per hour.

5.  Commercial building contractors will hire electricians at an average hourly rate of $22.

6.  Electricians hired by building equipment contracts will earn approximately $22 per hour.

7.  General electrical work, cross industry will earn about $19 per hour.

8.  Employment services industries pay licensed electricians about $18 per hour.

9.  Electricians in the heavy construction industry, (barring highway work), will earn up to $18 per hour.

10.  Electricians working for plumbing, heating and air conditioning companies average $17 per hour.

After you have all your pertinent information gathered, follow these tips to assure your success in the application process.

1. Start the application process early.  Give yourself ample time for research and evaluation of schools, including offerings and programs and costs and scholarship information.  Interview past alumni if available.
2. Be accurate and thorough.  From the application, to the essay, through the interview.  Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors in your application and essay.  Be sure that all requested information is complete.  During your interview, answer questions honestly and thoroughly.
3. The essay may be the most important item to represent “you”.  Make sure you understand and follow the essay instructions entirely.  Include in your essay the reasons for selecting the school and your particular areas of expertise or interest. This will display your motivation for attending the school, your level of commitment, and the assets you can contribute to your learning center of choice.
4. Note any special interests that attract you to the school.  If there are specialized programs, or specific instructors you especially esteem, concisely mention them in your application.
5. Abbreviate personal information.  If asked to provide personal information, be concise and include only pertinent information.
6. Revise your work.  After you have a quality working draft, put it aside for a day or two.  Review your work with fresh eyes to flesh out any final revisions.  You may also ask a friend or relative to proof-read your work.

When submitted your application, be sure that documents are clean and without smudges or creases.  Do not staple or fold any materials provided.  Double check to ensure all items requested in the application instructions are included.  Mail all documents in a large envelope that enables paperwork to remain unfolded.  Place your cover letter on top, the application next and all subsequent or supporting documentation thereafter.

Once you’ve aced the application process, and you have been requested to come in for an interview, the interview is the next critical step in securing your admission to your school of choice.  Here are some additional tips to help you prepare for your personal meeting with your school of choice.

http://www.educationindex.net/educationarticles/collegesuniversitytips/admissionsgettingin/successful_interviews.html

Depending upon where you live, state and local governments may provide scholarship assistance.  Next, determine both the cost of the school you wish to attend, and your current financial situation.  While some scholarships are based on your current financial ability to pay for your schooling, others will supply financial assistance in certain personal circumstances. The “Scholarship Help” organization will assist you with beginning your evaluation process, guide you through applications and interviews, and give you a good understanding of what to expect overall:  http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/

Scholarships available for trade schools include the Sallie Mae Unmet Need Scholarship for those with incomes under $30,000 per year, and Coca-Cola Two Year Collages Scholarship granted to high school seniors enrolling in trade schools.  There are many scholarships available for those who wish to attend college.  Investigate athletic and academic scholarship opportunities provided by the college you wish to attend, as well as monies provided by private institutions, such as corporations, your local church, and your local government.

You may feel inundated with all the information and scholarships presented.  Before applying, evaluate each.  By evaluating your chances of receiving the award, the effort necessary to go through the application and interview process, and the expected return, you’ll be sure that your efforts are focused on that which will give you the greatest return on investment.

Once you have narrowed down your list, the application and the interview are your next steps.  Plan to spend ten or more hours completing each scholarship application.  You’ll need to gather information, complete the application and write an essay of your qualifications.  Some general tips:  ensure there are no typos in any materials, do not use staples and use an envelope that will not require folding.  Remember, you are selling yourself, and you only get once chance.  Applications will be reviewed, and if felt you are a good fit, you’ll be asked for a personal interview.  Be professional, mature and above all, accurate in both the application and interview process.

There are many resources available to assist you with your scholarship research and acquisition.  See the Free Scholarships Searches Page for more information http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm