Career Overview
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Also Known As
- Relay Technician
- Substation Electrician
- Substation Technician
- Wireman
Alternate Job Titles
- Apparatus Lineman
- Corrosion Control Fitter
- Corrosion Technician
- Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician)
- Electrical Maintenance Mechanic
- Electrical Technician
- Electrical Test Technician (Electrical Test Tech)
- Field Electronics Tech (Field Electronics Technician)
- Field Technician (Field Tech)
- Gear Technician
- Generating Station Mechanic
- Generator Mechanic
- Inside Wireman
- Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Technician)
- Instrumentation and Control Technician (I and C Technician)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Calibrate instruments, such as transmitters.
- Use drones for inspection of high-voltage lines and other hard-to-reach equipment.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- Physics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Finger Dexterity
- Visual Color Discrimination
- Control Precision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Adjustable pin spanner wrenches
- Alternating current AC electric welders
- Analog ohmmeters
- Bearing pullers
- Bench ammeters
- Bench drills
- Bench vises
- Bench voltmeters
- Clamp ammeters
- Diagonal cutting electronics pliers
- Digital micrometers
- Digital multimeters
- Digital ohmmeters
- Digital oscilloscopes
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $60,820 |
| Median | $100,940 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $127,970 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 23,040
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.