3 Careers For Electricians Who Enjoy Helping The Environment

If you love doing your part to help the environment and are looking to start a new career, then a career as an electrician may be perfect for you — the green energy sector is continuously growing and in need of electricians. However, you can take the opportunity to educate clients on green energy options that help the environment and help them save money, no matter what career path you pursue as an electrician.

Read on to learn about three careers in renewable energy perfect for electricians who love helping out the environment.

1. Solar Panel Installation Expert

In the last decade, the solar energy sector has grown by an average of 68 percent each and every year. Homeowners all over the country are installing solar panels on their roofs to harness energy from the sun to power their homes, using solar energy to heat their swimming pools, and even using solar energy to power their water heaters.

Businesses today are also relying on solar energy to save money and reduce their carbon footprints. Just a few of the large businesses going solar include Target and Apple, and smaller businesses are sure to follow suit soon.

Employment in solar energy grew by an astounding 123 percent between the years of 2010 and 2015 and is expected to keep on growing. Once you become an electrician, you can learn how to install solar panels and other solar energy-harnessing devices and begin a career in solar energy. There are currently over 9,000 solar energy companies in each US state, and the average solar panel installation expert is paid about $15 to $20 an hour.

2. Wind Turbine Electrician

Another green energy sector that is in need of experienced electricians is the wind power industry. Like solar power, wind energy is also a great source of “green” energy. In just the last 10 years, the United States wind industry has invested $143 billion dollars in new wind projects.

Electricians can work in the wind power industry as wind turbine electricians. As a wind turbine electrician, your duties will include assembling and wiring wind turbine assemblies, along with performing regular maintenance on them to keep them running smoothly.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 96 percent increase in the need for wind turbine electricians, also called “wind turbine technicians,” in the next decade, which is much faster than average growth in a career field. The average wind turbine electrician salary is just over $53,000 a year.

3. Hydroelectric Plant Electrician

Hydroelectricity is not a new source of green energy, but is the most widely used source of renewable energy in the United States and is responsible for 16 percent of all power produced in the world. Since hydroelectric power plants produce electricity by harnessing the energy created by flowing water, it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions when it reduces the need for electricity produced by traditional power plants that burn fossil fuels

There are currently hydroelectric power stations in 34 US states, and all hydroelectric power stations need electricians. Hydroelectric plant electricians install and repair power plant electrical components and perform regular maintenance on the components.

The United States Department of Labor predicts good growth in the hydroelectric power plant job industry and the average salary of a hydroelectric plant electrician can range from $32,000 to $71,000 a year.

If you would like to begin a new career and love helping the environment whenever you can, then consider training for a career as an electrician by enrolling in the electrician apprenticeship program offered by the Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater Cincinnati. You can then become a certified electrician ready to work in the green energy industry.