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Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Other titles employers use
Electrical and Instrumentation Technician (E and I Technician) · Electrical Technician · Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Technician) · Instrumentation and Control Technician (I and C Technician) · Relay Technician · Substation Electrician · Substation Mechanic · Substation Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Reading Comprehension
- Operations Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.7 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.1 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 62%
- A two-year degree 28%
- High school or less 8%
- A four-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Compliance software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 4,370
- Job openings each year
- 390
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 12.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4,370 | 390 | 12.1% |
| New York | 3,360 | 20 | 5.7% |
| California | 1,800 | 150 | 12.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,630 | 130 | −3.6% |
| North Carolina | 1,610 | 140 | 7.3% |
| Michigan | 1,350 | 110 | −5.6% |
| Florida | 950 | 80 | 2.2% |
| Georgia | 880 | 70 | −2.2% |
| Virginia | 800 | 60 | −8.0% |
| Alabama | 680 | 60 | — |
| Tennessee | 570 | 50 | 9.6% |
| New Jersey | 510 | 40 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 490 | 40 | −3.9% |
| Missouri | 440 | 40 | — |
| Arizona | 410 | 30 | −2.4% |
| Oklahoma | 400 | 40 | 5.3% |
| Maryland | 360 | 30 | 2.9% |
| Colorado | 350 | 30 | — |
| Louisiana | 320 | 30 | −3.0% |
| Washington | 300 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Kentucky | 270 | 20 | — |
| Mississippi | 270 | 20 | — |
| Connecticut | 250 | 20 | −21.9% |
| Arkansas | 240 | 20 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 240 | 20 | — |
| Oregon | 230 | 20 | 4.5% |
| West Virginia | 220 | 20 | −8.3% |
| Indiana | 200 | 20 | −4.8% |
| Wisconsin | 190 | 10 | −13.6% |
| New Mexico | 180 | 20 | — |
| Alaska | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Kansas | 170 | 10 | −10.5% |
| Minnesota | 150 | 10 | −6.3% |
| South Carolina | 150 | 10 | — |
| Utah | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| New Hampshire | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| Guam | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| North Dakota | 120 | 10 | — |
| Iowa | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Montana | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Delaware | 80 | 10 | — |
| Massachusetts | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Nebraska | 80 | 10 | — |
| Nevada | 60 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 50 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 50 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 132
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Excelsior University
- Degrees each year
- 63
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 59
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
CUNY New York City College of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 51
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Texas Tech University
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Ferris State University
- Degrees each year
- 42
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 37
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Degrees each year
- 35
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Compare every college offering electrical/electronic engineering technologies/technicians