Electricians Among Hudson Valley's Top Job Titles

NEW PALTZ, NY — Electricians were ranked No. 5 on the state Department of Labor's recently released list of the Hudson Valley's Top Five Trending Jobs for 2017, coming in behind biochemists and biophysicists at No. 4; accountants and auditors at No. 3; registered nurses at No. 2; and physical therapists at No. 1.

With an above-average wage of $58,520 and a high likelihood of continued growth in the Hudson Valley through the end of 2017, electricians were determined to be the fifth-highest top trending job title as a result of survey data analysis and regional need projections performed by labor market experts.

Electricians are, by basic definition, individuals who perform electrical installations and maintenance in residences, commercial buildings and various other settings, according to ExploreTheTrades.org.

"On most projects, the electrician is responsible for getting the electricity from the source to where it is needed in various parts of the building," the website noted. "To achieve this without endangering the public, he or she must have a good working knowledge of the relevant electric codes as well as the ability to translate the electrical systems from the blueprints into actual practice."

Most states required electricians to be licensed, and the majority of electricians learn their trade through formally arranged apprenticeships while others acquire their knowledge in vocational trade school, according to ExploreTheTrades.org.

Find and post local jobs on the Jobs Board on Mid Hudson Valley Patch.

Not only is the electrical trade on the upswing in the Hudson Valley, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that more than 114,700 new electrician jobs will have been created between 2010 and 2020, a well above-average increase of 20 percent.

Many electricians also choose to join a union, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). According to BLS statistics cited by the IBEW, union electricians make an average of $10.62 per hour more than non-unionized counterparts, or $37.69 as compared to a non-union rate of $27.07.

Here are some local job postings for electricians throughout the Hudson Valley:

Commercial electrician in Dobbs Ferry

Mechanical/electrical technician in Buchanan

Electrician in New Paltz

Electrical and mechanical technician in Middletown

Part-time electrician in Harriman

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons by Tomwsulcer