With a national median of $103,020 and +5.5% projected job growth through 2034, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Also known as:
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay earn $103,020 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,860 and $118,870. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects +5.5% employment change for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 2,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $103,020 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 2,930 | $100,440 | -2.5% |
| 2 | Texas | 2,450 | $94,940 | -7.8% |
| 3 | California | 1,880 | $117,850 | +14.4% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 1,280 | $95,930 | -6.9% |
| 5 | Ohio | 1,210 | $101,020 | -1.9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 29,904 | — | 635 |
| 2 | Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 8,331 | $84,599 | 572 |
| 3 | Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 7,979 | — | 384 |
| 4 | Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | 1,230 | $85,557 | 222 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 2 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| 3 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 4 | Turtle Mountain College Belcourt, ND | 88 | $3,428 | $32,079 |
| 5 | Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TX | 88 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| 6 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA | 86 | $1,164 | $30,364 |
Once you've sized up Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Strong earnings and growing demand make Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
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