Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay earn a median of $103,020 per year ($49.53/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 9.7% through 2035, with about 1,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 49-2095
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay in four numbers
- Median pay
- $103,020a year, or $49.53/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $66KTop 10% $130K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,80020,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202520.9K
- Projected 203522.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 20.9K Projected 2035 22.9K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school8.2%
- Certificate50.3%
- Some college11.2%
- Associate's27.9%
- Bachelor's2.4%
Highest education held by electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay Segment Value High school 8.2% Certificate 50.3% Some college 11.2% Associate's 27.9% Bachelor's 2.4%
Also advertised as: 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.
Pay
How much do Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay make?
Every electrical and electronics repairer, powerhouse, substation, and relay in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$103,020
Middle half earn $81,860 to $118,870
- 10th
- $65,730
- 25th
- $81,860
- 75th
- $118,870
- 90th
- $129,920
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,730 |
| 25th | $81,860 |
| Median | $103,020 |
| 75th | $118,870 |
| 90th | $129,920 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $103,020
- Median hourly wage
- $49.53/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $100,760
- People employed
- 20,720
Versus all US occupations
At $103,020, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay earn 102% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $52,040 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 68% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $129,920 or more while the bottom 10% earn $65,730, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 77% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oregon pays the most at $131,050, and still leads at $126,789 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oregon | $131,050 | $126,789 | 170 |
| 2Hawaii | $127,330 | $115,806 | 70 |
| 3Washington | $125,620 | $117,388 | 410 |
| 4Colorado | $125,560 | $121,841 | 210 |
| 5Alaska | $125,260 | $122,373 | 80 |
| 6California | $121,520 | $109,754 | 1,680 |
| 7Massachusetts | $119,460 | $112,957 | 430 |
| 8Idaho | $119,170 | $124,793 | 100 |
| 9Maryland | $117,760 | $112,196 | N/A |
| 10Utah | $114,250 | $115,563 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | +9.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay to change 9.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.8× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,800 openings are projected each year, 8.6% of the 20,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of electrical and electronics installers and repairers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 8,900 openings for electrical and electronics installers and repairers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of electrical and electronics installers and repairers varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers typically need at least a high school education, but most specializations require further preparation through a combination of advanced education, on-the-job training, or work experience.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay.
- Post-Secondary Certificate50.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree27.9%
- Some College Courses11.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)8.2%
- Bachelor's Degree2.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 50.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 27.9% |
| Some College Courses | 11.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 8.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay do?
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install, adjust, or maintain or repair a variety of electrical and electronic equipment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
- 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.
- Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
- Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
- 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.
- Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most electrical and electronics installers and repairers work full time. Some may need to be on call during evenings or weekends for emergency repairs.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.4
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Science2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Science | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Equipment Maintenance3.6
- Repairing3.6
- Troubleshooting3.5
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.6 |
| Repairing | 3.6 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Compliance software
- Industrial control software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional5.3
- Investigative3.5
- Enterprising1.3
- Social1.1
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
$74,090median a year
Most earn $47K to $106K
+0.3%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer, Except Mechanical Door
$74,340median a year
Most earn $46K to $113K
+4.3%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
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$84,890median a year
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+5.4%Certificate - Architecture and Engineering
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+2.4%Associate's - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
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+4.4%High school - Production
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay highlighted
- Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$103,020
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay appears on
Questions
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: frequently asked questions
How much do Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay make?
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay earn a median of $103,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 102% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $49.53/hr. The middle half earn between $81,860 and $118,870. The top 10% earn $129,920 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.3% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay do?
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install, adjust, or maintain or repair a variety of electrical and electronic equipment. A core O*NET task: consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay the most?
The highest state medians for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay are Oregon ($131,050), Hawaii ($127,330), Washington ($125,620) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay?
O*NET scores Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.