Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Also called: 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, Substation Wireman, Wireman, Apparatus Lineman, Corrosion Control Fitter, Corrosion Technician, Electrical Maintenance Mechanic, Electrical Test Technician (Electrical Test Tech), Field Electronics Tech (Field Electronics Technician), Field Technician (Field Tech), Gear Technician, Generating Station Mechanic, Generator Mechanic, Inside Wireman, Instrumentation Fitter, Lineman, Maintenance Technician, Meter Craftsman, Meter Technician, Motor Room Controller, On Site Service Tech (On Site Service Technician), Power Generation Technician (Power Generation Tech), Power Systems Technician (Power Systems Tech), Power Transformer Repairer, Powerhouse Electrician, Powerhouse Mechanic, Protective Relay Technician, Relay Craftsman, Relay Engineer, Relay Operator, Service Technician (Service Tech), Test Technician, Transformer Repairer, Transmission Technician (Transmission Tech)

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.

Skills, machines and equipment

Critical Thinking
Equipment Maintenance
Repairing
Troubleshooting
Reading Comprehension
Operations Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Active Listening
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Monitoring
Judgment and Decision Making

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (50.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

81,860–118,870 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 49-2095.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Build troubleshooting, preventive-maintenance, and controls experience; explore senior technician, maintenance planning, or lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate (50.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay