Electrician
AI Impact Verdict: Electrician
Risk Level:LOW (35%)•Timeline:20+ years (highly protected)
This role has strong human-centric elements that are difficult to automate. While AI will change how work is done, the core responsibilities are likely to remain with humans.
Electrician faces a 35% AI displacement risk. This role has strong human-centric elements that are difficult to automate. The median salary is $62,350, with AI projected to shift compensation by +8%. Our analysis covers timeline, adaptation strategies, and skills that remain valuable.
Source: What About AI? Career Assessment ·
Construction & Skilled Trades
Human-Centric Role
Your Risk Without AI Skills
AI is starting to change how this job is done
AI isn't replacing jobs—people using AI are replacing people who don't
35%
SOME RISK
What this means: AI is starting to change how this job is done. Workers who learn AI tools now will have an advantage as the shift accelerates.
Full Replacement
18%probability
Complete job elimination risk
Timeline
20+ years (highly protected)
When major changes expected
Replaced By
Protected Role
Human connection required
Analysis updated February 2026
What Experts Say
"Train to be a plumber - physical trades safer."
"Some of the safest jobs are areas like being an electrician or a plumber."
"Salaries have gone up nearly double - six-figure salaries for people building chip factories."
"This initiative with Google and our partners at NECA and the Electrical Training Alliance will bring more than 100,000 sorely needed electricians into the trade to meet the demands of an AI-driven surge in data centers and power generation."
"What you're going to see is the value of the field technician increase dramatically. AI will give technicians more time to focus on solving real problems."
AI Impact Overview
This role has strong human-centric elements that are difficult to automate. While AI will change how work is done, the core responsibilities are likely to remain with humans.
Electrician Salary & AI Impact on Pay
Compensation Overview
$62,350
Median Annual Salary (2024)
$39,430$106,030
10th percentile90th percentile
+8%Upward pressure from AI
AI data center construction is creating unprecedented demand for electricians. Google alone committed $10M to train 100,000 new electricians. The severe labor shortage combined with AI-infrastructure-driven demand is pushing wages significantly upward.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage StatisticsJob Growth: +9% (2024-2034)
Electrician Task Breakdown: What AI Can & Can't Do
AI Can Handle
- Load calculation and circuit designAI software calculates electrical loads, wire sizing, breaker schedules, and panel layouts from building plans, reducing hours of manual calculation.Trimble MEPAutodesk Revit MEP
- Electrical estimating and biddingAI analyzes blueprints to auto-generate material lists, labor estimates, and competitive bid pricing, replacing manual takeoff processes.Procore AITogal.AIConEst
- Predictive maintenance schedulingIoT sensors combined with AI monitor electrical systems for degradation patterns, predicting failures and scheduling maintenance before outages occur.Schneider Electric EcoStruxureABB Ability
Human + AI Together
- Smart building system integrationAI manages building automation logic, but electricians install, wire, configure, and troubleshoot the physical sensors, controllers, and network infrastructure that make smart buildings function.
- Thermal imaging diagnosticsAI-equipped thermal cameras automatically flag hot spots in electrical panels and wiring. Electricians interpret the results in context and perform the physical repairs safely.
- EV charger and renewable energy hookupsAI tools optimize charger placement and load balancing across a facility. Electricians execute the physical high-voltage installations, panel upgrades, and code-compliant wiring.
Uniquely Human
- Troubleshooting in existing structuresDiagnosing electrical problems in older buildings with undocumented wiring, mixed-era panels, and non-standard configurations requires intuition, experience, and physical access to concealed spaces.
- Live electrical work and safety judgmentWorking with energized circuits, managing arc flash risks, and ensuring worker safety in confined or hazardous environments demands real-time human judgment that cannot be delegated to AI.
- Code interpretation and inspector coordinationNavigating local code variations, coordinating with inspectors, and making judgment calls on code-compliant solutions for unique situations requires human expertise and professional relationships.
Past 3 Years
- Smart home installations surged 340% since 2022, creating new demand for electricians skilled in IoT device integration and home automation systems
- AI-powered diagnostic tools like Fluke and Milwaukee's connected instruments began helping electricians identify faults faster, reducing troubleshooting time by up to 40%
- Electric vehicle charger installations became a major growth area, with the IRA incentives driving a 200% increase in residential and commercial EV infrastructure projects
2-5 Year Outlook
- By 2027, nearly every new home will require smart panel installation, making electrical work more complex but also more valuable and harder to automate
- AI will enhance but not replace electricians - expect augmented reality glasses that overlay wiring diagrams and real-time code compliance checks during installations
- The skilled electrician shortage will intensify, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 73,500 annual openings through 2032, driving wages upward for qualified professionals
Research-Backed Timeline for Electrician
2025-2028Research
AI data center construction drives a 9.5% surge in electrician employment. The IBEW targets bringing 100,000+ new electricians into the trade specifically for AI infrastructure.
Source: CSIS / International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
2025-2030Research
Electrician demand grows 9% overall with 81,000 annual openings, as AI infrastructure, EV charging, and renewable energy installations compound on top of baseline construction needs.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
By 2030Expert Estimate
Smart building systems become standard in new commercial construction, requiring electricians to develop IT networking and building automation skills alongside traditional wiring expertise.
Source: McKinsey Global Institute
Adaptation Strategies
- 1Get certified in EV charger installation (EVITP certification) - this specialty commands 25-40% premium rates and positions you for the inevitable EV infrastructure boom
- 2Master smart home ecosystems (Lutron, Control4, Savant) to become the go-to expert for high-end residential work where automation complexity increases your value
- 3Adopt mobile diagnostic apps and AI-assisted troubleshooting tools now - electricians who leverage technology complete jobs 30% faster and win more bids
- 4Build direct relationships with solar installers and HVAC contractors for referral networks - bundled smart home services are becoming the norm for new construction
Companies Already Using AI in Electrician Roles
Google / Electrical Training Alliance2025
Google committed $10 million to the Electrical Training Alliance (IBEW/NECA) to train 100,000 electricians and 30,000 new apprentices to meet AI data center power demands.
Aims to boost the U.S. pipeline of qualified electricians by 70% by the end of the decade, directly driven by AI infrastructure build-out.
Source: Google / IBEW / Cybernews
Schneider Electric2024
Deploys EcoStruxure AI-powered electrical distribution monitoring across commercial buildings and data centers, enabling predictive maintenance of electrical infrastructure.
Reduces unplanned electrical downtime by up to 50% and extends equipment life. Electricians shift from reactive repairs to proactive, data-informed maintenance.
Source: Schneider Electric
Deep Dives: Podcasts & Guides
GuideJan 2026
The AIxiety Pivot: Why Gen Z Is Abandoning Tech Careers for Skilled Trades
62% of Gen Z believe AI could replace their jobs. Now they're making a surprising move: abandoning tech for construction, plumbing, and electrical work. Here's why—and what you should actually do.
Read Guide
PodcastFeb 2026
The AI Arms Race: Which Tool to Use?
Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Grok. The honest breakdown for professionals.
Listen Now
PodcastFeb 2026
The AI Hiring Arms Race
Why your AI resume isn't working and the human-first strategies that actually get you hired.
Listen Now
JAAI Strategy Consultant • Updated 2026
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