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Electrical engineering technician Green Job

Electrical engineering technicians install, repair and maintain electrical equipment, systems and controls.

Annual Salary

£24,000 to £48,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

40 to 42 a week

You could work: on call; as customers demand

0.5%
Future employment

There will be 0.5% more Electrical engineering technician jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

Depending on where you work as an electrical engineering technician, you could:

  • install turbines, switchgear and power lines
  • service traffic lights, street lights and motorway signs
  • assemble, fit and repair drives, motors and programmable logic control (PLC) panels
  • upgrade rail and signalling systems
  • fix electrical faults in machines and carry out safety inspections
  • install and maintain lights, heating, lifts and escalators

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For an electrical engineering technician to be a green job, you could:

  • install and maintain renewable technologies like wind turbines and heat pumps
  • use environmentally friendly materials like biodegradable or recyclable plastics
  • follow industry standards to make sure you are working in an environmentally responsible way

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work in a workshop, in an office, at a power station or in a factory.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
University

You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in electrical and electronic engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You can take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for the job and may help you to find a trainee position with a company.

Relevant courses include:

  • electrical installation
  • electrical and electronic engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
  • T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You can apply for an advanced apprenticeship to become a technician. Apprenticeships include:

  • Installation and Maintenance Level 3
  • Engineering Technician Level 3
  • Power Industry Substation Fitter Level 3

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

You can apply directly for jobs if you have relevant experience and qualifications. For example, from electrical, electronic, power or building services engineering.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in electrical engineering through Tomorrow's Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

More information

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With experience, you could:move into leadership, managing a team of technicians; become self employed as an electrical sub contractor; take on electrical design work; train more to qualify as an electrical engineer; become a building service engineer or facilities manager

For other roles linked to Electrical Engineering Technician, employers such as SSE have roles as an Electrical Power Engineer and Craft Apprenticeships: Linesperson, Electrical Fitter, Electrical Jointer, Electrical Engineering.

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Electrical Engineering Technicians are needed to work on the installation and maintenance of renewable energy technology, including wind turbines, heat pumps and solar panels across the West of England.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • Maths, Sciences A-levels
  • T Level Engineering and Manufacturing or Construction: Electrical Installation
  • Level 1-2 Electrical Installation at SGS College

Click here to find a local provider

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 3 Electrical, electronic product service and installation engineer
  • Level 3 Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

Examples of post-18 courses you could study at local higher education providers

Click here to search for other university courses

For more information on the different routes you can take to get into working in engineering, take a look at the 'Routes into this job' section above. 

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Local employers 

  • Jacobs
  • EDF

For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

Video stories related to this job

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • knowledge of maths
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • analytical thinking skills
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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