Substation Electrician

A Substation Electrician/Mechanic Journeyman has a working knowledge of substation construction, operation, maintenance and repair practices and procedures. They install, maintain, test, adjust, troubleshoot and repair substation equipment. They operate substation equipment, perform switching, take clearances and install personal protective grounds. They perform testing on substation apparatus such as power factor, transformer turns ratio, megger, ductor, battery load testing, oil sampling, dielectric testing, SF6 gas sampling and processing and other analytical tests as assigned.

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PAY SCALE

$94,670 in Washington,
$82,780 in U.S. through 2028

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EDUCATION

Associate or College Degree

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JOBS AVAILABLE

30 in Washington,
2,100 in U.S. through 2026

Education & Training

CAREER PATH

After completing the apprenticeship program, one becomes a Journey Level Substation Electrician/Mechanic. From this position, a person can move into a Dispatch role or can bid into an Instrument Control Specialist position which is an advanced position that requires two-years of additional training.

EMPLOYERS

The types of employers for this position are utility companies.

TRAINING

Completion of Substation Electrician Apprenticeship or its equivalent. (Apprenticeship programs may vary by state and by employer but typically consist of 2000 hours on the job plus 144 hours of related classroom instruction each year for three to four years.) Utility companies may provide the 144 hours of training per year that is required for apprentices and is offered off-the-job. For journey level workers, training is generally provided as needed to keep current on new equipment, procedures and safety.