National Occupational Classification (NOC): 72202
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Apprentice power system electrician
- Electrical powerhouse electrician
- Electrician - electricity production
- Power electrician
- Power station electrician
- Power system electrician
- Powerhouse electrician - electrical power system
- Relay tester and maintainer - electrical power system
- Substation electrician - electrical power system
- Voltage regulator maintainer - electrical power system
What do power system electricians do?
Power system electricians install, maintain, test and repair electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system equipment and apparatus. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Power system electricians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Install and maintain electrical power distribution equipment such as transformers, generators, voltage regulators, switches, circuit breakers, capacitors, inductors, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems
- Install and maintain electrical equipment and apparatus in generating stations or powerhouses
- Inspect and test installed electrical equipment and apparatus to locate electrical faults and check their operation, using volt meters, ammeters and other electrical test instruments and equipment
- Repair or replace faulty electrical equipment and apparatus
- Complete test and maintenance reports.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Power system electricians work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 221 Utilities
- 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction
- 238 Specialty trade contractors
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
An employment outlook is not available for this occupation due to low levels of employment in the province.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Power system electricians belong to the broader occupational group 72201, 72202 (Industrial and power system electricians). This group is forecast to be tightening (rating of 3.0 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there was 1 public job posting for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 0% | Western: 0% |
| Eastern: 0% | Labrador: 100% |
| Central: 0% | NL-unspecified: 0% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as power system electricians in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 120 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 100% of those employed were Male+ and 0% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 0% | 71% | 21% | 8% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do power system electricians make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all power system electricians in the reference year 2020 (135 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $116,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for power system electricians in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | N/A | $52.41 | N/A |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $29.00 | $44.57 | $57.69 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Electric power systems
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program for power system electricians
or
A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required. - Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Manitoba, Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.
Links
- National Occupational Classification
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2022
- Job Bank – Explore Careers by Occupation
- Department of Finance – Occupation Projections
- Statistics Canada – Census 2021
- Percentages for some occupations may not equal 100% due to Statistics Canada’s use of random rounding procedures for subcategories of age (a confidentiality procedure used to prevent the possibility of associating statistical data with any identifiable individual).