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Electric Utilities
Exelon, Duke Energy, Southern Company
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
These technicians keep power plants, substations, and protective relays working by finding faults, testing circuits, and fixing failed components before equipment goes out of service. The job is distinct because the work is both hands-on and highly technical: a lot depends on reading diagrams, using meters, and understanding how a small failure can affect an entire electrical system. The tradeoff is that the pay is strong, but the environment can be risky and the work is tied to specialized sites and equipment that are not available everywhere.
Also known as Substation Relay TechnicianPowerhouse Electrical RepairerProtection and Control TechnicianElectrical Equipment Repair TechnicianRelay and Substation Technician
Median Salary
$100,940
Mean $97,460
U.S. Workforce
~23K
2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.5%
23.4K to 24.7K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~23K workers, with a median annual pay of $100,940 and roughly 2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 23.4 K in 2024 to 24.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Postsecondary certificate in electrical technology or power systems, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Electrical Helper and can progress toward Lead Relay Technician. High-value skills usually include Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, and Repairing, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Test relays, breakers, cables, and circuits with electrical meters to figure out what is failing.
- Compare readings with manuals, wiring diagrams, and schematics to pinpoint the source of a problem.
- Take equipment in and out of service by opening and closing switches, then adjust or replace damaged parts.
- Repair and clean components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators so the system can run correctly.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Test relays, breakers, cables, and circuits with electrical meters to figure out what is failing.
02 Compare readings with manuals, wiring diagrams, and schematics to pinpoint the source of a problem.
03 Take equipment in and out of service by opening and closing switches, then adjust or replace damaged parts.
04 Repair and clean components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators so the system can run correctly.
05 Run signal and connectivity checks on cables and record whether the results are within spec.
06 Keep spare parts stocked and write up what was tested, repaired, and maintained.
Industries That Hire
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Power Generation
NextEra Energy, NRG Energy, Dominion Energy
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Public Power and Municipal Utilities
Salt River Project, Seattle City Light, CPS Energy
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Industrial Manufacturing
GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Schneider Electric
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Rail and Transit Infrastructure
Amtrak, BNSF Railway, Union Pacific
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a hands-on trade, with a median annual wage of $100,940 and a mean of $97,460.
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You can qualify with a postsecondary nondegree award, so the usual path does not require a four-year degree.
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The work is specialized and technical, which can make your skills valuable in power plants and substations.
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The occupation is expected to grow by 5.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 2.0 thousand annual openings.
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A lot of the job is practical problem-solving, so you are fixing real equipment instead of doing repetitive desk work.
Challenges
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The field is small, with only about 23,040 jobs now, so openings can be limited compared with larger trades.
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Growth is only 5.5% over 10 years, which is steady but not fast for a technical occupation.
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The work can be dangerous because it involves energized equipment, switching operations, and high-voltage systems.
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Advancement can level off unless you move into lead, supervisory, or engineering-adjacent roles, so the career ladder is narrower than in larger industries.
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Jobs are tied to specific utility and industrial sites, which can limit where you live and make it harder to switch employers without relocating.
Career Progression
Electrical Helper
0-2 years
$40K-$55K
Supports senior technicians by moving tools, setting up test gear, and learning safety rules and site procedures.
Relay Technician Apprentice
2-4 years
$55K-$75K
Starts handling routine checks, basic troubleshooting, and simple repairs while working under close supervision.
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$95K-$112K
Works more independently to diagnose failures, repair equipment, test systems, and document work in power facilities.
Lead Relay Technician
8-12 years
$112K-$135K
Oversees more complex outages, checks other technicians' work, and helps coordinate repairs across a site.
Education Paths
Postsecondary certificate in electrical technology or power systems
This is the most common path, with 50.33% of workers reporting a post-secondary certificate as their highest level of education.
Associate degree in electrical engineering technology
A common route for workers in this field, held by 27.91% of workers in the education distribution.
High school diploma plus utility apprenticeship or nondegree training
This is a less common path, but 8.18% of workers report a high school diploma as their highest education, usually paired with extensive hands-on training.
Some college courses with employer-sponsored training or certification
Another alternative path, used by 11.19% of workers, especially when combined with practical training in electrical systems.
Key Skills
Technical
Critical Thinking 69%
Equipment Maintenance 66%
Repairing 66%
Troubleshooting 63%
Relay Test Sets, Multimeters & Power Quality Meters 60%
Electrical Schematics, Wiring Diagrams & One-Line Diagrams 58%
Operations Monitoring 56%
Quality Control Analysis & Test Documentation 56%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningAttention to DetailSafety AwarenessTeamwork Job Outlook and Trends
+5.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 23.4K to 24.7 K over the next decade, representing 5.5% growth. Around 2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.