72201 – Industrial electricians
Lead statement
Industrial electricians install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Read and interpret drawings, blueprints, schematics and electrical code specifications to determine layout of industrial electrical equipment installations
- Install, examine, replace or repair electrical wiring, receptacles, switch boxes, conduits, feeders, fibre-optic and coaxial cable assemblies, lighting fixtures and other electrical components
- Test electrical and electronic equipment and components for continuity, current, voltage and resistance
- Maintain, repair, install and test switchgear, transformers, switchboard meters, regulators and reactors
- Maintain, repair, test and install electrical motors, generators, alternators, industrial storage batteries and hydraulic and pneumatic electrical control systems
- Troubleshoot, maintain and repair industrial, electrical and electronic control systems and other related devices
- Conduct preventive maintenance programs and keep maintenance records
- May install, maintain and calibrate industrial instrumentation and related devices.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four- or five-year industrial electrician apprenticeship program ora combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in industrial electrical equipment is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for industrial electricians is compulsory in Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Manitoba and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia and the Yukon.
- Additional construction electrician certification may be required for industrial electricians when the employers are not owners of the industrial electrical equipment.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified industrial electricians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
apprentice industrial electrician · industrial electrician apprentice · apprentice marine electrician · diesel electrician - railway · electric signal repairer - railway · electrical repairer - crane maintenance · industrial electrical repairer · machine shop electrical repairer · industrial electrician · ship's electrician · plant maintenance electrician · electrician - rail transport · shipyard electrician · industrial electrician lead hand · journeyman/woman industrial electrician · maintenance electrician - industrial · marine electrician · marine wireman/woman · mill electrician · mine electrician · plant electrician · railway signal installer · railway signal maintainer · rig electrician · ship's electrician - shipbuilding and repair · ship's electrician - water transport · marine equipment electrician
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $28.00 | $42.00 | $54.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $26.00 | $43.26 | $58.10 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
| New Brunswick | $28.75 | $42.00 | $59.62 |
| Quebec | $24.80 | $43.00 | $48.00 |
| Ontario | $29.00 | $40.50 | $48.00 |
| Manitoba | $27.00 | $40.50 | $48.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $38.00 | $49.00 | $57.78 |
| Alberta | $25.00 | $44.00 | $68.00 |
| British Columbia | $35.90 | $45.00 | $54.95 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.