As with any other job, electricians can work in many different environments. There are those that work within residential areas and those that work solely in the commercial fields. While some of the training for both types of electricians is the same, there are many different things that each one needs to know in order to perform their job to the fullest of their abilities.

Residential Electricians

There are more residential electricians than any other type and there is a plethora of different projects that they can do. These electricians can be seen working inside homes, apartment buildings, condos, and other residential type buildings. Throughout the course of their career, they will install wires for ceiling fans, replace light fixtures, add lighting to an outdoor space or indoor room, and even run new wiring throughout older homes. A residential electrician can either work on their own or they can work for a company.

Commercial Electricians

A commercial electrician will work solely in offices, stores, and other types of commercial buildings. While they can be seen running wires and installing new lighting fixtures, other parts of their jobs include upgrades and troubleshooting entire electrical systems. These electricians normally work for companies and there are not too many that take the time to branch out on their own.

There are many different types of commercial electricians and they include industrial, installation, maintenance, sign, and many more. An industrial electrician will work inside factories and processing plants and they mainly specialize in large machines and manufacturing systems.

An installation electrician will focus on the electrical systems for new commercial buildings. They do the set up for all the electrical equipment, as well as the wiring for lights, heating, cooling, security systems, and much more. Some of these installation electricians will do work on the residential side too

Maintenance electricians can also work in both the residential and commercial fields and their focus is on the maintenance and repair of electrical systems. They will also do upgrades when needed. Most of the time, a private company will hire a commercial electrician as an employee to ensure that their electrical equipment and systems are always in working order.

A sign electrician specializes in signs, signal lights, outdoor lighting, and awnings. While some of these items can be found on commercial buildings, these electricians will also find themselves working on roads, airports, and other areas that have signs.

Now that you know the true roles between residential and commercial electricians, you will know who to hire for the job that you need completed. And if you have ever been interested in becoming an electrician, you will also have an idea of what type you would like to be.