Electricians come in all kinds of roles, from residential to commercial, and each has their own skillset and areas they typically work in. Commercial electricians are an important part of a business's team as they help keep the building safe and up to code. It's up to everyone else to maintain the proper power usage, however. In fact, idle power is a major energy consumer, with the average desktop computer using around 80 watts of power when turned off. According to Electric Choice, approximately 75% of the power used in most American homes is actually used when products are turned off.

What is a Commercial Electrician?

Simply put, a commercial electrician is any trained and licensed electrician who focuses on the wiring and electrical systems in commercial buildings rather than residential houses. While commercial electricians typically work with much larger systems than residential electricians, much of the training remains the same. That said, there are some important distinctions to keep in mind if you're considering a career as an electrician.

What Do Commercial Electricians Do?

Commercial electricians install, inspect, repair, and otherwise maintain electrical systems in commercial buildings. They may install and maintain components like wall switches, diagnose and address problems with wiring, read and refer to technical drawings, and train apprentices.

How Do I Become a Commercial Electrician?

Many states have separate licensing requirements for residential and commercial electricians, since the wiring in commercial buildings is often different from what it would be in a smaller residential building. While power to residential places is one-phase, power to larger commercial buildings is three-phase, and commercial electricians must be properly trained to work with these differences.

As with residential electrician training, you will need a certain number of hours of training in a classroom, as well as on-the-job training and work experience. Some training programs keep residential and commercial training separate, while others train both to a certain point. In order to become a licensed commercial electrician, you'll often need to have a certain number of work hours in a commercial setting before you can pass your training course.

The Bottom Line

A commercial electrician is specifically trained to work on the electrical systems in larger commercial buildings rather than smaller residential ones. In order to become a commercial electrician, you will need specialized training and a certain number of work hours spent in commercial environments.