Service Technician Career Paths in NJ and PA

In many ways, electricity runs modern life. It lights homes and workplaces, enables the digital landscape, and powers communities. Service technicians who are versed in electronics are employed throughout the United States economy. They make a big difference in people’s lives, whether they are restoring heat to a cold home or helping a computer system get back online.

If you enjoy hands-on work that requires troubleshooting and problem-solving, consider applying to the electrician program at Pennco Tech, serving students in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This trade school program is offered at both of our campus locations in Blackwood, NJ, and Bristol, PA.

What Do Service Technicians Do?

With such a diversity of potential workplaces and functions for electrical technicians, the roles they play on the job vary. Spanning residential, commercial, and industrial environments, service technicians must adhere to safety practices on the job, as well as look out for the safety of everyone who works with electrical systems.

Some service technicians may draft electrical schematics, while others spend most of their work time testing, troubleshooting, and repairing electrical devices and machinery. Still, other electrical service technicians assemble electronic parts or work intensively with control circuitry for lights and machinery in a factory setting.

These highly trained professionals often need customer service skills, especially when visiting people in their homes to make repairs. They all need dexterity and the ability to think analytically about electrical problems. Duties performed by electrical service technicians include:

• Identifying problems and proposing solutions for electronic malfunctions
• Discussing electrical problems and solutions with customers
• Testing and inspecting electrical equipment, including diagnosing issues
• Keeping accurate records of electrical parts, repairs, tests, and labor hours
• Assembling, disassembling, repairing, cleaning, and improving electrical instruments, including calibration and testing
• Gathering information related to the design of electrical systems
• Reading technical diagrams and blueprints and understanding specifications
• Constructing electrical systems, circuits, wiring, motors, and distribution panels
• Performing quality control operations on electrical designs to make reports and recommendations
• Testing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing a wide variety of electronic systems

Career Options for Service Technicians

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for electrical and electronics installers and repairers, as well as for job growth for electronic engineering technologists and technicians, is holding steady. Projections for employment through 2031 show between 9,900 and 11,100 open positions per year. America’s aging population is moving toward retirement, and this creates job openings.

The median salary for electrical and electronics installers and repairers in May 2021 ranged from $40,670 to $93,420, depending on the service technician’s area of specialization. After initial training, and as service technicians gain experience, they can progress in learning, knowledge, and any required licensing for job advancement. Higher rates of pay were recorded in electrical service technician jobs in utilities, government agencies, and manufacturing in May 2021.

Career paths for electricians are plentiful, and as they identify key aptitudes and areas of interest, their options may grow. These opportunities include making repairs on electric motors and power tools, as well as larger-scale industrial controls and transmitters. They may focus on transportation equipment, including functions such as navigation, surveillance, ships, and trains. Others may prefer working on power substations, or with relay systems at generating stations. Service technician career paths can lead to various titles, such as maintenance technician, electrical engineering technician, and project manager.

Quality Training for Service Technicians at Pennco Tech

Students in the 26-week-long electrician program at Pennco Tech receive thorough preparation for starting a career in this exciting technology field. With both classroom teaching and a stick-house lab facility for gaining hands-on experience, our expert instructors give students personalized attention and guidance. Students learn with the most up-to-date information, including publications, software, and other resources.

The curriculum includes the fundamentals and theories of electrical wiring, along with instruction on the physics and chemistry knowledge needed to perform well in the electrical technology field. With instruction in shop math, the use of hand and power tools, reading electrical blueprints, and motor functions, Pennco Tech students are ready for entry-level positions in the real world.

In addition to working directly in electronics in the labs and classroom learning experiences, students receive Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification at Pennco Tech. The OSHA certification is a training program for entry-level workers. This course is especially important for the safety of new service technicians and teaches health and safety best practices. This certification is required for working in Philadelphia or government-funded work sites.

Enroll in the Electrician Program Today

If you are considering a career as an electronic service technician, Pennco Tech offers one of the most affordable vocational school programs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Financial aid is available for eligible students, as well as lifelong career services. For questions about the electrician program or to enroll, contact us for more information today.