What is an industrial electrician?

If you’re interested in a hands-on electrical career that involves large-scale systems and heavy machinery, becoming an industrial electrician could be the perfect path. These professionals keep factories, warehouses and production facilities running safely and efficiently, making their skills essential to modern industry.

What is an industrial electrician?

An industrial electrician is a qualified professional who installs, maintains and repairs electrical systems used in industrial environments. Their work often involves high-voltage systems, automated equipment and specialised machinery that powers manufacturing or production processes.

Because of the complexity of their work, industrial electricians need a strong understanding of technical drawings, control systems and safety regulations. They play a key role in preventing downtime in fast-paced, high-demand environments where electrical faults can quickly lead to production losses.

What does an industrial electrician do?

Industrial electricians handle large-scale electrical systems that keep industrial sites running smoothly. Their daily tasks can vary depending on the type of facility, but often include:

– Installing and maintaining heavy-duty electrical systems, motors and control panels

– Testing and troubleshooting faults in complex machinery or production lines

– Reading and interpreting electrical blueprints and circuit diagrams

– Carrying out planned maintenance to prevent breakdowns or equipment failure

– Installing and servicing programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and automation systems

– Ensuring that all work complies with strict health, safety and industry standards

– Responding quickly to electrical emergencies to reduce downtime

You can read more about the skills and responsibilities of industrial electricians in our guide What does an electrician do?

How is being an industrial electrician different to other types of electrician?

While all electricians share a solid foundation of electrical knowledge, the settings and systems they work with can be very different. Here’s how industrial electricians compare to other specialisms in the trade.

Domestic electrician

Domestic electricians focus on residential properties, installing and maintaining lower-voltage electrical systems in homes. Their work includes lighting, sockets and home safety systems, as well as ensuring compliance with UK building regulations and Part P standards.

Commercial electrician

Commercial electricians work in offices, shops, schools and other business premises. They manage mid-range electrical systems such as lighting, data cabling and emergency power. Their work is typically larger in scale than domestic projects but less complex than industrial systems.

Utility electrician

Utility electricians tend to work outside of buildings, maintaining the infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses. This includes power lines, substations and grid connections. They specialise in energy transmission and distribution rather than internal installations, and require specialist training to ensure that their work keeps the local communities safe.

How do you become an industrial electrician?

If you’re interested in becoming an industrial electrician, there are various different routes you can take. The suitability of each one depends on your age, current level of experience, and how you prefer to learn. The main pathways are:

– Full-time education: Studying electrical qualifications at college

– Apprenticeship: Combining hands-on experience with classroom learning

– Adult learner: Retraining later in life through structured courses

– Experienced worker assessment: For those with industry experience but no formal qualifications

Our guide to becoming an electrician delves into each of these options in more detail, and is a great resource if you’re considering becoming an industrial electrician.

Want to become an industrial electrician?

Now you know the ins and outs of being an industrial electrician, the next step is to start your training journey. Take a look at our courses, and feel free to get in touch with our team if you’ve got any questions about the most suitable choice for you.