How Much Do Electricians Earn?
One of the most important occupations in mining sites are HV electrician jobs. Also known as high-voltage electricians, HV electricians are responsible for the maintenance, testing, and repair of electric power plants and high-voltage equipment. Having ample electricity in a mining site is crucial not only for continuous operations but also for personnel safety and comfort. If there are any issues with power supply or equipment, HV electricians ensure that the systems go back up and running as soon as possible.
If you’re looking to build a career where you’re compensated well, and you believe that working towards becoming an HV electrician will help you achieve that goal, here are a few things to know.
Do Electricians Get Paid Well?
In Australia, electricians get paid around $35 per hour. This translates to an annual income of around $69,000, although the pay for entry-level positions can start at about $55,000. For more experienced workers, the earnings can reach up to $135,000 annually.
For HV electricians, they can expect to earn a considerably higher amount ranging from $1,050 to $1,500 per week. This means that the median annual earnings is around $75,000. Tenured and experienced HV electricians can make up to $200,000 in a fly-in-fly-out position.
Why are HV electricians paid more, especially in mining jobs? It’s because they need to specialise in high-voltage systems, which work differently from and can be more dangerous than domestic or even commercial electric systems. FIFO positions also attract additional benefits and competitive salary sacrifice packages. You may not get additional monetary compensation, but with the value of the additional benefits, you will definitely be receiving more value.
Is Being an Electrician a Respectable Job?
Every job is respectable as long as you do it with integrity and to the best of your ability. In a mining site, it doesn’t matter if you’re a head engineer or hold a diesel mechanic job. Everyone plays a role, and every role is important.
If you’re working as an HV electrician, you’ll help ensure that there are no outages at the site. If an outage does happen, you’ll be tasked to restore power so that there will be minimal disruptions to the workflow. You’ll also be responsible for ensuring that electrical components and systems are undamaged and, more importantly, are up to standard. As an HV electrician, you are also expected to respond to emergency situations. Additionally, you need to be familiar with Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) standards, along with building codes and environmental regulations. All of these are important in fulfilling your job.
How Do I Become an HV Electrician?
Two primary requirements to become an HV electrician include having a recognised trade certificate and the necessary apprenticeships. Safety training is also important, while work experience in a mining site is definitely a plus. A driver’s licence is often advantageous, along with knowledge of mining and earthmoving heavy equipment.
The key thing to remember here is that before you earn a high salary, you have to put in some work. Invest in yourself, develop your skills, and increase your knowledge. Pretty soon, you’ll be commanding higher pay, whether you’re an HV electrician or something similar.
