Industrial Electrician
PLCs, motor controls, industrial panels, drive systems — the electrical work that keeps a factory line, a water-treatment plant, or a data center cooling system running. Pays a premium because the troubleshooting is harder and the downtime is more expensive.
Industrial Electrician goes by many names
On KinTrades, all of these job titles route to the Industrial Electrician trade — so search any of them and you'll find matching work.
Day to day on the job
An Industrial Electrician spends most days troubleshooting and maintaining the controls that run a manufacturing plant, water utility, refinery, or large mechanical system. Programming and modifying PLC ladder logic. Replacing variable frequency drives (VFDs). Hunting down a motor failure or a control loop that's drifting. Reading P&ID and wiring schematics that are denser than residential or commercial work.
Specializations diverge fast. A PLC Technician focuses on programming and modifying logic — Allen-Bradley / Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider. A Motor Control Specialist focuses on drives, soft starters, and motor protection. A Maintenance Electrician covers everything in a plant — lighting, controls, distribution, switchgear.
Most industrial electricians work in-house at large manufacturers, utilities, and process plants — Dominion, Pepco, Northrop Grumman shipyards, food processors, federal facilities. Pay scales above general electrician work because controls expertise is harder to hire and downtime costs are real.
How you move up as an Industrial Electrician
Most industrial electricians come up through the same IBEW apprenticeship as general electricians, then specialize during their journeyman years through manufacturer training (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) or controls-specific certifications. IBEW local-finder · ISA Controls credentials. BLS OES 47-2111, May 2024.
Apprentice — what this rung looks like
What Industrial Electricians earn in VA, DC, MD & NC
Pay data: BLS OEWS · May 2024 · VA · DC · MD · NC. Expanding nationally.
Core craft + supporting skills
Pulled from your taxonomy. Core skills (orange) are required for the Industrial Electrician trade; supporting skills (gray) round out a well-rounded journeyworker.
Paths into the Industrial Electrician trade
IBEW JATC (with industrial focus)
Same Inside Wireman apprenticeship as general electricians, but choose an IBEW local with industrial work in its territory. Local 26 (DC + suburban MD), Local 24 (Baltimore — heavy industrial), Local 666 (Richmond), Local 553 (Raleigh). Find a local →
ABC / IEC Industrial Track
Open-shop apprenticeship at an industrial contractor. NCCER Industrial Electrical curriculum. ABC Virginia, ABC Greater Baltimore, IEC chapter finder.
PLC Manufacturer Certifications
Most controls work happens on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, or Schneider platforms. Manufacturer training programs (often paid by employer) build the platform-specific skill. Rockwell Training · ISA Certifications.
Certifications that help
NFPA 70E (arc flash) is non-negotiable. ISA-CCST Levels I–III. CMRP for senior maintenance roles. Manufacturer certs for whatever platform your plant runs. State Master Electrician license to qualify a contractor.
Common pathways into Industrial Electrician work
KinTrades welcomes Industrial Electrician workers from every walk of life. Whether you're a veteran transitioning out of service, a student planning your career, or someone returning to work — there's a clear path in.
Veterans
Navy Electronics Technician (ET) and Aviation Electronics Technician (AT), Army 94F Computer/Detection Systems Repairer and 94M Radar Repairer, and Air Force avionics maintenance specialties all bring transferable controls and electronics troubleshooting experience.
PLC training programs accept GI Bill funding.
Defense industrial sites (Northrop Grumman shipyards, NIH, Goddard) often favor cleared veterans for controls work.
Veterans on KinTradesHigh School Students
Industrial controls is rarely a direct-from-HS path — most enter through general electrical apprenticeship and specialize during journeyman years.
HS students interested in this track should target IBEW JATC apprenticeships first, then take Allen-Bradley/Siemens vendor training mid-career.
NoVA CC and Wake Tech offer mechatronics AAS degrees that pair well with apprenticeship.
Students on KinTradesSecond Chance
Industrial electrical is generally as second-chance friendly as general electrical work.
IBEW locals admit applicants with felony histories case-by-case.
Industrial contractors that staff manufacturing plants and federal facilities run formal background checks (because facility access often requires it), but many smaller industrial contractors and in-house plant maintenance teams hire on demonstrated skill — once you can clear a controls trouble call, your past matters less.
Second-chance hiringIf Industrial Electrician interests you, also look at
Common questions about becoming an Industrial Electrician
What does an Industrial Electrician do?
An Industrial Electrician spends most days troubleshooting and maintaining the controls that run a manufacturing plant, water utility, refinery, or large mechanical system. Programming and modifying PLC ladder logic. Replacing variable frequency drives (VFDs). Hunting down a motor failure or a control loop that's drifting. Reading P ID and wiring schematics that are denser than residential or commercial work.
What does an Industrial Electrician make in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024, Industrial Electricians earn an annual median of $64K in Virginia (range $50K–$86K), $82K in DC ($64K–$108K), $72K in Maryland ($56K–$96K), and $56K in North Carolina ($44K–$74K).
How do you become an Industrial Electrician?
IBEW JATC (with industrial focus): Same Inside Wireman apprenticeship as general electricians, but choose an IBEW local with industrial work in its territory. Local 26 (DC + suburban MD), Local 24 (Baltimore — heavy industrial), Local 666 (Richmond), Local 553 (Raleigh). Find a local →
How long is Industrial Electrician apprenticeship in Virginia, DC, Maryland, or North Carolina?
4–5 years through the JATC. Industrial-specific specialization usually starts in years 3–4. Most industrial electricians come up through the same IBEW apprenticeship as general electricians, then specialize during their journeyman years through manufacturer training (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) or controls-specific certifications. IBEW local-finder · ISA Controls credentials.
Is Industrial Electrician a good career path for someone with a record?
Industrial electrical is generally as second-chance friendly as general electrical work. IBEW locals admit applicants with felony histories case-by-case. Industrial contractors that staff manufacturing plants and federal facilities run formal background checks (because facility access often requires it), but many smaller industrial contractors and in-house plant maintenance teams hire on demonstrated skill — once you can clear a controls trouble call, your past matters less.