Electricians are in an unusual position in the AI debate: their work is among the least exposed to generative AI, and AI itself is one of the reasons the US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for them to rise. The data centers that run AI systems need power, and power needs electricians.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing electricians. The ILO's 2025 index classes building electricians as not exposed to generative AI, with one of the lowest scores of any skilled trade. The BLS projects employment of electricians to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, and names AI and data centers among the reasons. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
A note on robots
The ILO index measures generative AI: systems that produce text, images and code. It does not measure robotics. A low score means a chatbot cannot do an electrician's job; it is not a forecast about robots, which this page does not make (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
How exposed electrical work is
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering Technicians | Not exposed | 0.27 |
| Electronics Mechanics and Servicers | Not exposed | 0.25 |
| Building and Related Electricians | Not exposed | 0.19 |
| Electrical Mechanics and Fitters | Not exposed | 0.17 |
| Electrical Line Installers and Repairers | Not exposed | 0.15 |
The pattern runs from the bench to the field: technicians who work more with documents and test data score a little higher, while electricians in buildings and line workers on poles and towers score lowest.
AI is adding work for electricians
The BLS projects about 72,700 openings for electricians a year. It says electricians will continue to be needed to link power generation systems, including solar and wind, to homes, businesses and power grids, and that the increasing use of AI technologies and demand for data centers to support this growth are expected to contribute to rising electricity demand, which requires grid upgrades and new infrastructure (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
That makes electrical work one of the clearest cases where AI creates jobs outside the office: every new data center, substation and grid connection has to be wired, inspected and maintained by people.
What an electrician's day involves
The BLS describes electricians as installing, maintaining and repairing electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems in homes, businesses and factories. In practice that means:
- Reading blueprints and planning circuit layouts on a real site.
- Running conduit and wire through walls, ceilings and trenches.
- Testing circuits and tracing faults with meters.
- Installing panels, outlets, lighting, controls and EV chargers.
- Working safely around live systems, at height and in tight spaces.
Almost all of this is hands-on work in a changing physical environment, which is why generative AI exposure is so low.
Where AI tools do help
- Writing quotes, invoices and customer emails.
- Looking up product specifications and manuals.
- Drafting job reports and test records from notes.
- Study help for apprentices preparing for exams.
Anything an AI tool says about wiring, loads or code requirements needs checking against the actual code book and the inspector; AI can produce confident but wrong answers (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
Getting into the trade
According to the BLS, most electricians learn the trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year plus some technical instruction, and most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. That long, paid, hands-on route is a big part of why electrical work features in lists of jobs least exposed to AI.
For a trade with a different demand story, see will AI replace plumbers? For the design side of the field, see will AI replace engineers? and will AI take my job?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for electricians at $63,190 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace electricians?
Current evidence says no. The ILO classes building electricians as not exposed to generative AI, and the BLS projects 9 percent US growth from 2025 to 2035, partly because AI and data centers raise electricity demand.
How exposed are electricians to AI?
In the ILO 2025 index, building and related electricians score 0.19, and electrical line installers 0.15, both classed as not exposed.
Is AI creating jobs for electricians?
Yes, according to the BLS, which says the increasing use of AI and demand for data centers are expected to raise electricity demand and the need for grid upgrades and new infrastructure.
Will robots replace electricians?
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robotics, so it does not answer this. Current US projections expect electrician jobs to grow.
How do you become an electrician?
According to the BLS, most electricians train through a 4- or 5-year paid apprenticeship, and most states require them to pass a test and be licensed.