Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
U.S. Workers
23,040
Median Salary
$100,940
10-Year Growth
+5.5%
Annual Openings
2,000
Typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
15 of 16 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully generate, standardize, update, and maintain records of tests, repairs, and maintenance and integrate them with CMMS/ERP systems given access to the data.
Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, characterize system performance, and model the effects of modifications when provided sufficient high‑quality data.
Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully detect equipment shutdowns and automatically notify facility personnel through integrated alerting and communication channels.
Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully maintain spare‑parts inventories, forecast needs, and automatically generate requisitions when integrated with inventory management and procurement systems.
Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
AI: Partial - AI can analyze wiring diagrams and interpret readings from testing devices or remote sensors and guide diagnostics, but it cannot perform the hands‑on physical inspection and probe tasks itself.
Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
AI: Partial - AI can consult manuals and schematics, propose troubleshooting steps, and coordinate information with engineering personnel, but complex tradeoffs and final decisions typically require human engineering judgment and interaction.
Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
AI: Partial - AI can remotely operate actuated switches where automation exists or provide isolation procedures, but it cannot physically open/close manual switches and perform on‑equipment adjustments without robotic/remote hardware.
Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
AI: Partial - AI can design, test, simulate, and provide diagnostic/repair guidance for relay and control systems but cannot autonomously perform the complex, safety‑critical physical construction and maintenance work in substations as of 2025.
Test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.
AI: Partial - AI can control test equipment, analyze measurements, and calculate insulation loss, but safe connection and execution of high‑voltage insulation tests in the field still require human operators or specialized robotics not widely deployed by 2025.
Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
AI: Partial - AI can diagnose faults, schedule work, and provide repair procedures, but it cannot perform most hands‑on tasks like cleaning, replacing, or mechanically repairing components without robotic assistance.
Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
AI: Partial - AI can fully automate scheduling and provide remote monitoring/decision support for special device construction and testing, but cannot fully replace on‑site human supervision and judgment for unique, safety‑critical implementations.
Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
AI: Partial - AI can handle scheduling and can assist or verify splicing order via vision systems, yet the physical splicing/termination work and final on‑site supervision remain human tasks in most deployments today.
Test oil in circuit breakers and transformers for dielectric strength, refilling oil periodically.
AI: Partial - AI can automate oil testing data collection and interpretation and schedule maintenance, but periodic physical oil handling/refilling of breakers and transformers still requires human crews or specialized hardware not broadly autonomous in 2025.
Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
AI: Partial - AI can initiate, control, and interpret signal quality and connectivity tests where automated test equipment is integrated and record results, but it cannot physically connect or manipulate cables in purely manual contexts.
Set forms and pour concrete footings for installation of heavy equipment.
AI: Partial - AI can plan, model, and control some concrete placement machinery but the on‑site formwork, adjustments, and manual pouring/finishing for heavy equipment footings remain largely human tasks in most contexts.
Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.
AI: Not automatable - Disconnecting and reconnecting voltage regulators and making live high‑voltage line connections are hands‑on, high‑risk activities that AI cannot autonomously perform in typical field environments as of 2025.