• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

North Far North Careers

  • Industries
    • Advanced Manufacturing
    • Advanced Transportation and Logistics
    • Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies
    • Business and Entrepreneurship
    • Education and Human Development
    • Energy, Construction and Utilities
    • Health
    • Information and Communication Technologies – Digital Media
    • Life Sciences – Biotechnology
    • Public Safety
    • Retail, Hospitality and Tourism
    • View all
  • Programs
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Industries

Energy, Construction and Utilities

Climate change has forced Californians to rethink how we design homes and buildings, the energy we use to power them, and the methods and systems we use to deliver that energy.

The North Far North region offers a variety of ECU career opportunities in both the residential and commercial sectors to help transform how we live and work. In particular, the region has a high demand for more efficient and sustainable heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. Other in-demand occupations in the region include skilled electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and welders; solar photovoltaic installers; maintenance and repair personnel; civil engineers; and construction managers.

Browse Programs

View data from the:

Region
115,027
2020 Jobs
+10%
2020–2025 Projected Change
32.61/hr.
2020 Avg. Median Wage

Top jobs that Require Community College Credentials

How much will I make per hour?

What can I train for? Job openings per year Entry-level Median Experienced Programs
Carpenters 1501 $20.13 $27.14 $36.20 View programs
Electricians 1039 $22.65 $30.63 $45.96 View programs
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 915 $29.87 $37.38 $48.52 View programs
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 501 $21.83 $29.28 $43.63 View programs
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 465 $27.52 $35.53 $46.96 View programs
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers 402 $21.39 $27.63 $34.26 View programs
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers 190 $27.89 $31.09 $38.91 View programs
Sheet Metal Workers 151 $22.43 $29.45 $39.05 View programs
Construction and Building Inspectors 145 $29.30 $39.06 $49.97 View programs
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers 122 $39.91 $56.95 $63.82
Structural Iron and Steel Workers 115 $23.71 $37.05 $41.02
Architectural and Civil Drafters 113 $24.42 $30.31 $37.40 View programs
Solar Photovoltaic Installers 112 $19.11 $23.49 $25.70 View programs
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators 112 $28.55 $36.02 $40.10 View programs

Carpenters

Job openings per year:

1501

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $20.13/hr.
  • Median: $27.14/hr.
  • Experienced: $36.20/hr.

View programs

Electricians

Job openings per year:

1039

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $22.65/hr.
  • Median: $30.63/hr.
  • Experienced: $45.96/hr.

View programs

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Job openings per year:

915

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $29.87/hr.
  • Median: $37.38/hr.
  • Experienced: $48.52/hr.

View programs

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Job openings per year:

501

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $21.83/hr.
  • Median: $29.28/hr.
  • Experienced: $43.63/hr.

View programs

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Job openings per year:

465

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $27.52/hr.
  • Median: $35.53/hr.
  • Experienced: $46.96/hr.

View programs

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Job openings per year:

402

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $21.39/hr.
  • Median: $27.63/hr.
  • Experienced: $34.26/hr.

View programs

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Job openings per year:

190

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $27.89/hr.
  • Median: $31.09/hr.
  • Experienced: $38.91/hr.

View programs

Sheet Metal Workers

Job openings per year:

151

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $22.43/hr.
  • Median: $29.45/hr.
  • Experienced: $39.05/hr.

View programs

Construction and Building Inspectors

Job openings per year:

145

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $29.30/hr.
  • Median: $39.06/hr.
  • Experienced: $49.97/hr.

View programs

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

Job openings per year:

122

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $39.91/hr.
  • Median: $56.95/hr.
  • Experienced: $63.82/hr.

Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Job openings per year:

115

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $23.71/hr.
  • Median: $37.05/hr.
  • Experienced: $41.02/hr.

Architectural and Civil Drafters

Job openings per year:

113

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $24.42/hr.
  • Median: $30.31/hr.
  • Experienced: $37.40/hr.

View programs

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Job openings per year:

112

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $19.11/hr.
  • Median: $23.49/hr.
  • Experienced: $25.70/hr.

View programs

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Job openings per year:

112

How much will I make?

  • Entry-level: $28.55/hr.
  • Median: $36.02/hr.
  • Experienced: $40.10/hr.

View programs

Top Employers & Skills

Employers

  • AutoNation
  • Dish
  • Blue Mountain Air Incorporated
  • Tradesmen International
  • Villara Building Systems
  • Mark 3 Construction
  • Aerotek
  • Sears
  • Ars Corporation Ltd
  • SunPower Corp.
  • PG&E
  • Altice USA
  • American Residential Services
  • Michaels
  • Johnson Controls
  • City of Sacramento
  • Freedom Forever
  • Mastec North America
  • Beutler Air Conditioning & Plumbing
  • State of California

Specialized skills

  • Construction
  • HVAC
  • Hand Tools
  • Plumbing
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Carpentry
  • Electrical Wiring
  • Roofing
  • Blueprinting
  • Electrical Systems

Technology & software skills

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • AutoCAD
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Airflow
  • Programmable Logic Controllers
  • Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Employability skills

  • Valid Driver's License
  • Communications
  • Customer Service
  • Good Driving Record
  • Lifting Ability
  • Troubleshooting (Problem Solving)
  • Detail Oriented
  • Operations
  • Management
  • Sales

Source: Lightcast 2022.3; QCEW, non-QCEW, Self-Employed. Compiled by the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research.

The North region encompasses seven counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba).

The Far North region encompasses 15 counties (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity).

Specialized skills are specific to the occupation, or group of occupations, and represent job-specific competencies.

Technical skills refer to the specific software and technology regularly encountered on the job.

Employability skills (sometimes referred to as “common skills”) are foundational skills that cross occupations and industries. Many common skills, like, communication and team work, are also considered soft skills.

Footer

Industries

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Advanced Transportation and Logistics
  • Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Education and Human Development
  • Energy, Construction and Utilities
  • Health
  • Information and Communication Technologies – Digital Media
  • Life Sciences – Biotechnology
  • Public Safety
  • Retail, Hospitality and Tourism
  • Programs
  • About
  • Contact
North Far North Regional Consortium logo
Powered by California Community Colleges logo
This website is funded fully or in part by a Carl D. Perkins Title I, Part B State Leadership Grant,# 18-150-001, awarded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.