Last updated on March 23, 2026
When new electricians receive a starter tool kit from a trade school or a scholarship, they often receive the basic essentials that are used every day on the jobsite: tape measures, drills, pliers, screwdrivers, which is great! However, as jobs grow, certain tasks will require specialized tools that they will eventually need. Here are some of the tools available at City Electric Supply (CES) that new electricians should consider adding to their tool kit.
1. Knee protection
For some new electricians, knee pads and sleeves might not be top of mind early in their careers — but they’ll likely become essential over time if not used early and often. With all the kneeling, bending, and squatting on hard surfaces, it’s important to think about how to protect your body from jobsite strain and injury. The job can be tough on the body, and electricians know some areas feel it more than others. Thinking ahead and taking care of those high-impact spots now can make a real difference to help reduce stress on the body and keep them working comfortably longer.
FAQ: What’s the best use for gel knee pads vs. sleeves?
Gel pads offer thicker protection and are ideal for heavy-duty kneeling. Sleeves are slim and comfortable for everyday tasks under workwear.
2. Flashlight & headlamps
Flashlights and headlamps are so commonly used on jobsites, yet they are still often left out of basic starter tool kits for new electricians and apprentices. Hand tools, such as pliers, screwdrivers, and cutters, are usually prioritized due to immediate use in beginner work area tasks. Having adjustable, durable, and hands-free sources of light improves safety with dependable visibility in tight and expansive workspaces.
FAQ: Are headlamps compatible with all hard hats?
Many professional headlamps come with adjustable straps specifically designed for compatibility with standard hard hats or helmets.
3. Markers and marking paint
In a traditional setting, specialized markers, crayons, and pencils might make one think of arts and crafts. For electricians, these tools aren’t for creativity; they’re essential for accuracy and clarity, which is key for getting the job done right for both new and journeyman electricians. Wood, concrete, stone, and drywall can be tough to work on due to uneven surfaces and exposure to the elements. Filling out electrical panel schedules, marking conduit pipes and studs, and labeling wire are some of the ways markers and marking paint are used on the jobsite.
FAQ: What’s the difference between a carpenter pencil and a lumber crayon?
Carpenter pencils are ideal for finer marking on wood or smooth surfaces, while lumber crayons are better for rougher materials like concrete, brick, or stone.
4. Wire marker books and dispensers
Not only is marking and labeling crucial for accuracy and clarity on the jobsite, but it is also important for consistency and compliance. That’s where wire marker books and dispensers come in. These help guide new and journeyman electricians on which numeric and alphanumeric formats to correctly label, organize, and identify conductors, breakers, and wires. Dispenser-style booklets offer stickable legends for faster, easier labelling on small surfaces.
FAQ: What’s the benefit of using a marker book instead of a printer?
Marker books are faster for on-the-fly labeling and don’t require a power source or setup. They’re ideal for jobsites or quick service calls.
5. Tool bags, buckets, & storage accessories
A new electrician might see the tool bags, buckets, and storage accessories category on this list and think, ‘But I already have a tool bag that I received in my starter tool kit!’ Consider this: the tool bag you already have is a great item to have, but as you grow in your career as a new, intermediate, to eventually a journeyman electrician, your tool inventory is guaranteed to grow. Before you know it, the tool bag that you already have will run out of space. Plus, different tools require different methods of storage. You can’t pack cutters the way you would pack testing equipment because sharp objects have the potential to cause damage to the storage they’re packed in and other tools.
FAQ: Do I need a tool belt for electrical work?
A tool belt helps keep essential tools within reach and organized, improving efficiency and safety during electrical tasks.
6. Staple guns & staple removers
As a new electrician, installing rough-ins for new construction is standard practice. Having a reliable staple gun helps make mounting cable, wire, HVAC, and plumbing systems faster and more efficient. However, errors are common in rough-in installs due to spacing issues, incorrect wire routing, and overrun outlet boxes. This can easily be fixed with tools like staple removers. Without damaging the actual install, the staple can be carefully pried, pulled out, and reinstalled in the correct position.
FAQ: Do loose cable staplers work with different cable sizes?
Yes, loose cable staplers are designed to accommodate various cable diameters, offering flexibility for different installations.
7. Levels & squares
Precision is key to any successful project. For construction layouts, conduit installs, cabinet and fixture alignments, and other measurement-centered installs, new electricians need to have tools that can calculate visible straight lines, angles, and framing both vertically and horizontally. Rare Earth Magnet levels are sometimes included in electrician apprentice tool kits, but more technologically advanced options that improve measurement outcomes are often left out. Laser levels, digital angle finders, and framing squares come in various types, including green and red laser cross lines, slope rotaries, angle gauges, and more.
FAQ: Are laser levels suitable for outdoor use?
Yes, but brighter laser models, such as green laser levels, offer better visibility in outdoor environments.
8. Wire connectors
Wire connectors are common tools in a journeyman electrician’s tool kit for splicing, joining, and insulating electrical wires, but they aren’t typically included in starter kits. They are usually supplied by the employer in large quantities that a contractor works for on a project-by-project basis, but it’s good to have some on hand in a tool kit, as they constantly need to be replaced.
FAQ: Can the same connector be used for copper and aluminum wire?
Only if it’s specifically rated for both; using the wrong type can cause overheating or failure.
9. Cable ties and mounts
Like wire connectors, cable ties and mounts aren’t included in starter tool kits because employers typically supply them in bulk on jobsites, and they need frequent replacement. However, it’s also beneficial to have some on hand in a tool kit for neat and efficient wire organization. Whether it’s flexible, durable zip ties, ultraviolet-resistant outdoor cable ties, or industrial-strength mounting solutions, get what you need to keep electrical systems functional and compliant.
FAQ: Where are cable tie mounts easily attached?
Walls, panels, and other surfaces
10. Conduit & stud punches
Conduit and stud punches are used for specialized tasks that often require more experience, such as cutting holes in metal studs, electrical panels, and other materials. This removes the need for drilling and speeds up the process of running conduit and completing installs. Conduit and stud punches are mostly used by journeyman electricians. But having a tool of this kind to use under supervision during a trade school course or apprenticeship allows beginners to get a head start on completing more complex duties and gaining more high-level skills.
FAQ: What is the advantage of using a stud punch instead of drilling?
Stud punches create smooth, accurate holes with less effort and without compromising the strength of metal studs.