MEET THE PRO: Aaron Sherrill, Industrial Maintenance
By Arkansas Next on Monday, October 25, 2021
Hometown: Dyess
Age: 21
Where I trained: Arkansas Northeastern College Technical Center
What I earned: Certificate in welding, certificate in industrial electrical systems and an associate degree in steel-related technology
Job title: Maintenance electrician
Employer: Nucor Yamato Steel
Aaron Sherrill has always worked with his hands and never wanted to be a “pencil pusher.” He loves the people he works with and that every day has a new challenge for him to take on.
“I like that there is no repetitive work,” Aaron says. “It is always something new — something different every day.”
Aaron spends his days performing preventative maintenance on overhead bridge cranes, as well as repairing them when they break down. This requires him to problem solve to figure out the puzzle of the crane’s needs for repair. Sometimes, this means he is out working in the heat of the day, but he doesn’t mind.
He got the hands-on experience he needed in the field while attending Arkansas Northeastern College’s internship program.
"I like that there is no repetitive work. It is always something new — something different every day." – Aaron
WHAT DOES A MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN DO?
Inspect, troubleshoot and repair overhead bridge cranes.
Responsibilities
- Performing preventative maintenance on overhead bridge cranes — everything from shipping cranes to mill cranes to hot liquid steel cranes
- Performing crane inspections ensuring that the crane is safe to run
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing the cranes when they go down
Education needed: A certificate and on-the-job training, and some states require an occupational license
Job Outlook
► 14% expected growth in Arkansas by 2028
► 1,250 jobs in Arkansas by 2028
► 120 average annual job openings in Arkansas
This option is for you if
- You are detail-oriented
- You have steady hands
- You’re a hard worker
- You don’t mind the heat
- You're a problem-solver
High-end earners (top 10%) make
$73,400
Median wages in Arkansas
$48,560 Annual
$23.34 Hourly
START YOUR TRAINING
• Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
• Arkansas Northeastern College
• Arkansas State University–Beebe
• Arkansas State University–Mid-South
• Arkansas State University–Mountain Home
• Arkansas State University–Newport
• Arkansas Tech University–Ozark
• Arkansas State University–Three Rivers
• Black River Technical College
• Business & Industry Training
• Cargill
• East Arkansas Community College
• Lexicon Inc.
• National Park College
• Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
• Simmons Foods
• Southern Arkansas University Tech
• Tyson Foods Inc.
• UAM College of Technology–Crossett
• University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
• University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
• University of Arkansas Hope–Texarkana
READY TO HIRE YOU
• ABB Motors & Mechanical Inc.
• Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
• Cargill
• Central Moloney Inc.
• Hytrol
• Koontz Electric
• Lexicon Inc.
• McGeorge Contracting Company
• McKee Foods Corporation
• OK Foods
• Pace Industries
• Simmons Foods
• Tyson Foods Inc.
• Welsco
Sources: bls.gov and careeronestop.org
