Electrician

Is a career as an Electrician right for you?
Here are some things to consider before you decide:

  • In most states, a person must be licensed or perform work under a licensed individual.
  • To receive your license, you will be required to complete 2-5 years on on-the-job experience and pass an exam.
  • Once licensed, you can expect to make $31.54 an hour or $65,603 a year plus overtime and benefits.
  • There are 219,768 electrician businesses in the US as of 2023, which is an increase of 0.3% since 2022. (IBIS World)
  • The right personality type to become an Electrician is someone who has:
    • Excellent Customer Service & Communication
    • Strong Critical Thinking
    • Focus and Attention to Detail
    • Time Management

The Career Journey

Attend Trade School

  • Must have a GED or HS Diploma
  • You must have a license to perform work on your own, so work experience or a program at a trade show will needed to be completed prior to sitting for your first exam.
  • Trade School Programs are offered Nationwide and once completed can allow you to prepare you to become Electrician apprentice.
  • Average length of a program is 12 months.
  • The cost of a Electrician program can range from $10,000 to $15,000. When vetting a program and its cost, determine which certifications you will receive upon graduation.
  • Skills you will learn: Bath Math, Electrical Theory, Electrical Code, Blueprint Interpretation, Motor & Generators, Semi-Conductors and Residential/Commercial Wiring

Find an Apprenticeship

  • You can apprentice while attending school which means you are able to earn while you learn. Some employers will even sponsor your school tuition if you commit to a multi-year employment contract post-graduation.
  • An apprentice will typically earn $22.00 an hour, but your wages will increase as you earn your licenses and certifications.

Become a Journeyman

  • Every state is different, but on average you will need to complete a 4 year apprenticeship to sit for the Journeyman exam.
  • Once you become a Journeyman, you will likely be able to make $33.83/hour or $70,366.40 a year.

Become a Master Electrician

  • Every state is very different in terms of requirements to become a Master Electrician.  Check out this guide for requirements state by state.
  • On average, once you have your Journeyman license, you will need an additional 1-5 years of work experience before you are able to sit for the Master Electrician exam and can earn up to $60 an hour.

Career Paths within the Trade

Licensed Residential Electrician

Licensed Commercial Electrician

High Voltage Electrician

Estimator

Inspector

Project Engineer

Elevator Installer

Solar Installer

Business Owner

Featured Story:

Want a career saving the planet? Become an electrician.

When we think about solving climate change, we often think about things that, in one way or another, plug into an electrical grid: Solar panels. Heat pumps. Efficient air conditioners. Wind turbines. Electric cars and electric car chargers. Induction stoves. Transmission lines.

Over the past several years, the mantra of energy experts has been that we need to electrify everything — and then switch electrical power generation over to clean sources of power like wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear. Doing so will rapidly decrease carbon emissions and help to stave off dangerous levels of warming.

But installing all of that electrical stuff — the solar panels, the heat pumps, the transmission lines — will require something that the United States doesn’t have: lots and lots of electricians.