What does an electrician do?
Electricians install, maintain and repair the power, lighting, communications and control systems in homes, businesses and factories. The work is hands-on and mostly full time. BLS notes that schedules can include evenings and weekends, and overtime is common.
The job has real physical and safety demands. Electricians must identify wires by color, lift components that can weigh up to 50 pounds, and guard against shocks, falls and burns, according to BLS.
How to become an electrician in 7 steps
- Finish high school or earn a GED. BLS says a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Take at least one year of algebra, because union programs ask for it.
- Pick a type of electrical work. The Electrical Training Alliance, which trains union apprentices, offers four tracks: inside wireman (power, lighting and control systems), residential wireman, outside lineman and VDV installer technician (voice, data and video).
- Apply to an apprenticeship. Contact your local union training center, a non-union contractor association chapter, or search the Apprenticeship Job Finder on Apprenticeship.gov. Expect an aptitude test and, for many programs, an interview.
- Register with your state if it requires it. California requires electrician trainees to register and enroll in a state-approved school, and Washington requires you to start as an electrical trainee unless you have qualifying out-of-state or military experience.
- Complete your hours. Apprentices typically log 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year plus technical classes in electrical theory, blueprint reading, math, electrical code requirements, and safety and first aid.
- Pass your state’s journeyman-level exam. BLS says most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. The tests cover the National Electrical Code and state and local codes.
- Keep learning and move up. Licensed electricians may need continuing education to renew. After more experience, journey workers can advance to master electrician or to supervisor and project management roles.
Union vs non-union apprenticeship: what is the difference?
Unions and contractor associations both sponsor apprenticeship programs, according to BLS. The main difference is who runs the program and how you apply.
| Factor | Union (IBEW and NECA local training centers) | Non-union (example: IEC chapters) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Local joint committees of the IBEW union and NECA contractors | Chapters of the Independent Electrical Contractors association |
| Minimum entry rules | Age 18, high school education, one year of high school algebra, qualifying aptitude test score, drug free | Set by each chapter; IEC lists physical standards and mechanical aptitude |
| Length | Inside wireman 5 years, outside lineman 3.5 years, residential and VDV 3 years | Generally about 4 years |
| Hours | Set by each local committee | At least 8,000 on-the-job hours and 576 classroom hours |
| Where to apply | Your local JATC or AJATC training center | Your local IEC chapter |
Each local union committee can add its own requirements, and IEC class hours can differ by chapter, so read the current application rules for the program near you.
Technical school is a third on-ramp. BLS notes that some electricians start in a technical school program and usually receive credit toward an apprenticeship. Our guide to trade school jobs compares school and apprenticeship paths across 18 trades.
How many hours does an electrician apprenticeship take?
The rough rule is 2,000 paid hours a year for 4 or 5 years. Many state licenses then use 8,000 supervised hours as the bar for a journeyman-level exam, as these examples show:
- Texas: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician.
- California: 8,000 hours for general electrician certification, or 4,800 hours for residential electrician, working for a C-10 electrical contractor.
- Washington: 8,000 hours for the general (01) journey level exam, with at least 4,000 hours in new commercial or industrial work, plus 96 hours of basic classroom instruction.
- Massachusetts: 8,000 hours over at least 4 years, plus 600 hours of Board-approved education.
Classroom hours vary more than work hours. IEC programs use at least 576 classroom hours, Massachusetts requires 600 hours of approved education for journeymen, and California trainees on the general path complete 720 hours of related instruction. BLS adds that apprentices with electrical experience from the military or construction may qualify for a shorter apprenticeship.
Electrician license requirements by state
There is no national electrician license. These five states show how much the rules differ.
| State | Who licenses | Journeyman-level requirement | Next level up or notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | 8,000 hours under a master electrician and a passed exam. You can test at 7,000 hours, but the license is issued only after all 8,000 are approved. | Master: 12,000 hours under a master electrician, a journeyman license held at least 2 years, and the master exam |
| California | Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DIR) | General electrician: 8,000 hours for a C-10 contractor and the state exam. Residential: 4,800 hours. | No state master license. Electrical contracting businesses hold a separate C-10 contractor license. |
| Washington | Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) | General (01) journey level: 8,000 hours, 4,000 of them in new commercial or industrial work, 96 classroom hours and, in most cases, a registered apprenticeship | Exam sections must each be passed with 70% or more |
| Massachusetts | Board of State Examiners of Electricians | 600 hours of approved education, 8,000 hours over at least 4 years under a licensed journeyman, and a 15-hour code update course | Master: at least 1 year as a Massachusetts journeyman plus 150 hours of approved education |
| Florida | Counties and cities issue journeyman licenses | No state journeyman license. The state DBPR does not license or regulate journeymen. | State certified electrical contractor: one path requires 4 years as a foreman, supervisor or contractor within the last 8 years |
Washington phased in its apprenticeship rule starting July 1, 2023, and the requirement does not apply to specialty electrical contractors or the trainees they employ. If you move, check reciprocity before you go. Massachusetts, for example, has license reciprocity only with New Hampshire.
What can you do after you are licensed?
A journeyman license is a starting point, not the finish line. BLS lists several ways electricians grow:
- Earn a master license after meeting your state’s extra hour and exam rules, as shown in the table above.
- Add specialty certifications. BLS notes that certifications are available in areas such as solar photovoltaic systems and lighting systems.
- Move into leadership. Journey workers can advance to supervisory and project management roles. IEC also points graduates toward foreman, safety, estimating and business ownership paths.
- Keep your license active. BLS notes that licensed electricians may need continuing education, and Massachusetts requires a 15-hour code update course even before you are first licensed.
How long does it take to become an electrician?
| Stage | Typical time | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| High school | Before you apply | Diploma or GED, plus one year of algebra for union programs |
| Technical school (optional) | Varies by program | Credit toward an apprenticeship in many cases |
| Apprenticeship | 3 to 5 years, depending on the track | About 2,000 paid on-the-job hours per year plus classes |
| Journeyman license | After about 8,000 hours in TX, CA, WA and MA | Pass the state exam |
| Master license | Texas: at least 12,000 hours and 2 years as a journeyman. Massachusetts: 1 year as a journeyman plus 150 hours of education. | Pass the master exam |
At 2,000 hours a year, 8,000 hours works out to about 4 years and 12,000 hours to about 6 years. Working more or fewer hours each year changes that pace.
How much does it cost to become an electrician?
The biggest financial advantage of an apprenticeship is that you are paid while you train. Your costs depend on the program and state:
- Classes and books: Ask each sponsor what apprentices pay for tuition, books and tools, and whether the employer covers any of it.
- Technical school: If you start in school, compare total tuition with the apprenticeship credit you would receive.
- License fees, Texas: TDLR charges a $30 application fee for a journeyman license and $45 for a master license, plus the exam vendor’s fee.
- License fees, California: DIR lists a $75 application fee plus $100 for each exam attempt, and a $25 fee to register as a trainee.
- Gear: Budget for work boots, hand tools and code books.
Fees change, so confirm the current amounts with your state agency before you pay.
How much do electricians make?
BLS reported a median annual wage of $63,190, or $30.38 an hour, for electricians in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,640, and the highest 10% earned more than $108,510. To see what an hourly rate near the median means over a year, use the $30 an hour annual salary calculator.
| Industry | Median annual wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Government | $79,820 |
| Manufacturing | $74,550 |
| Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors | $61,570 |
| Employment services | $57,760 |
BLS counted 821,000 electrician jobs in 2025 and projects 9% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. It also projects about 72,700 openings a year, on average, over the decade. Electricians also appear on our list of high paying jobs without a degree.
Is becoming an electrician right for you?
BLS lists color vision, critical thinking and troubleshooting, customer service and physical stamina as important qualities. The work is physical, and safety rules matter every day.
If you like building and fixing things more than desk work, read about the Realistic personality type, which describes people who prefer hands-on work with tools and equipment. Not sure where you land? The free Holland Code career test takes a few minutes and matches your interests to career types.
How to stand out when you apply
- Show your math and mechanical background. List algebra grades, shop classes, construction jobs or military technical training.
- Prepare for the aptitude test. The Electrical Training Alliance posts sample test questions, and union applicants need a qualifying score.
- Keep a log of your hours from day one. Texas requires each supervising master electrician to sign an experience verification form, and the dates must match your employment history.
- Build a simple resume. Our electrician resume example shows how to list license level, hours and safety training.
Licensing rules and fees change, and some cities set their own requirements. Before you enroll, confirm the current rules with your state licensing agency or a local apprenticeship coordinator.