Becoming an electrician is one of the smartest and most reliable career moves that you can make nowadays. Electricians quite literally keep homes, businesses, and cities running, and the demand for their skills continues to grow every year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for electricians is projected to grow by 9% over the next ten years, which is faster than the national average across all other occupations.1
Whether you decide to start with a trade school or enroll in a paid electrician apprenticeship program, this career offers you stability, strong earning potential, and great opportunities for advancement. This guide will walk you through every step on the path to becoming a master electrician, from training and licensing to career growth and specialization.
Key Takeaways
- Electricians are in high demand, and you will enjoy steady job security with strong salary potential.
- You can begin your electrician career through a trade school or an apprenticeship program, which will both give you hands-on learning experience and credit toward licensing.
- Advancing from an apprentice to master electrician involves several years of experience, exams, and often continuing education.
- Joining a union like the IBEW can provide better pay, benefits, and job protections through structured training programs.
- Emerging technologies like solar, EV charging, and smart-home systems are expanding the career options for electricians.
- Financial aid, scholarships, and paid apprenticeships will make the training a lot more accessible for most learners.
Electrician Trade Schools vs Apprenticeships
Choosing between an electrician trade school and a paid apprenticeship is an important decision when you are thinking about entering the electrical trade. To start, most people will need a high school diploma or GED. Although formal schooling isn’t required in most cases, many electricians prefer the structure of a trade or vocational program to learn the fundamentals of the industry.
If you choose not to attend school, you most likely will have to complete an electrician apprenticeship program to gain job experience and hours before you can take your state-licensed exam. A registered apprenticeship provides paid, hands-on experience while you are learning the technical side of the job. Most programs span about four years and require roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of combined classroom and on-the-job training experience.
During your time as an apprentice, you’ll likely study electrical theory, math, blueprint reading, and code compliance. If you enroll in a trade school, the time you spend learning in the classroom will likely count towards your apprenticeship credit. Additionally, trade schools also offer networking opportunities and job placement resources that can help you connect with licensed contractors or unions to help secure a job when you finish.
Before or during your apprenticeship, it’s recommended that you consider obtaining additional certification credentials to make you a more attractive and employable electrician.
Three great training options include:
- Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)
- Electrical Training Alliance (etA)
- Penn Foster Online Electrician Program
Your Electrician Career Journey
Most electrician career paths progresses from apprentice to journeyman, and then finally to master electrician or contractor. After finishing your apprenticeship, you are then eligible to take your state’s licensing exam and can eventually work independently.
Journeyman electricians can usually work unsupervised, but some states will require additional on-the-job experience before you are eligible to grow into a master status. Most jurisdictions require 2,000–4,000 hours of journeyman experience (about two to four years) before you are eligible to apply for a master license.
As a master electrician, you can supervise crews, manage projects, or start your own contracting business. Licensing requirements vary by state, but most boards require you to have some amount of documented work hours, NEC-based exam scores, and periodic renewal. Some states also have reciprocity agreements, which means that experienced electricians can transfer their licenses across states without having to start from scratch again.
Many states require you to have continuing education hours to stay current with the National Electrical Code (NEC). You can fulfill these requirements through online and in-person courses, which cover topics like safety, any new local policies, and emerging technology.
Unions
Joining a union, like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), can offer you structured training opportunities, the potential for earning higher wages, and strong benefits. The IBEW is the largest electrical union in North America and it partners with contractors through the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).
Union apprenticeship programs, like the ones that are offered through the Electrical Training Alliance, can give you the opportunity to get paid classroom hours, comprehensive fieldwork experience, and access to pension and healthcare benefits that you might not otherwise have. As with other unions, you have to ‘buy in’, and the dues that you will be responsible for are determined by your local chapter.
Benefits and Money
Electricians have a strong earning potential, making a median salary of $62,350 every year.1 There are also important workplace protections and benefits packages available depending on the sector and environment you choose to work in.
Job Security
The demand for electricians is strong because of new renewable energy facilities, growing EV infrastructure, and people putting in smart-building systems. Employment is projected to grow by 9% over the next decade, which is faster than other jobs growth.1
Electrician Salaries
Salaries for electricians are variable depending on your experience, the location that you are working in, and if you decided to join a union. Electricians earned a median annual salary of $62,350 in 2024. The top 10% of people earned over $100,000.1
Below is a sample of average electrician wages by level (estimates for 2025):
| Role | National Average |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | ~$47,500 |
| Journeyman | ~$68,000 |
| Master | ~$79,900 |
Your salary can differ significantly based on things like union status, overtime, and how complex your project is. Electricians who work for the government earn more due to additional licensing and safety requirements.1The highest-paying states include Washington, Oregon, DC, Illinois, and Hawaii, all offering average salaries of over $85,000 every year.5
Different Electrician Jobs
Electricians can choose from residential, commercial, industrial, and emerging specializations across the trade. Residential electricians install home wiring, lighting, and safety systems. Commercial electricians handle power and lighting for offices, schools, and businesses. Industrial electricians maintain heavy machinery and control systems in plants and factories.
New specialties are emerging in renewable energy, electric vehicle (EV) charging, automation, and smart-home integration. Experienced professionals can advance to supervisory, project management, or inspection roles, or even open their own contracting businesses.
Financing Your Electrician Education
Financing your electrician training is possible through apprenticeships, federal aid, and industry-sponsored support. Many apprenticeships include paid on-the-job training, while trade schools may accept federal financial aid through the FAFSA program.
Registered apprenticeships are often funded in part by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), meaning trainees can earn while they learn rather than paying tuition. Unions and employers may also offer tuition reimbursement, tools, or book stipends.
Conclusion
Launching a career as an electrician will give you a stable career with high pay and a lot of opportunity for growth.
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Becoming an electrician means that you will have steady employment, robust and diverse job options, and the chance to build a meaningful career in an essential part of our society’s infrastructure. As technology evolves, skilled electricians will continue to power the world forward.
Sources
https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Electrician-Apprentice-Salary#Yearly
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Journeyman-Electrician-Salary#Yearly
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Master-Electrician-Salary#Yearly
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