Electricians are in the middle of a hiring boom. EV chargers, solar, battery storage, and data centers are creating demand faster than the trade can train people — which means good pay, steady work, and a clear path to running your own business. Here's how to become one.
Pay: $50,000–$110,000+ | Training: 4–5 year apprenticeship (paid) | Union: IBEW or non-union (IEC) | Requirement: 18+, HS diploma/GED
Electricians install, maintain, and repair the electrical systems inside buildings — wiring, panels, outlets, lighting, motors, and controls. The work splits into three main areas: residential (homes), commercial (offices, retail, schools), and industrial (factories, plants). Most electricians specialize over time but start with broad training.
Day to day you'll read blueprints, bend and run conduit, pull wire, terminate connections, install and troubleshoot equipment, and make sure everything meets the National Electrical Code. It's detailed, problem-solving work that's mostly indoors and on the ground — a big lifestyle difference from outdoor trades like lineman.
The standard path is a 4–5 year apprenticeship where you work full-time and attend classroom instruction. Two main routes:
You'll start around 40–50% of journeyman scale and step up yearly. After completing the apprenticeship and required hours, you test for your journeyman license. Many states then offer a master electrician license after additional experience, which lets you pull permits and run a business.
| Stage | Typical Pay |
|---|---|
| Apprentice (yr 1) | $18–$25/hr |
| Journeyman | $28–$50/hr |
| Master / Foreman | $45–$65/hr |
| Business owner | $100k–$250k+ |
Union electricians in high-cost metros (NYC, SF, Chicago) top the scale. The real earning ceiling is in business ownership — licensed electrical contractors who build a company can far exceed employee wages.
Real journeyman rates, top employers, and apprenticeships for all 50 states.
View Pay Map →For most people, yes. It's one of the most accessible high-paying trades, demand is surging, the work is intellectually engaging, and you can eventually own a business. The downsides: the licensing process takes years, and the work can be physically demanding with occasional tight spaces and awkward positions. Compared to lineman work, the pay ceiling as an employee is a bit lower, but the work-life balance and business potential are better. See our full electrician vs lineman comparison.
A typical apprenticeship is 4–5 years, during which you're paid and earning increasing wages. After that you test for your journeyman license. There's no requirement to attend college first.
Apprentices start around $18–$25/hr, journeymen earn $28–$50/hr depending on region and union status, and licensed electrical contractors who own businesses can earn $100,000 to $250,000+.
Yes, most states require a journeyman license to work unsupervised and a master license to pull permits or run a business. Licensing requirements vary by state but generally follow completion of an apprenticeship and required work hours.
About this guide: Written by a working journeyman lineman — IBEW, Class A CDL. Pay reflects current union and BLS data, varies by state and experience. Corrections welcome.
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Run the Wealth Calculator → Compare Electrician vs a degreeSee real electrician pay, top employers, and apprenticeships for your state: