Becoming an Electrician: Complete Guide
How to become an electrician — IBEW apprenticeships, trade school, licensing, wages, and what to expect from inside wireman to journeyman and beyond.
Electricians are the backbone of the built environment. Every home, office, factory, and data center runs on electrical systems that need to be designed, installed, and maintained by licensed professionals. It's one of the highest-paying and most respected skilled trades, and demand is only growing.
What Electricians Do
The job varies depending on your specialization:
Inside wiremen are the most common type. They wire residential and commercial buildings — running conduit, pulling wire, installing panels, outlets, switches, and lighting systems. New construction and renovation projects are the bread and butter.
Outside lineworkers build and maintain the power grid — overhead transmission lines, underground distribution, substations. The work pays extremely well but is physically demanding and often requires travel.
Low-voltage / data techs install fire alarm, security, communication, and data cabling systems. This specialization is growing fast as buildings become smarter.
Industrial electricians maintain electrical systems in factories, plants, and processing facilities. This often includes PLC programming, motor controls, and high-voltage equipment.
Day to day, you'll read blueprints, bend conduit, pull wire through buildings, make connections, troubleshoot circuits, and ensure everything meets the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Training Paths
IBEW Apprenticeship (The Gold Standard)
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) jointly run one of the most structured apprenticeship programs in any trade.
The inside wireman apprenticeship is 5 years:
- 8,000+ hours of on-the-job training
- 900+ hours of classroom instruction (typically nights or Saturdays)
- Wages start at 40-50% of the journeyman rate and increase every 6 months
If the local journeyman rate is $40/hour, you'd start around $16-20/hour and graduate around $36-40/hour. In high-cost markets like San Francisco, Chicago, or New York, journeyman rates can exceed $55-65/hour.
IBEW apprenticeships are competitive. Applicants typically need a high school diploma, a valid driver's license, and to pass an aptitude test. Having some trade school coursework or construction experience helps your application.
Non-Union Apprenticeship
The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) also run registered apprenticeship programs. These tend to be 4 years, with lower starting wages but also less selectivity. The journeyman credential is the same.
Trade School (6-24 months)
Electrical trade school programs teach fundamentals — circuit theory, NEC code, basic wiring, motor controls. Certificate programs run 6-12 months; associate degrees take 2 years.
Trade school alone doesn't make you an electrician. You'll still need to accumulate supervised work hours before you can test for a journeyman license. But it gives you a strong foundation and makes you a more competitive apprenticeship applicant.
Compare electrical programs on SkillPlum.
Licensing
Electrical licensing is state-regulated, and the requirements vary significantly:
- Apprentice / trainee license — most states require registration before you can start working under supervision
- Journeyman license — typically requires 8,000 hours of supervised work + passing a written exam based on the NEC
- Master electrician license — requires additional experience beyond journeyman (usually 2-4 more years) + another exam
- Electrical contractor license — required to pull permits and run a business in most states
Some states have reciprocity agreements where a license from one state transfers to another. Others make you start from scratch. Research your state's requirements early.
Wages
Electricians are among the highest-paid tradespeople:
- Apprentice (year 1): $16-22/hour
- Apprentice (year 4-5): $30-42/hour
- Journeyman: $29-45/hour (varies greatly by location and union status)
- Master electrician: $35-55/hour
- National median: roughly $30-33/hour
Union electricians in major metro areas consistently earn the highest wages. IBEW locals in cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Boston have journeyman packages (wage + benefits) exceeding $70-90/hour total compensation.
Overtime, per diem on travel jobs, and shift differentials can add 15-30% to base pay on many projects.
Job Outlook
The BLS projects 6-8% growth for electricians through 2032. But the real demand driver is electrification: EV charger installations, solar panel connections, battery storage systems, and the general trend of converting gas appliances to electric. Add in a massive wave of baby boomer retirements, and the labor shortage is projected to worsen before it improves.
Electricians who learn renewable energy systems, EV charging, and smart building controls will be particularly well-positioned.
Getting Started
- Apply to apprenticeship programs — Search electrical apprenticeships on SkillPlum and apply to IBEW, IEC, or ABC programs in your area
- Consider trade school first — if you can't get into an apprenticeship immediately, a 6-12 month certificate program builds your foundation and strengthens your next application
- Get your trainee card — register with your state as an electrical apprentice/trainee so you can start logging hours
- Study the NEC — the sooner you start learning the code book, the better off you'll be
Search electrical programs and apprenticeships near you, or read our apprenticeship vs. college comparison to understand the financial case for the trades.