Most electricians learn the trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, earning a paycheck while they train, and most states then require a license. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says apprentices typically get about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year plus technical instruction. Texas, California and Washington, the three states covered below, each require 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience for a journey-level or general electrician credential. For most career changers, the practical question is which sponsor to train with.

This guide is desk research from state licensing pages and law in Texas, California and Washington, apprenticeship sponsors’ own pages, the U.S. Department of Labor and BLS data, checked between October 5 and October 9, 2026. Fees and wages change, so confirm them with your state board and the program you apply to.

What the job involves

BLS says electricians install, maintain and repair electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems in homes, businesses and factories. Typical duties include reading blueprints, installing wiring and lighting systems, testing for faults and following state and local regulations based on the National Electrical Code (NEC).

A few job facts are worth checking against your situation before you apply:

  • Physical demands. BLS says electricians need color vision to identify wires and the strength to move components that may weigh up to 50 pounds.
  • Travel. Electricians move between worksites, so commuting is often required, and BLS says a driver’s license may be required.
  • Hours. Almost all work full time, schedules may include evenings and weekends, and overtime is common.

Apprenticeship routes compared

BLS says several groups, including unions and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs, and requirements vary by state and locality.

Route Who runs it Typical entry requirements Length and hours
Union (JATC) IBEW and NECA local joint committees 18+, high school, 1 year of algebra, aptitude test Set by each local program
Merit shop (IEC) Independent Electrical Contractors chapters Generally 18+, diploma or GED, transportation About 4 years; 8,000 OJT and 576 class hours
Other registered programs Employers and sponsors listed with DOL Set by the sponsor Set by the sponsor
Technical school first Schools and colleges Set by the school BLS: graduates usually get apprenticeship credit

Union programs. The electrical training ALLIANCE lists the typical requirements above for joint apprenticeship programs (JATCs) of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). It adds that being drug free is typical, that each local may add its own requirements, and that you apply to your local JATC. It names four specialty areas: outside linemen, inside wiremen, voice-data-video installer technicians and residential wiremen.

Merit-shop programs. IEC says its program is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, runs at more than 70 training locations, and pairs daytime work with an IEC contractor with evening classes. It says classroom costs are often shared by the employer or covered by state funding.

Registered Apprenticeship in general. The Department of Labor describes Registered Apprenticeship as paid work experience with a mentor, progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential. You apply directly with the employer or program sponsor, and DOL’s Become an Apprentice page links to its Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Two other paths are worth knowing about. BLS says some electrical contractors run their own training programs that are not recognized apprenticeships, and that some people enter an apprenticeship after working as a helper. It also says workers with electrical experience from the military or construction may qualify for a shortened apprenticeship.

Pay while you train. BLS says apprentices earn less than fully trained electricians, and their pay rises as they learn to do more. IEC says starting wages are typically 50 percent of a journeyman’s rate.

State hour rules: three examples

Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed, and BLS says requirements vary by state. These three show how much the details differ even when the headline number matches.

State Who issues it Experience before the journey-level exam Exam
Texas TDLR 8,000 hours under a Texas master electrician Two parts, 70% each, open-book NEC
California DIR Labor Commissioner 8,000 hours for general electrician 100 questions in 4 hours 30 minutes
Washington State certificate under RCW 19.28 An approved 8,000-hour apprenticeship Not covered here

Texas. Anyone doing non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed and work through a licensed electrical contractor. An apprentice license needs no experience or exam, and it renews every year. For the journeyman license, you need 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) lets you apply and test after 7,000 hours. Each supervisor signs an experience verification form.

California. Electricians working for a C-10 licensed contractor must be certified by the state. The Department of Industrial Relations lists 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience for a general electrician and 4,800 hours for a residential electrician before the exam. Until then you can work as an apprentice in a state-approved program or as a registered electrician trainee, which requires enrollment in a state-approved school and supervision by a certified electrician. The general electrician exam has 100 questions in 4 hours 30 minutes, and you need at least 70 percent to pass.

Washington. State law requires completing an approved 8,000-hour electrical construction apprenticeship before the journey level exam, with 4,000 of those hours in new industrial or commercial installations. Until you are certified, state rules require an electrical training certificate and work under a certified electrician’s supervision. A two-year electrical program at a public community or technical college, or an accredited nonprofit trade school, can substitute for up to two years of work experience. A master journey level certificate requires four years as a journey level electrician.

If you might move during your apprenticeship, ask your sponsor and the new state’s board how your hours will be counted before you go.

The licensing exam

BLS says licensing tests cover the National Electrical Code plus state and local codes, and some states require continuing education to keep a license.

Texas gives a clear example. The journeyman exam, given by PSI, has an NEC knowledge part of 59 items in 130 minutes and a calculations part of 26 items in 110 minutes. Each part needs at least 70 percent. TDLR says the exam is open book, and PSI’s candidate bulletin says that since September 1, 2026, questions are referenced to the 2026 NEC. Any soft-bound NEC may be used, but spiral-bound, ring-bound and loose-leaf copies are not allowed in the exam room.

The 2026 NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If your state’s bulletin names the 2026 edition and allows a soft-bound copy:

Texas bases its questions on the edition TDLR has adopted, so check the edition and binding rules in your own state’s candidate bulletin before you buy.

The outlook in numbers

BLS measure Electricians
Median annual wage, May 2025 $63,190
Lowest and highest 10 percent Less than $42,640; more than $108,510
Jobs in 2025 About 821,000
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 9 percent (much faster than average)
Openings per year, on average About 72,700
Typical entry-level education High school diploma or equivalent

BLS links the growth to installing and replacing power systems in buildings, connecting solar and wind generation to homes, businesses and the grid, and rising electricity demand from data centers that support artificial intelligence. After more experience and requirements, journey workers may advance to master electrician, supervisor or project management roles.

Electrician pay by state

BLS state data for May 2025 shows the five states with the most electricians, Washington from the hours table, and the highest and lowest medians among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

State Jobs Median annual wage Lowest 10% earned less than
Texas 76,770 $58,570 $37,920
California 73,310 $76,160 $46,800
Florida 49,700 $57,250 $38,190
New York 40,130 $78,750 $45,740
Ohio 28,950 $64,700 $40,750
Washington 19,380 $95,220 $52,170
Oregon (highest median) 10,590 $101,310 $59,550
Arkansas (lowest median) 7,500 $49,070 $34,910

These figures cover the whole occupation, including experienced electricians. Apprentice wages start lower and rise as you progress, so ask each sponsor for its wage schedule. Our guide to salary by state for skilled trades explains how to compare pay across states without mixing apprentice and journeyman rates.

A practical order of steps

  1. Look up your state’s licensing board and write down its hour rule, its exam and whether apprentices must register.
  2. Find two or three sponsors near you: a union JATC, an IEC or other merit-shop chapter, and openings on DOL’s job finder.
  3. Check each program’s entry requirements, such as algebra, an aptitude test, a driver’s license or a drug screen, and close any gaps.
  4. Keep your own log of hours and supervisors from day one, since boards like TDLR want signed verification.
  5. In your last year, get your state’s candidate bulletin and the NEC edition it names.

For a wider look at trades before you commit, our trade certificate jobs guide compares electrical work with HVAC, plumbing and welding, and our accreditation vs licensing guide explains why a training certificate isn’t the license.

FAQ

How long does it take to become an electrician?

BLS says most electricians learn in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction. Texas, California and Washington each set 8,000 hours as the experience bar for a journey-level or general electrician credential.

Do electrician apprentices get paid?

Yes. BLS says apprentices earn less than fully trained electricians but their pay rises as they learn to do more. The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) says starting apprentice wages are typically 50 percent of a journeyman’s rate.

What do I need to apply for an apprenticeship?

Requirements vary by program. For IBEW/NECA joint programs, the electrical training ALLIANCE lists typical requirements of age 18, a high school education, one year of high school algebra, a qualifying aptitude test score and being drug free. IEC says its applicants generally must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED and reliable transportation.

Can trade school replace an apprenticeship?

It can count toward one. BLS says technical school graduates usually receive credit toward an apprenticeship. Washington law, for example, lets a two-year electrical program substitute for up to two years of work experience, but the rest must still be supervised work.

Is the electrician licensing exam open book?

In Texas it is. TDLR says candidates may bring a soft-bound National Electrical Code, and PSI’s candidate bulletin says exams have been referenced to the 2026 edition since September 1, 2026. Rules differ by state, so check your board’s candidate bulletin.

Sources