Start a skilled trade in your state
The license you need, what apprenticeships pay and what to do next.
For example:Electrician in TexasElectrician in FloridaElectrician apprenticeships in Oregon
- 26states
- 3trades
- 150apprenticeship programs with their pay
Example: electrician in Texas
- Apprentice ElectricianStart here · $20, no exam
- Journeyman Electrician8,000 hours on the job
- Master Electrician12,000 hours on the job
- Electrical ContractorRun your own business
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Find your guide
Pick your trade, then your state. Each guide covers the license, the exam, apprenticeships and pay.
Choose a state
26 states have an electrician guide. Pick one to see its median pay and open its guide.
- Guide ready
- Your pick
- Not covered yet
24 states and the District of Columbia have no electrician guide yet.
Median pay counts every worker in the trade in that state, from first-year apprentices to masters. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Plan your next step
- ApprenticeshipsA paid job with training. See the programs in your state and what they pay.
- Your license examWho gives your exam and what it costs.
- Questions to ask10 questions for a program or a school before you sign. Print them and take them with you.
- Your LadderSave programs, log your hours toward your license, and manage your email alerts in one place.
Earn while you learn
An apprentice is an employee. You are paid for every hour on the job, and your pay goes up in steps as your hours add up.
Compare apprenticeships in your stateOne real program: Area I Inside Electrical JATC, Portland, Oregon
Source: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, apprenticeship register. Each program sets its own pay.
Common questions
Short answers. Each guide has the details for your state.
Do I need a college degree?
No. You learn on the job and in classes as an apprentice. Some programs ask for a high school diploma or a GED, and some ask you to pass a basic math test.
Do I get paid while I train?
Yes. An apprentice is an employee, so you earn a wage from your first day, and it goes up as you log hours. Electrician apprentices in Washington start at $14.60 to $24.75 an hour, depending on the program.Source: L&I’s apprenticeship registry
How long does it take?
Often about 4 years to reach journeyman. Texas asks for 8,000 hours on the job for the journeyman electrician license, which is about 4 years of full-time work.Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Do I need a license to start?
It depends on the state. Texas asks apprentice electricians for a $20 license. Michigan asks apprentices to register. Your state’s guide tells you what you need.Sources: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Michigan’s Bureau of Construction Codes
Can I use my license in another state?
Sometimes. Some states accept licenses from other states, often only when your state accepts theirs. Each guide lists the states it recognizes.
Get an email when applications open
Or when license fees or rules change. Pick what you want to hear about. You get one short email when it happens.