How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas (2026)
Arkansas employs about 7,500 electricians earning a median $49,070 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners credentialing requirements.
Arkansas employs approximately 7,500 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,070 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Electrician in Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
- Median wage (Arkansas): $49,070 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas
How to become an Electrician in Arkansas? Arkansas requires credentials such as Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Specialist Sign Electrician. The licensing authority is the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license lists approximately 16,000 hours of training or supervised practice. Confirm the current total with the state board 3.
Do I need a license in Arkansas? Yes. Arkansas has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for electricians in Arkansas is $49,070 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,910 and experienced professionals can earn $74,460 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
- Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
- Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
- Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in Arkansas.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician License Requirements in Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners oversees electrician licensing in Arkansas 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Master Electrician | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Specialist Sign Electrician | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Industrial Maintenance Electrician | An Industrial Maintenance Electrician is an individual who is limited by license classification to the repair, maintenance, alteration, and extension of electrical conductors and equipment for electri… |
| Residential Journeyman Electrician | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Residential Master Electrician | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Air Conditioning Electrician | An Air Conditioning Electrician is an individual who is limited by license classification to the installation, maintenance, and extension of electrical conductors and equipment solely for the purpose… |
| Electrical Apprentice | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Arkansas
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Arkansas’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
- Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
- Phone: (501) 683-1152
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in Arkansas
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Arkansas earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Arkansas general wage determinations show approximately $28.94 per hour in base pay plus $14.95 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $43.89 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.
Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within electrician work.
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 2,770 | $60,890 | $62,690 | $38,670 | $84,890 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 1,870 | $48,200 | $51,710 | $34,740 | $70,720 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 1,810 | $49,230 | $53,990 | $35,680 | $74,120 |
| Texarkana | 390 | $58,140 | $56,300 | $34,870 | $72,990 |
| Fort Smith | 370 | $52,500 | $53,780 | $33,770 | $73,870 |
| Jonesboro | 340 | $48,740 | $51,600 | $31,470 | $66,200 |
| Hot Springs | 250 | $46,650 | $48,030 | $29,640 | $61,370 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for electricians in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 7,500 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Arkansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas. You can also contact the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Arkansas is $49,070, which is $13,280 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
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Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing - Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners - Licensing Information: https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/divisions/code-enforcement/electrical-inspection-and-licensing/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |