"How long does it take to become an electrician in District of Columbia?"

"Most paths into the electrician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do electricians need a license in District of Columbia?"

"Yes. District of Columbia requires state-level licensing or registration for electricians, administered by the Department of Consumer \u0026 Regulatory Affairs - Occupational \u0026 Professional Licensing Administration. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for electricians in District of Columbia?"

"In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become An Electrician in District of Columbia

Q: "How much do electricians earn in District of Columbia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), electricians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $78,970. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.71 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for electricians in District of Columbia?"

"District of Columbia currently employs approximately 2,440 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for electricians in District of Columbia?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians on federally funded construction projects in District of Columbia earn a prevailing wage of approximately $59.50 per hour in base pay plus $23.06 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $82.56 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia electricians earn a median annual wage of $78,970 ($37.97/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,440 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 25.0% above the national median of $63,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $78,970 ($37.97/hr)
25th percentile: $61,240 per year
75th percentile: $122,050 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $125,790 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $51,950 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 2,440
Versus national median: 25.0% above the U.S. median of $63,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.71 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

District of Columbia employs approximately 2,440 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,970 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 District of Columbia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Electrician in District of Columbia

How do I become an electrician in District of Columbia? District of Columbia requires credentials such as ELECTRICIANS. The licensing authority is the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Yes. District of Columbia has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do electricians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for electricians in District of Columbia is $78,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $51,950 and experienced professionals can earn $125,790 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration
Median wage (District of Columbia): $78,970 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Electrician License Requirements in District of Columbia

The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees electrician licensing in District of Columbia ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
ELECTRICIANS	Contact licensing agency for more information.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Electrician Apprenticeship Information in District of Columbia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. District of Columbia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: D.C. Apprenticeship Council
Address: 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 724-7000
Email: [email protected]

Electrician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), electricians wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	16,580	$75,930	$79,650	$44,690	$121,570

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 2025.

Top Metros for Electricians in District of Columbia

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest electrician employment within District of Columbia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	16,580	$75,930

Explore electrician programs in Washington.

Federal Prevailing Wage in District of Columbia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in District of Columbia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent District of Columbia general wage determinations show approximately $59.50 per hour in base pay plus $23.06 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $82.56 (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.

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for electricians in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 2,440 electricians ¹. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an electrician in District of Columbia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in District of Columbia. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do electricians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in District of Columbia is $78,970, which is $16,620 above the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration - Licensing Information: https://dlcp.dc.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Department of Employment Services: https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/publication/attachments/DOES_Up-to%20date%20Non-Union%20Sponsors%202011.pdf ↩︎
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)