How to Become an Electrician in Iowa (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa employs about 10,310 electricians earning a median $60,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most electricians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Iowa.

Iowa employs approximately 10,310 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,860 1. The state’s concentration of electrician jobs is 1.36x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Iowa, including 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
  • Median wage (Iowa): $60,860 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Iowa

How to become an Electrician in Iowa? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for electricians in Iowa.

How long does it take? 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.

What do electricians earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for electricians in Iowa is $60,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,770 and experienced professionals can earn $89,480 or more 1.

How to Become an Electrician in Iowa

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Iowa training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Iowa that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Iowa.
  4. Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Iowa, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Iowa

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Iowa’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Iowa Workforce Development
  • Address: 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
  • Phone: (515) 725-3675
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Iowa

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Iowa earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Iowa general wage determinations show approximately $26.18 per hour in base pay plus $8.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $34.51 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.

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 Iowa

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Omaha3,530$62,440$66,780$44,120$94,690
Des Moines-West Des Moines2,870$62,840$65,060$39,740$92,650
Cedar Rapids1,690$50,230$56,880$40,110$87,670
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island1,450$76,950$72,760$40,640$102,480
Iowa City370$59,510$60,070$39,350$83,910
Waterloo-Cedar Falls360$63,420$65,360$40,160$83,150
Sioux City300$73,910$68,740$46,600$84,930
Ames210$63,320$66,460$39,900$89,990
Dubuque210$62,110$64,850$42,590$90,460

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 Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 10,310 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Iowa. You can also contact the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do electricians earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Iowa is $60,860, which is $1,490 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.

In Iowa

Top local programs

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/registered-apprenticeship ↩︎

  4. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)