How to Become an Electrician in Maine (2026)
Maine employs about 3,780 electricians earning a median $75,380 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation credentialing requirements.
Maine employs approximately 3,780 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,380 1. The state’s concentration of electrician jobs is 1.21x 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 Maine, 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: Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Median wage (Maine): $75,380 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Maine
How to become an Electrician in Maine? Maine requires credentials such as Electrician, Master, Limited Electrician, Senior Limited Electrician, Electrician, Helper. The licensing authority is the Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
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.
Do I need a license in Maine? Yes. Maine has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Maine? The median annual wage for electricians in Maine is $75,380 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $54,180 and experienced professionals can earn $115,720 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician in Maine
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in Maine.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician License Requirements in Maine
The Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation oversees electrician licensing in Maine 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Electrician, Master | Master electricians install electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures and other electrical equipment. |
| Limited Electrician, Senior Limited Electrician | A limited electrician is an individual licensed to make electrical installations limited to a specific type of electrically operated equipment or to specific electrical installations only authorized b… |
| Electrician, Helper | Electrician helpers support electricians in the maintenance, operation and repair of electrical systems. |
| Electrician, Apprentice | Electrician apprentices support electricians in the maintenance, operation and repair of electrical systems. |
| Journeyman Electrician, Senior Journeyman Electrician | Journey electricians are able to provide electrical repairs and services and are usually on their way to getting a master electrician license. |
| Helper Electrician, Senior Helper Electrician | Electrician helpers support electricians in the maintenance, operation and repair of electrical systems. |
| Electrician, Limited | Limited electricians install and service the electrical work related to a specific type of electrically operated equipment or to specific electrical installations only authorized by this license. |
| Electrician, Journeyman-in-Training | A journeyman-in-training electrician is a person making electrical installations in the employment of a master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company and under the supervision of a jou… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Maine
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Maine’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Maine Apprenticeship Program 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services
- Address: 55 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0055
- Phone: (207) 623-7969
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in Maine
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Maine earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Maine general wage determinations show approximately $25.27 per hour in base pay plus $9.30 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $34.57 (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 Maine
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Maine
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in Maine vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | 1,870 | $71,660 | $73,210 | $56,350 | $98,030 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | 410 | $78,430 | $77,880 | $54,470 | $98,790 |
| Bangor | 210 | $63,390 | $70,020 | $51,530 | $92,740 |
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 Maine? Maine currently employs approximately 3,780 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Maine with an out-of-state license? Contact the Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Maine? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Maine. You can also contact the Maine Apprenticeship Program for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Maine compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Maine is $75,380, which is $13,030 above the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
Related guides
In Maine
Top local programs
- Best Electrician Schools in Auburn, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Augusta, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Bangor, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Biddeford, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Lewiston, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Portland, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Saco, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Sanford, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in South Portland, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Waterville, Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Westbrook, Maine (2026)
Related trades & nearby areas
- Best Carpenter Schools in Maine (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in New Hampshire
- Best HVAC Schools in Maine (2026)
- Best Plumber Schools in Maine
- Best Plumbing Schools in Maine (2026)
- Best Welder Schools in Maine
Explore More Trades in Maine
- Plumber in Maine
- HVAC Technician in Maine
- Welder in Maine
- Carpenter in Maine
- Solar Installation Technician in Maine
- Auto Mechanic in Maine
- CNC Machinist in Maine
- Certified Nursing Assistant in Maine
- Medical Assistant in Maine
- Massage Therapist in Maine
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/index.shtml ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Maine Apprenticeship Program: https://joblink.maine.gov/ada/r/search/jobs?keywords=apprentice ↩︎
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) |