How to Become An Electrician in Missouri
Missouri employs approximately 12,780 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $65,410 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 Missouri, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Electrician in Missouri
How do I become an electrician in Missouri? Missouri requires credentials such as Electrical Contractor. The licensing authority is the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors 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 Missouri? Yes. Missouri has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Missouri? The median annual wage for electricians in Missouri is $65,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,860 and experienced professionals can earn $104,060 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: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors
- Median wage (Missouri): $65,410 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Choice of state or third-party exam
Electrician License Requirements in Missouri
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors oversees electrician licensing in Missouri 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | Applicant must submit the division provided application form, pay application fee and submit proof of the followings: (1) Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) liability insurance. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Choice of state or third-party exam
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Missouri
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Missouri’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeship 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Missouri Division of Workforce Development
- Address: 3315 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65102-0599
- Email: [email protected]
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Missouri
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Missouri
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), electricians wages in Missouri vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 5,920 | $77,170 | $75,770 | $46,890 | $104,800 |
| Kansas City | 5,400 | $76,860 | $77,660 | $46,280 | $110,170 |
| Springfield | 1,040 | $56,590 | $60,020 | $37,440 | $96,450 |
| Jefferson City | 480 | $67,630 | $68,550 | $38,990 | $97,380 |
| Joplin | 430 | $67,720 | $69,290 | $36,810 | $96,890 |
| St. Joseph | 350 | $97,350 | $84,050 | $47,560 | $116,850 |
| Columbia | 290 | $61,500 | $63,320 | $39,520 | $88,940 |
| Cape Girardeau | 150 | $59,720 | $66,990 | $44,550 | $99,400 |
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 Missouri
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest electrician employment within Missouri according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 5,920 | $77,170 |
| Kansas City | 5,400 | $76,860 |
| Springfield | 1,040 | $56,590 |
| Jefferson City | 480 | $67,630 |
| Joplin | 430 | $67,720 |
Explore electrician programs in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.
Federal Prevailing Wage in Missouri
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Missouri earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Missouri general wage determinations show approximately $54.01 per hour in base pay plus $27.85 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $81.86 (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for electricians in Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 12,780 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Missouri with an out-of-state license? Contact the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Missouri? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Missouri. You can also contact the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Missouri is $65,410, which is $3,060 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors - Licensing Information: https://pr.mo.gov/electricalcontractors.asp ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - On-the-Job Training & 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) |