How to Become An Electrician in Nebraska

Nebraska employs approximately 6,440 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,820 1. The state’s concentration of electrician jobs is 1.29x 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 Nebraska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Electrician in Nebraska

How do I become an electrician in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Electrician, Electrician, Specialty License, Electrical & Computer Engineer. The licensing authority is the Nebraska State Electrical Division 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 Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Nebraska State Electrical Division oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do electricians earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for electricians in Nebraska is $60,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,400 and experienced professionals can earn $94,040 or more 1.

At a Glance

Electrician License Requirements in Nebraska

The Nebraska State Electrical Division oversees electrician licensing in Nebraska 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Electrician

Occupational Description


Electricians install, connect, test, and maintain electrical systems for a variety of purposes, including power, lighting, climate control, security, and communica…
Electrician, Specialty License

Occupational Description


A person licensed to plan, layout and install electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment for only those components on an Sign, Irrigation System or HVAC System.
Electrical & Computer Engineer

Occupational Description


See ‘Engineer, Professional’

Licensure Requirements


See ‘Engineer, Professional’

Fees


See ‘Engineer, Professional’

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License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Nebraska

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Omaha Field Office
  • Address: 222 South 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68102-1608
  • Phone: (515) 284-4632
  • Email: [email protected]

Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), electricians wages in Nebraska 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
Lincoln1,020$60,680$63,530$45,950$84,650
Sioux City300$73,910$68,740$46,600$84,930
Grand Island260$52,470$56,470$37,910$78,510

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 Nebraska

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Omaha3,530$62,440
Lincoln1,020$60,680
Grand Island260$52,470

Explore electrician programs in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Nebraska

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Nebraska earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Nebraska general wage determinations show approximately $20.66 per hour in base pay plus $5.74 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $26.40 (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 Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for electricians in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 6,440 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as an electrician in Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska State Electrical Division for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do electricians earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Nebraska is $60,820, which is $1,530 below 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


  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. Nebraska State Electrical Division - Licensing Information: https://electrical.nebraska.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

  5. Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

  6. 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)