How to Become an Electrician in North Carolina (2026)
North Carolina employs about 21,640 electricians earning a median $56,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Utilities Commission - Operations credentialing requirements.
North Carolina employs approximately 21,640 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,800 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 North Carolina, 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: Utilities Commission - Operations
- Median wage (North Carolina): $56,800 per year 1
- Exam requirement: No exam required
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in North Carolina
How to become an Electrician in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Electric Generator Lessor, Resale Of Electric Service, Electric Merchant Plant. The licensing authority is the Utilities Commission - Operations 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 North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Utilities Commission - Operations oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for electricians in North Carolina is $56,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,130 and experienced professionals can earn $75,060 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician in North Carolina
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 Utilities Commission - Operations, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in North Carolina.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician License Requirements in North Carolina
The Utilities Commission - Operations oversees electrician licensing in North Carolina 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Electric Generator Lessor | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Resale Of Electric Service | The Commission regulates the resale of electric utility service in most apartment complexes under different rules and requirements than those which the traditional electric public utilities are subjec… |
| Electric Merchant Plant | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
| Special Restricted: Electric Sign | See the state licensing board for current requirements. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: No exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in North Carolina
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. North Carolina’s apprenticeship program is administered by the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Forsyth Tech Apprenticeship Program
- Address: 2100 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
- Phone: (336) 723-0371
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in North Carolina
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in North Carolina earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent North Carolina general wage determinations show approximately $22.15 per hour in base pay plus $5.93 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $28.08 (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 North Carolina
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in North Carolina vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 5,740 | $62,350 | $63,030 | $43,970 | $81,280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 5,250 | $59,080 | $59,100 | $43,770 | $76,310 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 3,740 | $56,800 | $57,080 | $45,700 | $73,760 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 1,990 | $58,380 | $56,510 | $43,430 | $73,090 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 1,160 | $59,220 | $59,670 | $46,160 | $75,800 |
| Winston-Salem | 1,120 | $56,100 | $56,140 | $38,550 | $72,350 |
| Wilmington | 910 | $54,080 | $55,260 | $37,680 | $75,550 |
| Asheville | 860 | $54,590 | $56,720 | $41,190 | $76,870 |
| Fayetteville | 680 | $57,690 | $58,720 | $40,090 | $83,370 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 570 | $53,730 | $55,970 | $39,480 | $75,570 |
| Greenville | 480 | $54,930 | $54,110 | $44,840 | $64,210 |
| Rocky Mount | 340 | $58,710 | $58,870 | $39,480 | $79,150 |
| Burlington | 230 | $51,400 | $53,890 | $37,500 | $72,350 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | 210 | $45,650 | $50,900 | $39,610 | $60,150 |
| Goldsboro | 160 | $51,230 | $53,460 | $38,890 | $75,770 |
| Jacksonville | 150 | $48,470 | $53,520 | $36,740 | $76,900 |
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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 21,640 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the Utilities Commission - Operations for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Carolina. You can also contact the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in North Carolina is $56,800, which is $5,550 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
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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
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Utilities Commission - Operations - Licensing Information: https://www.ncuc.net/Industries/electric/electric.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships: 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) |