How to Become An Electrician in North Carolina
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.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Electrician in North Carolina
How do I become an electrician in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Unlimited Electrical Contracting, Special Restricted: Single Family Dwelling Electrical Contracting, Electric Generator Lessor. The licensing authority is the NC Board of 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 North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The NC Board of Electrical Contractors 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.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: NC Board of Electrical Contractors
- Median wage (North Carolina): $56,800 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Electrician License Requirements in North Carolina
The NC Board of Electrical Contractors oversees electrician licensing in North Carolina 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Electrical Contracting | This license allows individuals to engage in the business of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing any electric work, wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. |
| Special Restricted: Single Family Dwelling Electrical Contracting | This license allows individuals to install, maintain, or repair only electrical wiring and devices that are in or on a single family residential dwelling or are ancillary to a single family residentia… |
| Electric Generator Lessor | An electric generator lessor engages in the leasing of solar energy facilities for retail customers and subscription to shared community solar energy facilities. |
| 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 | Any Person Constructing Steam, Water Or Other Facility To Generate Electricity To Be Used For Furnishing A Public Utility Service. |
| Intermediate Electrical Contracting | This license allows individuals to engage in the business of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing any electric work, wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. |
| Limited Electrical Contracting | This license allows individuals to engage in the business of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing any electric work, wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. |
| Special Restricted: Electric Sign | This license allows individuals to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring or devices only as an incident to the licensee?s electric sign business. |
| Special Restricted: Groundwater Pump Electrical Contracting | This license allows individuals to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring only as an incident to the licensee?s groundwater pump business. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Background check required
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: Work experience 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]
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.
Top Metros for Electricians in North Carolina
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest electrician employment within North Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 5,250 | $59,080 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 3,740 | $56,800 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 1,990 | $58,380 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 1,160 | $59,220 |
| Winston-Salem | 1,120 | $56,100 |
Explore electrician programs in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro.
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.
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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 NC Board of Electrical Contractors 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 accredited 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.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NC Board of Electrical Contractors - Licensing Information: http://www.ncbeec.org ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |