How to Become An Electrician in Oregon
Oregon employs approximately 10,590 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $101,310 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 Oregon, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Electrician in Oregon
How do I become an electrician in Oregon? Oregon requires credentials such as Electrician, Signmaker Apprentice, Electrician, Limited Energy Technician Class A (LEA) Apprentice, Electrician, Limited Maintenance Apprentice. The licensing authority is the Bureau of Labor and Industries 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 Oregon? Yes. Oregon has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for electricians in Oregon is $101,310 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $59,550 and experienced professionals can earn $131,530 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: Bureau of Labor and Industries
- Median wage (Oregon): $101,310 per year 1
Electrician License Requirements in Oregon
The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees electrician licensing in Oregon 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Electrician, Signmaker Apprentice | This is an apprenticeship for the sign fabricators craft and leads to the Limited Journeyman Sign Electrician license. |
| Electrician, Limited Energy Technician Class A (LEA) Apprentice | This apprenticeship leads to the Limited Energy Class A Technician license. |
| Electrician, Limited Maintenance Apprentice | This apprenticeship leads to the Limited Maintenance Electrician license. |
| Electrician, General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside) | This apprenticeship leads to the General Journeyman Electrician license. Inside electricians perform electrical installations, construction, maintenance, repair and service. |
| Electrician, Manufacturing Plant, Apprentice | This apprenticeship leads to the Limited Journeyman Manufacturing Plant Electrician license. |
| Electrician, Limited Residential Apprentice | This apprenticeship leads to the Electrician, Limited Residential (LR) license. Residential electricians work in all phases of the residential electrical construction and service industry. |
| Electrician, Limited Energy Technician Class B (LEB) Apprentice | This apprenticeship leads to the Limited Energy Class B Technician license. |
| Apprentice Electrician, Limited Renewable Energy Technician | Apprentice electrician licenses are issued to individuals who are enrolled in registered apprenticeship or training programs approved by the Oregon State Apprenticeship and Training Council and the Or… |
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Oregon
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Oregon’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: Apprenticeship and Training Division, Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries
- Address: 1800 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
- Phone: (971) 245-3844
- Email: [email protected]
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Oregon
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Oregon
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), electricians wages in Oregon vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) |
Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 7,340 | $105,090 | $103,030 | $60,360 | $134,380 |
| Salem | 1,000 | $98,850 | $94,980 | $57,630 | $129,010 |
| Eugene-Springfield | 750 | $94,680 | $89,650 | $56,420 | $122,700 |
| Bend | 610 | $99,200 | $92,540 | $57,920 | $123,270 |
| Medford | 500 | $92,410 | $88,160 | $53,460 | $119,390 |
| Albany | 440 | $100,230 | $100,180 | $61,370 | $123,500 |
| Corvallis | 80 | $99,880 | $91,800 | $59,860 | $115,240 |
| Grants Pass | 60 | $88,140 | $87,530 | $53,460 | $133,260 |
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 Oregon
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest electrician employment within Oregon according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 7,340 | $105,090 |
| Salem | 1,000 | $98,850 |
| Eugene-Springfield | 750 | $94,680 |
| Bend | 610 | $99,200 |
| Medford | 500 | $92,410 |
Explore electrician programs in Portland, Salem, and Eugene.
Federal Prevailing Wage in Oregon
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Oregon earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Oregon general wage determinations show approximately $52.12 per hour in base pay plus $24.37 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $76.49 (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 Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 10,590 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Oregon with an out-of-state license? Contact the Bureau of Labor and Industries for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Oregon? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Oregon. You can also contact the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Oregon is $101,310, which is $38,960 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
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Bureau of Labor and Industries - Licensing Information: http://www.oregonobo.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.aspx ↩︎
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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) |