An apprentice electrician learns to wire homes by working under a licensed electrician. They drill studs and pull cable in new houses. They set boxes on remodels and help on panel swaps and service calls.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, electrical contractors · BLS, May 2025
Provides hands-on assistance to licensed electricians and supports the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of electrical systems. Gains practical experience in wiring methods, safety protocols, and job-site procedures. Plays a crucial role in learning and applying industry best practices to ensure high-quality service delivery.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Assist licensed electricians in installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems.
Learn and adhere to established wiring methods and safety standards on job sites.
Prepare work areas by gathering necessary tools and materials before starting tasks.
Follow company protocols and guidelines to ensure efficiency and safety on each job.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Shadow and support experienced electricians during installations and repairs.
Assist in measuring, cutting, and stripping wires according to project specifications.
Respond to on-site requests and help troubleshoot basic electrical issues.
Maintain a clean and organized work area while ensuring all safety measures are observed.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Safety Compliance Rate: Maintain a 100% adherence to safety protocols on all job sites.
Task Completion Rate: Achieve a timely completion of 95% of assigned tasks by the end of each day.
Quality of Work Rating: Attain a supervisor quality rating of at least 90% on performed tasks.
Learning Progress: Successfully complete 100% of scheduled training modules and assessments within the first 6 months.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent, with a strong foundation in math and science.
Demonstrated interest in electrical work and willingness to learn from experienced professionals.
Basic understanding of hand and power tools used in the electrical trade.
Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
6. Preferred Experience
Previous exposure to electrical work through internships, part-time roles, or vocational training.
Familiarity with local and national electrical codes and standards.
Experience working on construction or home services projects in a support role.
Prior participation in technical or vocational education programs related to electrical work.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs safely and maneuver tools and equipment.
Comfortable working in varied environments including outdoor job sites and confined spaces.
Capacity to stand, bend, and climb for extended periods during work assignments.
Adequate visual acuity to read measurements, diagrams, and technical instructions.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM.
Occasional overtime and weekend work may be required based on project demands.
Minimal travel between job sites within the designated local area may be expected.
On-call duties and flexible scheduling as needed during peak project periods.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly Rate: $18 - $25 per hour based on experience and performance.
Performance Bonus Structure available upon meeting or exceeding defined KPIs.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage.
401k retirement plan with company matching contributions.
Additional fringe benefits include paid time off, ongoing training opportunities, and career advancement programs.
10. Company Culture and Overview
We foster a collaborative and growth-oriented environment that values integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Our commitment to employee development is reflected in our robust training programs and mentorship opportunities.
We prioritize safety, quality, and customer satisfaction to create lasting relationships with our clients.
Our team celebrates diversity and encourages all members to contribute ideas that drive our success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
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Apprentices in every trade learn by doing. In electrical work, the state may license the apprentice, someone has to prove every hour, and one careless moment near a live wire can hurt someone the same day.
Some states license apprentices on day one
Texas requires anyone who does electrical work to hold a state license, with a few exemptions, and that includes apprentices. The apprentice license needs no exam and no past work. It lets them work under the general supervision of a master, a journeyman or a residential wireman. It must be renewed each year. Other states have their own rules, so ask your state board before day one. Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Electrical apprentice license.
Supervision rules decide who they ride with
Washington requires a trainee certificate before a new hire does electrical work. A certified electrician has to be on site with the trainee, supervising. On journeyman work, the general rule is one trainee per journeyman. Hours without proper supervision don't count toward the exam. So you can't send an apprentice alone to finish a punch list there. Plan crews around how many licensed people you have. Source: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries: Electrical trainee.
Every hour has to be proven
In Texas, the journeyman license takes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician licensed in Texas. Each supervisor signs a form to verify the hours. Keep a weekly log of your apprentice's hours by type of work: new homes, service and remodels. Then the paperwork is ready the day they apply. Nobody has to rebuild four years from memory. Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Journeyman electrician license.
Test before you touch
OSHA's rules for construction say a worker can't get close enough to touch any part of a live circuit unless it's shut off and grounded, or covered by insulation. Before work starts, the employer must find out where the live circuits are, hidden ones too. Teach the apprentice to test each wire before they touch it, even if the breaker is marked off. Source: OSHA: Electrical work practices in construction (29 CFR 1926.416).
New houses are the training ground
BLS says most electricians learn in a four- or five-year apprenticeship. Each year brings about 2,000 hours of paid work plus classes on code, plans, math and safety. New homes give an apprentice a fast start. They can drill, pull and staple cable in dozens of open walls before they ever work in a panel. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians.
How much apprentice electricians make
The closest BLS group for apprentice electricians is Helpers--Electricians. Helpers--Electricians who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $19.91 an hour ($41,410 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $42,670 median for Helpers--Electricians in all industries. About 52,870 of the 63,630 Helpers--Electricians in that survey work for electrical contractors.
BLS files apprentices under the job they're training for, so its electrician figures include them and say little about a first-year rate. The helper figures shown here are the closer guide. Expect hourly pay with overtime, with raises tied to hours worked and classes passed.
Electrical contractors
$41,410$41,410 median Middle half $36,710–$47,880 10th–90th $32,220–$57,300
All industries
$42,670$42,670 median Middle half $36,830–$48,470 10th–90th $33,020–$58,340
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Electrical contractors
$32,220
$36,710
$41,410
$47,880
$57,300
All industries
$33,020
$36,830
$42,670
$48,470
$58,340
BLS reports residential and commercial electrical contractors together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Arrives on time for early builder-site starts
Won't skip a safety step to save time
Handles basic math: fractions, measuring and simple formulas
Asks when unsure instead of guessing
Respectful in customers' homes and careful with their floors and walls
Teach these on the job
Drilling, pulling and securing cable in wood framing
Wiring devices and making up connections in boxes
Using a multimeter and a non-contact tester safely
Reading floor plans and the electrical symbols on them
Code basics for the edition your state enforces
Most apprentices arrive with basic hand tools: lineman's pliers, wire strippers, screwdrivers, a tape measure and a tool belt. The company usually supplies drills, step bits, fish tape, ladders and meters. If you cover class tuition or books, lead with it in the ad.
Apprentice electrician interview questions
They have their own page: 6 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
Set these goals from what your past apprentices managed in their first year, and go over them with the mentor journeyman every month.
Safety Compliance Rate
Spot checks by the journeyman or field supervisor on lockout, testing before touch, ladder use and protective gear. Record each check as pass or miss, and talk through every miss the same day.
Task Completion Rate
Tasks the journeyman assigns at the start of each day, such as roughing in a bathroom or landing grounds in a panel, marked done or not by quitting time. Review the log weekly.
Quality of Work Rating
A short checklist score from the supervisor on neat cable runs, boxes that aren't overfilled, tight terminations and a clean site. Score every job on one checklist so the numbers line up month to month.
Learning Progress
Classes, quizzes and on-the-job skills signed off against the training plan you set at hire. Check it monthly, and tie raises to the milestones so the apprentice sees where they stand.
Career path
Helper or trade school studentPicks up tools and safety habits, often in a trade school class.
Apprentice electricianWorks under a licensed electrician and logs hours toward a license.
It depends on the state. Texas requires an apprentice license before any electrical work, with no exam. Washington requires a trainee certificate, and renewing it every two years takes 48 hours of basic classroom instruction. Your state may handle it another way, so ask your electrical board what a new hire needs before day one. Build the application into your offer steps so the start date doesn't slip.
How much does an apprentice electrician make?
Helpers--Electricians who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $19.91 an hour ($41,410 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,710 and $47,880 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
What's the difference between an apprentice electrician and an electrician's helper?
Apprentices are on a path to the license: classes, a mentor and logged hours. Helpers carry material, clean up and lend a hand, but nobody is counting their hours toward anything. BLS sorts them the same way: apprentices are grouped with the electricians they'll become, and helpers get their own category. If there's no class schedule or hour log behind the title, post it as a helper job.
How long does it take an apprentice to become a journeyman electrician?
BLS says most electricians train for four or five years. Texas, for example, asks for 8,000 hours of supervised work before the journeyman license. Trade school can shorten the path. BLS says graduates usually get credit toward an apprenticeship. People who did electrical work in the military or in construction may also qualify for a shorter one.
What should I look for in an apprentice electrician with no experience?
BLS says a high school diploma or equivalent is required to become an electrician, and the template asks for one. Past that, look for someone who has built or fixed things, shows up on time to the interview, and can work with fractions. A short hands-on test, like measuring and cutting cable to length, tells you more than a resume.
Should I run a registered apprenticeship?
It gives the job the structure applicants look for. Each Registered Apprenticeship is approved either by a State Apprenticeship Agency or by the U.S. Department of Labor. It pairs a paid job with a mentor, classes and a credential the whole trade knows. BLS notes that unions and contractor groups sponsor programs, so you don't have to build one from scratch.
