Becoming an Electrician
You came here from the video, so let's get you the part the video couldn't give you: the numbers for your state, and a plan built for where you actually are.
Take the two-minute quiz
Nine questions. You'll get a trade shortlist, what electricians earn in your state, what a license takes where you live, and the exact questions to bring to your counselor or a local apprenticeship coordinator.
It's free, there's no sign-up, and nothing you answer leaves your browser. We start it on electrician since that's what brought you here — the quiz will tell you honestly if something else fits you better.
Start the quiz →What to ask your counselor
Straight from the episode. Word for word is fine.
- “Does our school have a CTE program with an electrical or construction track? How do I sign up?”
- “Can I take community college classes for electrical theory while I'm still here?”
- “Can you help me find local pre-apprenticeship programs, or summer work in the trades?”
- “Are there scholarships or grants for students going into trade programs?”
- “Does our school work with local unions, like the IBEW, or with trade groups?”
- “What math or science classes should I take this year to get ready for an electrical apprenticeship?”
Changing careers instead? Call a local apprenticeship coordinator and ask what you need to qualify for their next class, and whether your background could shorten your training.
Where the numbers came from
Every pay figure in the episode and on this site comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2024) and the BLS Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Licensing hours come from state licensing boards and are re-checked on a schedule — each page shows how current its data is. Where we're not sure, we say so.
Sources for this episode: BLS OEWS, electricians · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook