---
title: "How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician?"
description: "How long it takes to become an electrician: school options, the four to five year apprenticeship, journeyman licensing and the extra years to master."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/guides/how-long-to-become-an-electrician/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Guides · Electrician timeline

# How long it takes to become an electrician

Four to five years to journeyman for most people.

Timeline

The short answer is four to five years to become a fully licensed journeyman. Here is where that time goes, and the few ways people shorten it.

In short

Most people take four to five years to become a licensed journeyman electrician, usually through a paid apprenticeship that combines about 2,000 hours of work a year with classroom instruction. Trade school beforehand can take several months to two years and may count toward some hours, depending on the state and program. Master electrician usually takes a few more years of journeyman experience and another exam.

**Sources checked October 9, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Optional trade school or pre-apprenticeship | A few months to 2 years |
| Apprenticeship | 4 to 5 years |
| Journeyman exam | After required hours |
| Master electrician | Often about 2 more years, varies by state |

| Middle pay | $63,190 a year, roughly $30.38 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then apprenticeship |
| People in the trade | About 821,000 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 9.2% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 72,700, counting retirements |

From the [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.

## Can you do it faster?

Some states give partial credit for school or military electrical training. Ask your state board and apprenticeship sponsor what they accept before you count on it.

### Start the clock

Tell us your ZIP and we will send electrical programs nearby.

[Find training near me](#smc-form)

## Straight answers

### Can I become an electrician in two years?

You can finish a school program in that time, but most states require more supervised hours before a journeyman license.

### Do I get paid during the apprenticeship?

Yes. Apprentices earn wages that rise as they progress.

### How many hours is an electrical apprenticeship?

Often around 8,000 hours of work plus classroom hours, though programs vary.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm)
- [Electricians in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm)
- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)

## Keep looking

- [Electrician apprenticeship](https://shapemycareer.com/apprenticeships/electrician/)
- [Journeyman electrician](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/journeyman-electrician/)
- [Master electrician](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/master-electrician/)
- [Guides](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/)
- [CDL school cost](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/cdl-school-cost/)
- [Electrician vs plumber](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/electrician-vs-plumber/)
- [Getting hired](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/getting-hired-in-construction/)
- [Equipment school](https://shapemycareer.com/guides/heavy-equipment-operator-school/)

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