Electrician in Delaware
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for DE. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Delaware.
Jobs (DE)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become an electrician in Delaware
To become a licensed Journeyperson Electrician in Delaware, individuals must complete an 8,000-hour (approximately four to five years) apprenticeship program or gain equivalent work experience under a licensed electrician, and complete 144 hours of related instruction. Applicants must pass the Delaware Journeyman Electrician Exam, administered by Prov, Inc., and pay an application fee of $99 and an exam fee of $100. Licenses must be renewed every two years, requiring 5 continuing education hours per cycle, all related to the National Electrical Code. Delaware offers reciprocity with Maryland and New Jersey, where licensure standards are considered substantially similar.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Delaware. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Delaware requirements
| Licensing body | Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Electrical Examiners |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Completion of an apprenticeship program or 144 hours of related instruction for Journeyperson. Master Electrician requires 576 hours of Board-approved training or two years of technical training in addition to experience. |
| Experience | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Delaware Journeyman Electrician Exam (Prometric) ($100) |
| Application fee | $99 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 5.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Delaware offers reciprocity with varying requirements, including experience proof for some states.Reciprocal states: Maryland, New Jersey (substantially similar, no proof of experience required). Arkansas, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming (licensure standards not substantially similar, must submit proof of five years experience after licensure). Other states are evaluated individually by the Board. |
| Notes | Minimum age for Journeyperson exam is 20 years old. Master Electricians, Master Electrician Specials, Limited Electricians, and Limited Electrician Specials require 10 CE hours per cycle, with 5 hours related to the NEC. Journeypersons, Residential, and Apprentice Electricians require 5 CE hours per cycle, all related to the NEC. Liability insurance of at least $300,000 is required for Master and Limited licenses. The board offers various limited and specialty electrician licenses as well. |
Source: Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Electrical Examiners
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Delaware? See whether Delaware recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Electrician license reciprocity guide.
workspace_premium Delaware license tiers
Delaware offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| Journeyperson | 8,000 |
| Master | 12,000 |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleDelaware license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk
Compare Electrician head-to-head
See all comparisons →Considering an Electrician vs another career? Side-by-side breakdowns of pay, training time, and licensing.