Electrician in Iowa
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Iowa.
Jobs (IA)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become an electrician in Iowa
To become a licensed Journeyman Electrician in Iowa, individuals must apply through the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Electrical Examining Board. Key steps include completing a registered apprenticeship program or accumulating 8,000 hours of experience, passing the Iowa Journeyman Electrician Exam administered by PSI, and submitting an application with the associated fee. Iowa has reciprocity agreements with several states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Iowa. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Iowa requirements
| Licensing body | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Electrical Examining Board |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Completion of a registered apprenticeship program. |
| Experience | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Iowa Journeyman Electrician Exam (PSI) ($87) |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing education | 18.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The application fee is the same as the 3-year license fee. For Class A Journeyman, completion of a registered apprenticeship program is required. Experience hours can be substituted with education in an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program for a maximum of 2,000 hours of the required 8,000 hours. All exams are open book and require a 75% passing score. The current NEC edition for testing is 2023. |
Source: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Electrical Examining Board
workspace_premium Iowa license tiers
Iowa offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| Journeyman | 8,000 |
| Master | 10,000 |
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_circleIowa license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk