Electrician in Ohio

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for OH. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$63,560

trending_up +1.9% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Ohio.

engineering

27,150

Jobs (OH)

monitoring Surging

+9.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$163

Licensing fees

route How to become an electrician in Ohio

To become a licensed Electrical Contractor in Ohio, individuals must apply through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). While Ohio does not offer statewide journeyman or master electrician licenses, the OCILB issues licenses for commercial electrical contractors. Applicants need to have five years (10,000 hours) of experience working under a licensed electrician, pass both the trade and business & law sections of the Electrical Contractor Exam, and pay an application fee. Ohio has reciprocity agreements for electrical licenses with Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, provided the applicant passed a recognized test in their original state.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $37,710

25th percentile $48,380

50th (median) $63,560

75th percentile $79,890

90th (experienced) $93,630

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Ohio. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Ohio requirements

Licensing body	Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
State license	Not required
Experience	10,000.0 hours
Exam	Electrical Contractor Exam (Trade and Business & Law sections) ($138)
Application fee	$25
Renewal	Every 1.0 year
Continuing education	8.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Ohio does not issue a statewide journeyman or master electrician license. The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses Electrical Contractors for commercial projects. Local municipalities may have their own licensing requirements for journeyman and master electricians, such as Middletown and Hamilton. To be eligible for the state electrical contractor license, applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or legal alien, pass a background check, and carry a minimum of $500,000 contractor liability insurance. The experience requirement can also be met by being a registered engineer in Ohio with three years of business experience in the construction industry in the electrical trade. Continuing education requires 8 hours per year for a one-year renewal, with half of the hours in code. For a three-year renewal, 24 hours of continuing education are required.

Source: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+9.5%

Much faster than average

Annual openings

81,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

818,700

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.78/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if an electrician career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming an electrician in Ohio? expand_more

In Ohio, becoming an electrician requires you to gain 10,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Electrical Contractor Exam (Trade and Business & Law sections), and submit your application ($25 fee).

Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Ohio? expand_more

electricians in Ohio are not required to hold a state license. Note: Ohio does not issue a statewide journeyman or master electrician license. The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses Electrical Contractors for commercial projects. Local municipalities may have their own licensing requirements for journeyman and master electricians, such as Middletown and Hamilton. To be eligible for the state electrical contractor license, applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or legal alien, pass a background check, and carry a minimum of $500,000 contractor liability insurance. The experience requirement can also be met by being a registered engineer in Ohio with three years of business experience in the construction industry in the electrical trade. Continuing education requires 8 hours per year for a one-year renewal, with half of the hours in code. For a three-year renewal, 24 hours of continuing education are required.

How much do electricians make in Ohio? expand_more

The median electrician salary in Ohio is $63,560 per year. — within a few percent of the $62,350 national figure. Wages range from $37,710 (10th percentile) up to $93,630 (90th percentile).

What are the fees to become an electrician in Ohio? expand_more

Between exam fee ($138) and application fee ($25), expect to invest around varies in total to get started.

What are the continuing education requirements for electricians in Ohio? expand_more

Ohio requires 8.0 hours of continuing education every 1.0 year to maintain your electrician license.