Electrician in Oregon

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

Median annual salary

$97,320

trending_up +56.1% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Oregon.

engineering

9,830

Jobs (OR)

monitoring Surging

+9.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$200

Licensing fees

schedule

4 years (for General Journeyman Electrician)

Time to complete

route How to become an electrician in Oregon

To become a General Journeyman Electrician in Oregon, individuals must obtain a license from the Building Codes Division. This typically involves completing a state-approved apprenticeship program, or accumulating 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience, or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience. Applicants must then pass the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam with a score of 75% or better and pay the associated application fee. Oregon has reciprocity agreements for General Journeyman electricians with Washington and Idaho, and for General Supervising Electricians with Arkansas and Utah.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $51,740

25th percentile $70,680

50th (median) $97,320

75th percentile $116,140

90th (experienced) $120,880

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

checklist Oregon requirements

Licensing body	Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board
State license	Required
Education	Completion of a state-approved apprenticeship program, OR 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 1,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories), OR 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 2,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories).
Experience	8,000.0 hours
Exam	Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam ($100)
Application fee	$100
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Continuing education	24.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age of 18 for electrical contractors. General Supervising Electrician requires an Oregon journeyman electrician license and an additional 8,000 hours of journeyman experience, or meeting the journeyman qualifications and 8,000 hours of journeyman experience. Exams are open-book and require a score of 75% or better to pass. A high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent is required for applicants who need to take an examination. Electrical contractors also need to be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and meet insurance and bonding mandates.

Source: Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board

workspace_premium Oregon license tiers

Oregon offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Apprentice	N/A
General Journeyman (J)	8,000
General Supervising Electrician (S)	8,000

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?

check_circleOregon license required — clearer credential signal to employers
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 Oregon? expand_more

The path to electrician licensure in Oregon: complete the required education (Completion of a state-approved apprenticeship program, OR 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 1,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories), OR 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 2,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories).), gain 8,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam, and submit your application ($100 fee).

Does Oregon require electrician licensure? expand_more

A state license is required in Oregon. Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board handles electrician licensing — the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam is part of the process.

What do electricians earn in Oregon? expand_more

electricians in Oregon earn a median of $97,320 annually. That's 56% above the national median of $62,350. New electricians start around $51,740; seasoned professionals can reach $120,880.

How much does it cost to become an electrician in Oregon? expand_more

Between exam fee ($100) and application fee ($100), expect to invest around varies in total to get started.

How many months or years does electrician certification take in Oregon? expand_more

The typical timeline in Oregon is 4 years (for General Journeyman Electrician). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

How many CE hours do electricians need in Oregon? expand_more

Oregon requires 24.0 hours of continuing education every 3.0 years to maintain your electrician license.