Electrician in Pennsylvania
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for PA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Pennsylvania.
Jobs (PA)
10-yr job growth
Time to complete
route How to become an electrician in Pennsylvania
To become a licensed electrician in Pennsylvania, individuals must obtain a license through their local municipality, as there is no statewide licensing. Requirements vary significantly by city or county, but generally involve several years of supervised on-the-job electrical experience (often 4,000 to 8,000 hours) or completion of an approved apprenticeship program, along with classroom instruction. Applicants typically need to pass a municipal electrical exam, such as the Philadelphia Electrical Contractor Examination or the National Standard Master Electrical Exam for Pittsburgh, and fulfill continuing education requirements for license renewal.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Pennsylvania. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Pennsylvania requirements
| Licensing body | Local Municipalities (e.g., City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections) |
| State license | Not required |
| Education | Varies by municipality; typically requires completion of an apprenticeship program, technical school training, or a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on work. |
| Exam | Varies by municipality (e.g., Philadelphia Electrical Contractor Examination administered by the International Code Council, National Standard Master Electrical Exam for Pittsburgh) |
| Notes | Pennsylvania does not have statewide licensing for electricians. Licensing is regulated at the municipal level. Requirements, fees, and renewal cycles vary significantly by city or county. For example, Philadelphia requires a minimum of four years of employment doing electrical work and 8 hours of NFPA 70 coursework for renewal. Pittsburgh requires a minimum of six years of combined experience and education and 8 hours of continuing education annually for renewal. Minimum age requirements are typically 18 years old. |
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?
- infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk