How to Become an Electrician in California

A career as an electrician in California is a smart choice for those willing to learn and work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field is growing by 18%, with 9,140 annual job openings through 2030. Electricians can earn good wages, but the path to becoming licensed takes several years to complete. [En Español]

An electrician is a tradesperson who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical wiring in buildings, machines, and transmission lines. They handle new installations and maintain existing electrical systems. Some electricians specialize in airplanes, ships, automobiles, or data cabling.

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in California

In California, electricians who work for a licensed C-10 electrical contractor must be certified by the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), through its Electrician Certification Unit. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses the electrical contracting business, not the individual electrician.

To become an electrician in California, you must complete an education program through a vocational school, technical school, or an apprenticeship program. Both union and non-union apprenticeships are available. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement maintains a list of approved programs, while the California Apprenticeship Council (CAC) oversees apprenticeship approvals.

Approved union apprenticeship programs in California are available through the Electrical Training Alliance, which operates Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) offices across the state. The Alliance is a partnership between the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) state chapters and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Approved non-union apprenticeships are offered by the state chapters (Northern California and Southern California) of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.

Electrical training programs combine classroom instruction and hands-on experience. In the classroom, students learn the National Electrical Code (NEC), electrical installation, wiring, and blueprint reading. On-the-job training with a qualified professional teaches how to use industry tools and plan jobs efficiently.

To complete the hands-on training portion of an electrician program in California, you must register as an electrician trainee (ET). To qualify, you must be enrolled in an approved electrician school or apprenticeship program and submit an application with a $25 fee to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. The trainee license must be renewed annually.

After completing an electrician training program and meeting the required practice hours, you can take the licensing exams. To become a residential electrician, you must complete 150 hours of classroom instruction and 4,800 hours of on-the-job training. For a general electrician license, you need 150 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of supervised work experience.

To become an electrical contractor in California and operate your own business, you must apply for and pass the C-10 license exam. Requirements include four years of full-time work experience as an electrician and at least $2,500 in operating capital. Unlike some states, California does not offer advantages to those with an electrical engineering degree. Becoming a licensed contractor is the ultimate goal for many electricians, as it provides independence and higher earning potential.

Electrician Schools in California

The California Department of Industrial Relations lists 89 approved electrician programs across the state, providing many options for training. Enrollment in one of these programs is required to register as an electrician trainee and start the path to licensing. Courses cover electrical lab projects, National Electrical Code (NEC) studies, power system analysis, electrical wiring, algebra, and basic mathematics.

• Long Beach City College. The main campus of this school in Long Beach offers an approved training program that includes 150 hours of coursework each year, day or evening classes, and the option of earning a certificate or an associate degree. There are several important steps to take in order to officially enroll, including an orientation session with the college’s instructors.
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College. This community college, with its campus in Los Angeles, also offers day and evening programs. Students can choose between a certificate program and an associate of science degree. Students also work with licensed electricians to begin getting hours of work experience. More information on LATTC’s electrician program.
• San Mateo County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center. Located in the San Francisco Bay area, this program takes five years to complete and includes two nights of classroom work per week and a total of at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. This meets all requirements for applying for residential and general electrician licensing upon completion.
• Redwood Empire Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center. Also located in northern California, this union program offers students a five-year comprehensive training plan to become eligible for licensing. Apprentices get 900 hours of classroom time with instructors and 8,000 hours on-the-job. There are also three-year programs for becoming a residential wireman or an installer technician.
• Northwest Lineman College. Graduates of the Electrical Lineworker Program construct, operate and maintain the electric power grid, working with heavy equipment, power lines, and bucket trucks. Based in Oroville.

Outlook and Salary Expectations

The growth in careers for electricians in the state of California is strong. According to the BLS, there were 70,300 electricians working in the state in 2023, and projections are that there will be 9,140 more working by 2033, a big increase that means there are plenty of opportunities for electrician trainees right now.

Salaries are competitive in the Golden State. The mean annual wage for an electrician is $85,860, and the top 10 percent of earners make more than $140,340, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. There are great opportunities in the state for qualified and licensed electricians to find jobs, to work as independent contractors and to earn a high income.

Salaries by Occupation

Occupation	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Wage	Annual Salary 10th Percentile	Annual Salary 25th Percentile	Annual Salary 75th Percentile	Annual Salary 90th Percentile
Electricians	70,300	$37.25	$77,470	$46,580	$58,140	$101,470	$133,340
Helpers--Electricians	2,900	$19.07	$39,670	$32,240	$34,980	$50,640	$61,620
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment	1,100	$39.37	$81,890	$36,630	$78,620	$101,600	$125,130
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	3,700	$32.90	$68,440	$41,450	$49,450	$88,280	$113,240
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	1,800	$54.35	$113,050	$68,300	$98,270	$133,950	$150,440
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	9,200	$54.04	$112,410	$62,510	$81,500	$141,840	$152,640

Electrician Salaries by Region

Area	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Salary	Hourly Wage 10th Percentile	Hourly Wage 25th Percentile	Hourly Wage 75th Percentile	Hourly Wage 90th Percentile
Bakersfield, CA	1,490	$35.00	$72,800	$21.98	$27.21	$42.77	$54.52
Chico, CA	410	$33.52	$69,720	$22.17	$26.89	$40.58	$51.01
El Centro, CA	100	$35.68	$74,220	$22.01	$28.05	$44.94	$51.99
Fresno, CA	1,870	$30.45	$63,340	$21.34	$22.87	$43.12	$55.08
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	90	$31.55	$65,630	$22.29	$27.67	$41.01	$44.33
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	22,670	$37.78	$78,590	$22.46	$25.42	$48.56	$62.88
Madera, CA	150	$39.19	$81,520	$23.41	$29.79	$45.62	$56.70
Merced, CA	110	$36.69	$76,320	$20.71	$27.78	$40.55	$54.97
Modesto, CA	720	$35.16	$73,120	$21.59	$27.66	$44.36	$47.69
Napa, CA	300	$37.48	$77,950	$23.20	$29.06	$49.72	$59.90
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	840	$34.41	$71,580	$22.12	$27.52	$43.49	$56.55
Redding, CA	240	$37.41	$77,810	$22.25	$28.59	$45.74	$63.87
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	7,530	$33.40	$69,480	$18.60	$23.51	$46.08	$62.41
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	4,910	$35.66	$74,170	$22.53	$24.89	$46.94	$60.00
Salinas, CA	500	$36.42	$75,750	$22.86	$28.93	$46.47	$56.99
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	7,640	$34.94	$72,680	$22.12	$25.19	$46.15	$55.93
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	11,550	$47.38	$98,560	$24.97	$31.11	$61.85	$82.41
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	3,870	$47.58	$98,970	$27.15	$34.04	$62.51	$81.51
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA	570	$39.59	$82,350	$22.92	$29.39	$48.38	$67.88
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	420	$36.33	$75,560	$23.24	$29.06	$45.39	$49.87
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	700	$31.93	$66,410	$22.56	$28.40	$43.90	$47.62
Santa Rosa, CA	1,160	$36.91	$76,760	$22.79	$28.98	$49.35	$60.23
Stockton-Lodi, CA	1,090	$36.31	$75,530	$19.37	$24.95	$45.74	$56.93
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	1,150	$39.91	$83,020	$24.12	$29.76	$49.30	$63.75
Visalia-Porterville, CA	530	$33.90	$70,510	$21.39	$24.42	$40.80	$50.78
Yuba City, CA	90	$34.77	$72,330	$18.88	$24.44	$41.22	$47.87

Working as an Electrician in California

Sharing its borders with Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and the Pacific Ocean, the most populous state in the nation – 39.5 million – offers plenty of opportunity.

Electrician jobs in California are growing and expected to continue increasing. Licensed electricians can work for contractors and construction companies or become independent contractors, hiring other electricians for a contracting business. Many specialize in residential or commercial buildings, while others focus on refrigeration, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), or solar energy (photovoltaics) systems. No matter the path, becoming a qualified electrician in California offers job security and strong earning potential.

College Listings

Neighbor States

See also the neighbor states of Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.

More Electrician Training in California

• Electrician Programs in Sacramento, California
• Studying Electrical Technology at San Joaquin Valley College
• Studying to Become an Electrician at Southern California Institute of Technology
• Find an Electrician College in San Diego
• Electrician Schools Near San Francisco
• Electrician Training at Intercoast College
• Electrician Training at CET San Jose, CA
• Electrician Training Baldwin Park Adult Community Education
• Studying to Become An Electrician at Irvine Valley College