How to Become an Electrician in Rhode Island
A great career choice for young people in Rhode Island is that of a licensed electrician. It takes a few years of training and learning to get into this trade, but with the right skills and qualifications you can become licensed, enjoy job security and have a great income. The growth in jobs for electricians is very strong in the state right now. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth is 10 percent, much faster than average job growth.[En Español]
Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, licensing for electricians is handled by the Department of Labor and Training. To become licensed in Rhode Island, you must complete electrician training and education at designated schools. This can be done through an apprenticeship program, which provides the required 576 classroom hours and 8,000 on-the-job training hours. Another option is to complete a vocational or technical college program and then finding an electrician willing to take on an apprenticeship to gain the required work experience and hours.
Whichever path you choose, you must complete 576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours to qualify for the journeyman exam. After working as a journeyman for at least two years, you can apply for an electrical contractor license. This allows you to start a business, hire electricians, and provide electrical services.
Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Rhode Island
There is one union electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) in Rhode Island, the Cranston JATC. It is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 99. This union apprenticeship program provides all the work hours and classroom hours needed to qualify for journeyman licensing upon completion. To enroll you must have a high school diploma or GED and a grade of C or higher in a year of algebra. Applicants also have to pass a general aptitude test. Those accepted can expect to spend five years completing the program.
Rhode Island also has a non-union apprenticeship program through the state’s Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapter. It has similar enrollment requirements as the JATC and provides the necessary classroom and work experience hours. Apprentices in both programs earn a salary while training.
Rhode Island Schools for Electricians
An alternative to the two apprenticeship programs is to complete a degree or certificate program in an electrical subject at a community or technical college. An educational program in electrician schools can provide the needed classroom hours, but students still need to find a position as an apprentice to get the work experience hours.
- Community College of Rhode Island. The electrical apprenticeship training program at this school provides all the needed classroom hours for journeyman licensing. Classes are held at Davies Career and Technical High School, which is located in Lincoln. It takes four years to complete this program, but students are expected to find and work in an apprenticeship program during the day while taking courses in the evening.
- Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute. The electrical school at Ridley-Lowell is located in West Warwick. It offers coursework to meet the required classroom hours for journeyman licensing. It also prepares students to work in an apprenticeship position for hands-on training.
- New England Institute of Technology. At the East Greenwich campus, students can earn an associate’s degree in electrical technology, earning the necessary classroom hours for licensing. Graduates can seek entry-level electrical work or go on to an apprenticeship program to work toward electrician licensing.
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Outlook and Salary Expectations
The growth in careers for electricians in Rhode Island is higher than in most states, at 20 percent between 2023 and 2033. The BLS reported that in 2018 there were 2,400 employed electricians in the state and that there will be 2,870 employed by 2033. Those positions will be filled by people who are training in the state right now.
The salary expectations are also high. According to the BLS, the average salary for an electrician in 2024 was $66,240, and the top 10 percent of earners in the field were making around $100,640 that year. This higher number reflects the opportunity to earn more with added experience, with specialties, or as a contractor and small business owner.
Salaries in Rhode Island 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 | 2,400 | $31.85 | $66,240 | $44,130 | $50,210 | $79,360 | $100,640 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 230 | $51.21 | $106,510 | $73,420 | $86,480 | $121,040 | $141,960 |
Electrician Salaries in Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,410 | $32.70 | $68,010 | $21.04 | $23.28 | $38.24 | $48.33 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 960 | $30.54 | $63,520 | $21.54 | $21.54 | $35.59 | $39.20 |
Working as an Electrician in Rhode Island
The opportunities for skilled and qualified electricians in Rhode Island are strong and growing. After completing an apprenticeship you can expect to be hired as a journeyman by electrical contractors, building contractors, industrial companies, building owners and even government agencies. Licensed electricians will be in demand in the coming years, so you can expect to be able to choose the position you want.
College Programs
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA Area
One New England Tech Boulevard, East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818-1205
(401) 739-5000
Electrical Technology – Associate Program
New England Institute of Technology’s Associate program is taught at their campus in East Greenwich in Kent County. This is a full, 4-year private college with 2,919 students, of which 96% are undergraduates. The college is institutionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Fees for tuition are usually about $28,656 for each academic year. Study materials can cost roughly $1,521, depending on the program chosen.
* College accredition status and tuition fees and are, to our best knowledge, correct at the time of writing, and sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Check all details directly with college before applying.
Neighbor States
Residents of Rhode Island may also wish to review their options in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.
FAQs
How much do electricians earn in the state of Rhode Island?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of Rhode Island made an average of $57,740 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $33,410 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $82,640.
