How to Become an Electrician in Hawaii
An electrician is a tradesperson who installs and maintains electrical wiring in residential, industrial, and commercial buildings. If you’re looking for a hands-on, growing career, consider becoming an electrician in Hawaii. With the state being a popular vacation and retirement destination, there is a steady demand for electricians to install wiring in new developments and maintain existing properties. [En Español]
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of electricians in Hawaii is expected to grow by 7% from 2020 to 2030. Starting as an electrician helper or apprentice now could position you to become a licensed electrician within just a few years, aligning with this growth period.
Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Hawaii
In most states, electrician licensing is managed at the state level, though some states have county-specific requirements. In Hawaii, the Board of Electricians and Plumbers oversees electrician licensing under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (PVL).
To obtain a Hawaii journeyman electrician license, you must complete 10,000 hours (about five years) of electrical work experience and 240 hours of classroom education. With a journey worker license, you can perform basic electrical tasks under the supervision of a licensed electrician.
Hawaii offers three variations of the journeyman electrician license, each requiring less work experience and education but with specific restrictions:
- A Journey Worker Industrial Electrician license requires 8,000 hours of industrial work experience and 200 hours of classroom training. This license limits electricians to industrial buildings and workplaces.
- A Journey Worker Specialty Electrician license requires 6,000 hours of work experience and 120 hours of education. This license allows electricians to perform installation, repairs, maintenance, and alterations.
- A Maintenance Electrician license has the lowest requirements but the most restrictions. Applicants need one year of maintenance work experience and 80 education hours or two years of electrician trade school and 1,000 hours of on-the-job training. This license permits electricians to work only on existing electrical installations.
In Hawaii, a Supervising Electrician (ES) license is equivalent to a master electrician license. To qualify, you must work four years as a journey worker. An ES license allows you to perform electrical work and supervise other electricians.
Hawaii also offers two specialized supervisory licenses:
- A Supervising Specialty Electrician (ESS) license requires two years as a journeyman specialty electrician. An ESS supervises the installation, repair, maintenance, and alteration of electrical wiring.
- A Supervising Industrial Electrician (EIS) license requires three years as a journey worker industrial electrician. An EIS supervises electrical work in industrial settings.
To obtain any of these supervisory licenses, you must pass a state exam.
Finally, after working for four years as a supervisor, you may apply to take the C-13 Electrical Contractor Exam and the Hawaiian Contractor Exam to acquire your contractor’s license.
For Hawaii electrician license renewal, the PVL has a specific web portal.
Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Hawaii
The Hawaii Electricians Training Fund (HETF) is a non-profit organization that supports both new electricians and continuing education for licensed professionals. It operates the only union apprenticeship program in Hawaii.
Through the HETF apprenticeship, participants train under a licensed electrician while earning a paid position. The program also includes the 240 education hours required for a journey worker license.
To qualify for the HETF apprenticeship, applicants must:
- Meet the physical demands of the job
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Pass an aptitude test and high school algebra
The Hawaii Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Hawaii) offers state- and nationally-approved non-union apprenticeships. ABC Hawaii provides the academic training for apprentices in Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Carpentry, and Roofing.
In this program, employers serve as sponsors, hiring apprentices for full-time work in their trade. The sponsoring employer trains the apprentice while they earn a living and build a reputation as a skilled, knowledgeable, and reliable worker.
Electrician Programs in Hawaii
Some of the community colleges in Hawaii offer state-approved certificate programs as well as Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree programs in Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology (EIMT). These trade school programs combine instruction in a classroom stetting with hands-on lab training to prepare students for entry-level electrical work. They also meet the requirements to satisfy the education hours needed to get a journey worker license within the state. Some of the colleges in Hawaii that offer these programs are:
- Hawaii Community College offers both the certificate program, which consists of 62 credit hours, and the AAS degree program, which consists of 71 credit hours. Both programs last four semesters. The approximate cost of the entire AAS degree program at HCC, including tuition and books, is $11,505.
- Kauai Community College has three EIMT options: a certificate of competence (CO), certificate of achievement (CA) and an AAS degree. The CO program is only 15 credit hours and can be completed in one year. The CA consists of 47 credit hours, and the AAS consists of 62, both spread out over four semesters (two years).
- Leeward Community College offers four programs specific to each of the journey worker electrician licenses: journey worker electrician, industrial electrician, specialty electrician and maintenance electrician. Each program is six months long and covers the 240 instructional hours needed to become licensed. Tuition is approximately $4,000.
Penn Foster College – Residential Electrician Career Diploma
Nationally Accredited and Licensed School. Support from Expert Faculty and Success Coaches. Up-to-date Material That Complies with the National Electric Code (NEC)®. Snap-On Tool Discount for Trades Students.Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
Outlook and Salary Expectations
So, how much do electricians make in Hawaii? In 2020, 3,500 electricians were working in the state of Hawaii, according the BLS. That number is expected to continue to increase by 7 percent by 2030, adding 400 jobs in this field by that time. The BLS estimates that this change will be reflected in an average of 510 job openings each year. The BLS also reported that in 2020, electricians were making an average of $44.59 an hour and $92,750 annually. More experienced licensed electricians were making as much as $118,560 annually. In 2020, Hawaii had the highest paid electricians in the United States. As far as statewide, the urban Honolulu area had the highest employment rate and was also the highest paying area on the islands.
Salaries in Hawaii 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 | 3,500 | $44.59 | $92,750 | $44,100 | $64,600 | $112,710 | $118,560 |
| Helpers--Electricians | ** | $22.00 | $45,760 | $39,520 | $39,520 | $46,460 | $56,160 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 380 | $39.11 | $81,340 | $50,860 | $68,310 | $86,010 | $92,890 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 100 | $55.00 | $114,410 | $97,480 | $100,050 | $118,020 | $125,480 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 480 | $60.38 | $125,590 | $79,390 | $90,600 | $125,650 | $128,590 |
Electrician Salaries in Hawaii 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | 390 | $39.65 | $82,470 | $21.21 | $29.48 | $50.91 | $59.68 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 2,280 | $49.18 | $102,280 | $21.53 | $32.25 | $55.27 | $57.00 |
Working as an Electrician in Hawaii
As an electrician in Hawaii, you can expect to find ample employment opportunities. In addition to residential, government and industrial buildings, electricians can expect to find work in airports and on submarines also. Contractors and their employees may oversee the construction and maintenance of hotels, resorts and condominiums on the islands. If you are willing to put in the time and discipline for education and training, in just a few years you could have a beneficial career as a licensed electrician and work almost anywhere within the state.
Organizations You Should Know
College Programs
Hawaii / Maui / Kauai Nonmetropolitan Area Area
1175 Manono Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720-5096
(808) 934-2500
Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology – Certificate Program, Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology – Associate Program
Hawaii Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in the town of Hilo, HI. The college has in the order of 3,087 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. HCC is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is roughly about $3,084 and for students from other states around $8,220 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $1,012, depending on the program. At the end of the HCC electrical technician program, students should demonstrate entry-level skills in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical installation and maintenance, practice safety on the job and recognize potential hazards, interpret and comply with the National Electrical Code NFPA 70 book and local codes, read and interpret all sections of blueprints and draft electrical circuits, integrate carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and HVACR systems with electrical installation and maintenance, produce take-off lists, perform layout, and install new materials for existing and new projects, think critically, do research, calculate minimum requirements, and solve problems, and demonstrate the qualities of an apprentice electrician.
3-1901 Kaumualii Highway, Lihue, Hawaii 96766-9500
(808) 245-8225
Electrical Installation & Maintenance Technology – Certificate Program
The Certificate program in Electrical Installation & Maintenance Technology at Kauai Community College can be taken at their campus in Lihue in Kauai County, HI. Most of the school’s 1,401 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally around $3,132 and for out-of-state students approximately $8,268 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,012, although this will depend on the program.
Honolulu, HI Area
874 Dillingham Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-4505
(808) 845-9211
Electrical Installation & Maintenance Technology – Certificate Program, Electrical Installation & Maintenance Technology – Associate Program
Honolulu Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. Classes are taken at their campus in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii. Most of the school’s 4,328 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is roughly around $3,054 and for out-of-state students in the order of $8,190 per year. Study materials can cost in the order of $1,012, 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.
FAQs
How much do electricians earn in the state of Hawaii?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of Hawaii made an average of $77,530 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $49,580 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $113,350.
