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 2023 to 2033. 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.

Outlook and Salary Expectations

So, how much do electricians make in Hawaii? In 2023, 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 2033, 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. BLS May 2025 OEWS data shows electricians in the state making an average of $92,870 annually. The top 10% earn $124,590 or more annually. In 2023, Hawaii had the highest paid electricians in the United States. As far as state-wide, 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

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1186, Honolulu
• ABC of Hawaii

College Listings