How to Become an Electrician in Maryland

The occupation of an electrician is one that is rapidly increasing in demand. In 2023, there were 17,580 electricians employed in the state of Maryland, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Furthermore, that number is expected to rise by 15 percent over the next few years, adding even more electrician jobs within the state. If you’re looking to become an electrician in Maryland, read on. [En Español]

In most states, electricians start as helpers or apprentices, completing work and education requirements before taking exams for journeyman, master, or contractor licenses. Maryland has unique licensing rules, with requirements varying by county. Most licenses are valid only in the county where they are issued. The highest license available is the statewide master electrician license, which allows unrestricted work across Maryland.

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Maryland

In Maryland, electrician licenses are issued at the county level, and requirements vary. Many counties do not offer journeyman or electrical contractor licenses, instead providing limited or restricted electrician licenses valid only within that county. The scope of permitted work also varies. Since licensing rules differ by location, it is best to contact the local licensing department for specific guidelines. In all counties, working as an apprentice or helper is required before obtaining any license.

Here are some examples of licensing requirements for some of the larger Maryland counties:

• Baltimore County. In Baltimore County, electricians can apply for a limited or restricted license. A limited license allows work in commercial, industrial, and residential settings. To qualify, you must have five years of experience under a licensed electrician. A restricted license requires three years of experience and permits work only in areas handling 50 volts or less. Baltimore County’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections administers both Baltimore County electrical permits and electrician licenses. It also offers a license search service for consumers.
• Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County offers a restricted license and a master limited license for electricians. A restricted license requires seven years of experience under a master electrician, including journeyman experience from another county. A master limited license allows work only at an industrial plant and requires at least two years of experience under a master limited or master general electrician. Electrical licensing is administered by the county Licensing Division of the Department of Inspections and Permits.
• Montgomery County. Licenses are issued by Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Licenses and Certificates. Montgomery County is one of the few counties in Maryland that does offer a journeyman license. With the journeyman license in this county you can supervise up to three other workers who are unlicensed. To get this license, you must have four years of work experience. This license must be renewed every two years. The Department also now issues a Electrical Contractor’s Business License for anyone “in the business of installing, repairing, or maintaining any electrical wiring or device designed for conducting, consuming or converting electrical current”.

Some county-specific electrician licenses in Maryland can be reciprocated. If you have been licensed in another county for at least one year, you can apply for a reciprocal license instead of going through the full licensing process again. This allows you to work in another county without obtaining a new license.

Finally, Maryland offers a statewide master electrician license. This license can be obtained through the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. To apply for the Maryland electrical license, you must have seven years of work experience under a master electrician. If you complete an apprenticeship program you can count that as three of the seven years.

In Maryland, the master electrician license exam is offered in six locations: College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown, Lanham, Salisbury, and Baltimore. The exam lasts four hours, includes 100 questions, and requires a score of 70 to pass. The license must be renewed every two years online for a $25 fee, with no continuing education required. Maryland does not issue contractor licenses, but master electricians can work independently. To operate a business, you must have liability, property damage, and workers’ compensation insurance.

If you are licensed as a master electrician in the states of Delaware, Virginia or West Virginia, you can complete a reciprocal initial license application and become licensed in Maryland as well.

Apprenticeship Programs in Maryland

Since you must have work experience before becoming a licensed electrician in Maryland, an apprenticeship is an option to consider. While completing an apprenticeship you can work for pay as well as attend electrician classes. In Maryland, most apprenticeship programs require 2,000 hours of work training and classroom training combined. Many apprenticeships and colleges throughout the state work together, allowing you to transfer credits earned during your apprenticeship toward a college certificate or degree. However, oftentimes there are long waiting lists to get into apprenticeship programs.

The Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program (MATP) can help you locate available apprentice openings if you are interested. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a drug test, be physically capable of meeting job demands and have reliable transportation.

Many people who look for an electrician apprenticeship in Maryland will start with offerings by local unions. These are typically offered by Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATC), which are collaborations between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The JATCs are managed by local chapters of the IBEW. In Maryland, they include:

• Baltimore Electrical JATC – IBEW Local 24, Baltimore, MD
• Washington DC Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee – IBEW Local 26, Lanham, MD
• Western Maryland Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee – IBEW Local 307, Cumberland, MD

There are also non-union options available which include apprenticeship programs provided by the Maryland chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors: ABC Baltimore and ABC Metro Washington. Also Independent Electrical Contractors’ Chesapeake Chapter also offers an electrical apprenticeship program.

Maryland Electrician Programs

Many aspiring electricians enroll in certificate or degree programs at vocational or technical schools to gain education and hands-on experience. These programs can supplement or replace an apprenticeship. The best programs cover residential, commercial, and industrial wiring, the National Electric Code (NEC), electrical theory, transformers, generators, electrical motors, blueprint reading, tools and equipment, low-voltage wiring, and cable splicing. Some programs also include externships for on-the-job training. There are several electrician programs in Maryland for you to consider. Here are a couple of examples:

• Brightwood College. Brightwood College in Beltsville offers an electrician training certificate program that can be completed within nine months to a year. The classes in this program combine hands-on learning with classroom instruction. Classes are limited in size and many are taught by licensed electricians. This program prepares students to do entry-level electrician work in residential, commercial and industrial areas. Brightwood does help its students find an externship before they graduate, ensuring they will be able to start working shortly after graduation.
• College of Southern Maryland. The Regional Hughesville College of Southern Maryland campus in Hughesville offers a couple of different programs for students interested in electrical technology. Both are Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree programs. The first is an AAS as an electric power technician. This program consists of 61 credit hours. The College of Southern Maryland offers the general education classes needed for this degree, while the technical classes are provided through Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO). Upon graduation, students will be able to install, repair and maintain electrical systems in residential and commercial areas.

  Also available at Southern Maryland is an AAS as an electric wiring technician. This program consists of 60 credit hours. The general ed courses are provided through the college, and the technical courses are given through the Electrical Local 26 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (JATTF). This program prepares students for electrical managerial positions and students must have already completed an apprenticeship prior to taking this program.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

In Maryland, licensed electricians are some of the highest paid workers in the state. The BLS predicts that the number of electricians working in Maryland will increase from 14,100 to 15,620 by 2032, adding approximately 1,450 more electrician jobs in the state. Additionally, there were 1,760 electrician helpers working in Maryland in 2022, and that number is predicted to increase by 23 percent by 2032.

Electricians in Maryland were making an average of $31.56 hourly and $65,650 annually, as stated by the BLS data from 2023. The top earners, licensed master electricians with years of experience under their belt, could average up to $108,460 annually. The highest volume of electricians can be found working in Baltimore, Columbia and Towson. The Cumberland area boasts the highest paid electricians.

Salaries in Maryland 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	17,580	$30.30	$63,030	$39,520	$49,310	$82,210	$107,610
Helpers--Electricians	1,190	$18.79	$39,070	$29,060	$34,880	$47,310	$53,450
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment	**	$35.45	$73,730	$59,950	$62,820	$81,910	$81,910
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	680	$37.96	$78,950	$45,820	$61,630	$85,820	$108,290
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	650	$40.44	$84,110	$57,170	$74,550	$102,720	$121,440
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	3,220	$47.87	$99,570	$56,710	$78,170	$102,040	$112,370

Electrician Salaries in Maryland 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
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	10,710	$34.93	$72,660	$21.39	$26.92	$47.47	$60.86
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	13,830	$34.90	$72,600	$21.92	$26.68	$50.16	$55.04
Salisbury, MD-DE	610	$27.17	$56,520	$18.51	$22.18	$30.83	$37.03
Cumberland, MD-WV	140	$26.40	$54,910	$18.29	$22.46	$34.04	$43.35
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	490	$29.26	$60,850	$20.50	$23.83	$38.11	$44.16
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	7,070	$29.65	$61,670	$18.42	$23.26	$37.88	$49.91
California-Lexington Park, MD	190	$29.15	$60,640	$18.13	$22.39	$38.60	$45.63

Working as an Electrician in Maryland

Electricians in Maryland can work in residential, commercial, or industrial settings based on their license. Job roles may include electrical technician, low-voltage technician, instrument repairer, cable splicer, electrician helper, machine repair technician, service installer, or electronic equipment repairer. Responsibilities include installing new electrical systems, repairing and maintaining existing ones, and troubleshooting electrical equipment.

Now is a great time to become an electrician in Maryland, with strong job growth in the field. You can start as an apprentice, earn a local license, and work toward a statewide master electrician license. Another option is to gain experience as an apprentice until you qualify for the master electrician exam. With the right training and experience, you can become a master electrician in Maryland in just a few years.

College Programs

• Baltimore-Towson, MD
• Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Baltimore-Towson, MD Area

9325 Snowden River Pky, Columbia, Maryland 21046
(410) 290-7100 x41500
Electrical / Electronics – Certificate Program

The Electrical / Electronics Certificate program in Electrical / Electronics at Lincoln College of Technology can be taken at their Columbia campus in the city of Columbia, MD. The majority of of the school’s 711 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Fees for tuition are broadly about $26,172 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $1,438, depending on the program.

6901 Security Blvd, Suite 16, Baltimore, Maryland 21244
(410) 298-4844
Electrical Technology – Certificate Program

North American Trade Schools offers various Certificate program options for future professionals. All programs are imparted at their campus in Baltimore in Baltimore County. This private, for-profit college has around 505 students in total, with the majority of students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The college’s retention rate for full-time students is over 80%. Tuition fees for the Electrical Technology program are about $15,333 annually, while books and supplies may cost around $2,318. Program completion is normally 12 months.

Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division Area

51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, Maryland 20850
(240) 567-5000
Fundamentals of Electrical Wiring – Certificate Program

Montgomery College offers various Certificate program options for future professionals. Classes are taken at their campus in the city of Rockville. This public college has about 25,320 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Fees for tuition for in-district students are generally about $4,974 and are $9,618 and $13,110 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively, while books and supplies may cost around $1,462, although this varies from program to program.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Area

8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, Maryland 20646-0910
(301) 934-2251
Electric Wiring Technician – Associate Program

College of Southern Maryland’s Associate program in Electric Wiring Technician is offered at their campus in La Plata in Charles County, Maryland. This public college has in the region of 8,166 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Tuition fees for in-district students are generally around $3,690 and are $6,406 and $8,266 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively. Books and supplies can cost around $1,154, although this will depend on the program.

* 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 Maryland may also wish to review their options in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

FAQs

How much do electricians earn in the state of Maryland?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of Maryland made an average of $58,680 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $34,160 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $90,320.