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]

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

2 Maryland colleges report an electrician or electrical technology program to the National Center for Education Statistics (College Navigator export, July 2026). They are listed alphabetically by city. Tuition figures are the school’s own IPEDS filing for the program named, not a quote; confirm current costs with the school.

Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia

9325 Snowden River Pky, Columbia, Maryland 21046
(410) 290-7100 x41500
Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology – Certificate Program, Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology Service Management – Associate Program

Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia is a private for-profit 2-year institution in Columbia, MD, with 1,075 students (all undergraduate). It is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Its Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology program runs 42 credit hours and is typically completed in 11 months, with tuition and fees of $27,823 and books and supplies of $2,205.

Montgomery College

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

Montgomery College is a public 2-year institution in Rockville, MD, with 17,780 students (all undergraduate). It is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Tuition and fees for 2024-2025 are $10,398 in-state and $14,250 out-of-state.

Other electrical training programs in Maryland

This campus offers an electrical program that is filed with IPEDS under a different program code, or not yet filed, so it does not appear in the list above. North American Trade Schools reports to IPEDS under HVAC and welding program codes; the electrical program is taken from the school's own site.

North American Trade Schools

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

Registered electrical apprenticeship sponsors in Maryland

Apprenticeship is how most Maryland electricians train, and the programs below are registered with the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (partner sponsor file dated 2026-09-09). Only training providers are listed: employer sponsors that register their own apprentices are not, and the file names sponsors without listing their occupations, so a sponsor whose name does not say electrical is not caught. Four Maryland programs appear twice in the file under different names (Baltimore JATC, SMECO, Local 26, IEC Chesapeake); the table keeps both rows so the registry can be matched, but there are six programs, not ten. SMECO's is a utility lineworker program for its own hires, not an inside-wiring apprenticeship.

Sponsor	City	Type	Registered since
WESTERN MARYLAND JATC FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY	Cumberland	IBEW/NECA JATC	1947
BALTIMORE ELECTRICIANS JATC LOCAL UNION NO. 24	Baltimore	IBEW/NECA JATC	1961
Baltimore JATC for the Electrical Industry (IBEW 24)	Baltimore	IBEW/NECA JATC	1961
WASHINGTON, D. C. ELECTRICIANS JATC LOCAL UNION NO. 26	Lanham	IBEW/NECA JATC	1969
JATC WASHINGTON D.C. ELECTRICIANS IBEW – LOCAL 26	Lanham	IBEW/NECA JATC	1969
SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC, INC. JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE	Hughesville	IBEW/NECA JATC	1981
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative SMECO JATC, Engineering & Operations Center	Hughesville	IBEW/NECA JATC	1981
IEC Chesapeake Apprenticeship & Training, Inc.	Laurel	IEC chapter	1982
ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OF CARROLL COUNTY MARYLAND	Westminster	other registered program	1986
Independent Electrical Contractors -Chesapeake	Laurel	IEC chapter	2023

How to apply to each Maryland program

Read from each program’s own site or the state apprenticeship registry on 2026-09-16. Application windows, fees and wage rates change every year, so confirm them with the program before you rely on them; a posted wage is the sponsor’s figure on that date, not a promise of what you will earn.

Western Maryland JATC. Electrical apprenticeship run with IBEW Local 307 at its Cumberland training center. How to apply: download the application from wmjatc.com, then call the training center to book a date and time to bring it in; have a copy of your high school diploma, transcript, birth certificate and driver's license ready. Requirements: high school diploma (the only requirement the site prints). 307 E. Offutt Street, Cumberland, MD 21502, (301) 724-5282.

Baltimore Electrical JATC. Four-year electrical apprenticeship run with IBEW Local 24 and the Maryland Chapter of NECA. Length: four years, on-site job training plus classroom coursework. How to apply: online through the Apply Today link on the applicants page; applications are open year round. Requirements: 18 or older, valid driver's license, high school diploma or GED with official transcripts, a score of 4 or higher on the NJATC Electrical Trades Aptitude Test, DD-214 for discharged military; every apprentice must hold an active Maryland apprentice electrician license. Cost: free tuition. Pay: $23.63 an hour to start, against a posted journeyman rate of $52.50; family health cover from year three. 2699 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, (410) 247-3313.

Washington, D.C. Electricians JATC (IBEW Local 26). Inside wireman 'A' apprenticeship run with IBEW Local 26 and NECA for the DC metro area, with a residential training program, a telecommunications apprenticeship and a communication installer track alongside it. Length: five years for the inside wireman program. How to apply: online through a TradeSchool account, with a $125 processing fee before the application opens; the current window closes December 31, 2026, or earlier if 4,200 applications are sold, with the application due by the third Monday in January 2027, the GAN personal experience form by the third Monday in February and aptitude testing from mid-February to mid-May; the residential training program has no fee or test and the JATC's own guide suggests working in it while the apprenticeship application runs. Requirements: aptitude test in algebra and reading; the JATC's step-by-step guide tells high-school applicants to pass Algebra 1 before graduating. 4371 Parliament Place, Suite A, Lanham, MD 20706, (301) 429-2575.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) apprenticeship. Four-year apprentice lineworker program the cooperative runs for its own hires; this is utility line work, not inside wiring. Length: four years in eight six-month steps, each advanced on knowledge and skill tests, on the Northwest Lineman College curriculum. How to apply: as a job application through the careers page at smeco.coop when apprentice openings are posted; applicants are scored on a field day (digging, ladder climbing, hand lines, cross-arm assembly, a bucket-truck ride and a confined-space check) and then interviewed. Credential: Maryland journeyman lineman license on completion, per the cooperative's own account of the program.

IEC Chesapeake. Four-year electrical apprenticeship, in the classroom or online (the E-Apprenticeship, with a Spanish version), plus a telecommunications technician program, a pre-apprenticeship and a school-to-apprenticeship track. Length: four years, at least 144 class hours a year, in two 3.5-hour sessions a week or one 4-hour session depending on program and location. How to apply: online application with a $70 non-refundable processing fee, a letter of recommendation from a non-relative, proof of diploma or GED and an OSHA 10 card, then a reading and math assessment and an interview with the apprenticeship committee; applications are taken year round, with July 15 the deadline for the fall class and December 1 for January; you need a job with an electrical contractor before you are enrolled in a class, and IECC does not place applicants ($100 advanced placement test if transferring from another program). Requirements: 18 or older (or a legal guardian's permission), high school diploma or GED, valid driver's license, Social Security card, Maryland apprentice license for anyone working in Maryland, pass the math and reading assessment. Cost: $2,950 a school year for employees of member contractors, $4,200 for non-members, books included, due 10 days before the first class. 8751 Freestate Drive, Suite 250, Laurel, MD 20723 (second campus at 42680 Trade West Drive, Dulles, VA), (301) 621-9545.

Electrical Apprenticeship Program of Carroll County. Four-year electrical apprenticeship certificate run with Carroll Community College and approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council, covering residential, commercial and industrial work. Length: four years, 630 classroom hours and 8,000 hours on the job; classes two evenings a week, starting in the fall. How to apply: contact the program coordinator for acceptance into the program before registering for classes at the college. Requirements: 18 or older, and employed and sponsored by a licensed electrical contractor. Cost: varies with the agreement with your employer; the college page says the employer covers program expenses. classes at Carroll Community College, 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157, (410) 876-0484 (program coordinator).

College details are from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator), as exported in July 2026; apprenticeship sponsors are from apprenticeship.gov as of 2026-09-09. Program links were checked on 2026-09-16. Check all details directly with the school or sponsor 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.

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