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.

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 BLS May 2025 OEWS data, the average salary for an electrician in the state is $74,150, and the top 10 percent earn $102,840 or more. 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.

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Neighbor States

Residents of Rhode Island may also wish to review their options in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.