How to Become an Electrician in Oregon

Working as an electrician requires years of training and some degree from high school or electrician schools in order to be able to do the skilled electrical work safely. That training pays off in great job security, multiple career opportunities, and a great salary for rewarding work. In Oregon, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth for the industry is 16 percent between 2018 and 2028. Many more positions are expected to be available in the state in the coming years for trained and licensed electricians.[En Español]

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Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Oregon

In Oregon, your path to becoming an electrician will begin with a post-secondary program, an apprenticeship or both. An apprenticeship through a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) or a non-union group provides all the education and hands-on training needed to qualify for licensing as a journeyman electrician.

Another option is to complete a degree or certificate program with at least 576 hours of classroom instruction and then find an apprenticeship for 8,000 hours of work experience. Finally, you can find a supervising electrician willing to take you on as an apprentice to get 16,000 hours of experience. Once licensed as a journeyman you will qualify to take the exam to become a licensed supervising electrician after completing 8,000 additional hours of work experience.

There are also several specialty licenses in Oregon, including limited maintenance electrician, limited renewable energy technician, and limited residential electrician. Each type of electrician license requires a passing score on a specific exam. Licensing is done through the state’s Building Codes Division. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board licenses electrical contractors.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Oregon

There are several apprenticeship programs in Oregon that are approved and meet the requirements for becoming a journeyman electrician. The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs) include 144 to 180 classroom hours each year and a total of 8,000 work experience hours, which are paid at about 40 percent of the journeyman electricians rate. To enroll in a JATC you must be at least 18 years old, a high school graduate or hold a GED, and have passed one year of algebra with at least a C grade. Some of the JATCs in Oregon are:

  • NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center, Portland
  • Central Electrical Training Center, Tangent
  • Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon, Salem
  • High Desert Apprenticeship, Bend
  • Crater Lake Electrical JATC, Central Point

Oregon Schools for Electricians

Some schools in Oregon have approved apprenticeship programs, but you can also complete a related degree or certificate program. After or during completion you will need to find a position as an apprentice for work experience hours.

  • Umpqua Community College, Roseburg. Umpqua offers students the choice of several programs, including apprenticeships. Here you can get classroom hours and work experience hours. The programs are for electrical technology, manufacturing plant technician, inside electrician and limited maintenance electrician. Most are certificates, but there is also an associate degree program in electrical technology.
  • Portland Community College, Portland. In Portland, students can choose to complete the limited building maintenance electrician apprenticeship. This program provides coursework, and students are required to find an apprenticeship to gain work experience hours.
  • Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, Milwaukie, and Wilsonville. With three campuses students have several options for conveniently working through the two-year associate degree program in electronics engineering technology. The coursework provides the foundational knowledge for working as an entry-level technician or for becoming an electrician apprentice.
  • Clatsop Community College, Astoria. Clatsop offers students an associate degree program in electrician apprenticeship technologies. Students are expected to be in an apprenticeship or to have completed one. The courses here meet the requirements for journeyman licensing.
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Outlook and Salary Expectations

Students and apprentices working right now to become a licensed electrician in Oregon can expect to have plenty of job opportunities in the coming years. According to the BLS reports, there were 9,850 employed electricians in the state in 2018, but there will be 11,390 by 2028. Nearly 1,400 new positions will need to be filled by qualified workers.

The salaries for electricians in 2019 were, on average, $77,190 for electricians. Those earning in the top 10 percent made an average of $102,950 that year. Higher salaries are a result of more experience, specializations and licensing and working as an independent contractor.

Salaries in Oregon by Occupation

OccupationTotal EmploymentMean Hourly WageMean Annual WageAnnual Salary 10th PercentileAnnual Salary 25th PercentileAnnual Salary 75th PercentileAnnual Salary 90th Percentile
Electricians9,920$36.02$74,920$42,570$59,050$93,170$102,950
Helpers--Electricians390$18.48$38,430$25,550$28,650$48,020$58,050
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment200$33.62$69,930$34,530$38,920$100,810$109,140
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment970$29.37$61,080$34,090$40,690$74,720$89,890
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay160$45.57$94,790$83,670$88,520$103,340$113,960
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers1,230$45.88$95,430$73,900$86,590$107,470$121,730

Electrician Salaries in Oregon by Region

AreaTotal EmploymentMean Hourly WageMean Annual SalaryHourly Wage 10th PercentileHourly Wage 25th PercentileHourly Wage 75th PercentileHourly Wage 90th Percentile
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA7,510$37.22$77,420$20.60$28.78$46.43$50.90
Albany, OR460$34.54$71,830$22.99$30.38$39.80$45.56
Bend-Redmond, OR380$32.03$66,610$18.42$25.50$38.68$45.75
Eugene, OR840$31.65$65,830$19.64$25.20$37.79$43.03
Grants Pass, OR90$32.35$67,280$17.64$23.76$38.87$50.07
Medford, OR380$28.58$59,450$17.27$22.46$34.36$39.02
Salem, OR760$30.68$63,820$17.33$21.65$38.61$43.92

Working as an Electrician in Oregon

There will be many jobs available for qualified individuals in the coming years, as well as the chance to earn a great income. Electricians in the state may work in residential settings, in commercial buildings or for industrial employers. Many work for electrical contractors, but you will also have the chance to become a contractor, start your own business and hire other electricians to work for you.

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College Programs

Eugene-Springfield, OR Area

Lane Community College

4000 E 30th Ave, Eugene, Oregon 97405-0640
(541) 463-3000
Electricians – Certificate Program, Electricians – Associate Program

Lane Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are based at their campus in Eugene in Lane County, OR. Most of the school’s 8,583 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The cost of tuition for in-state students is usually around $4,650 and for out-of-state students in the order of $10,068 per year. Study materials can cost in the order of $1,389, depending on the program chosen.

North Central Oregon Nonmetropolitan Area Area

Blue Mountain Community College

2411 NW Carden Ave, Pendleton, Oregon 97801
(541) 276-1260
Limited Electrician Technologies – Certificate Program

Blue Mountain Community College offers various Certificate program options for future opticians. Classes are taken at their campus in Pendleton in Umatilla County. This public college has round 1,686 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is roughly about $5,998 and for students from other states around $15,268 for each academic year. Study materials can cost roughly $1,039, depending on the program chosen.

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Area

Clackamas Community College

19600 Molalla Ave, Oregon City, Oregon 97045-8980
(503) 594-6000
Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies – Certificate Program, Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies – Associate Program

Clackamas Community College offers various Certificate program options for future opticians, a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are offered at their campus in Oregon City in Clackamas County, Oregon. This public college has in the region of 6,407 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally around $4,614 and for out-of-state students approximately $12,399 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,800, although this will depend on the program.

Mt Hood Community College

26000 SE Stark St, Gresham, Oregon 97030
(503) 491-6422
Electrical Training – Certificate Program, Central Electrical Training – Associate Program

Mt Hood Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are taught at their campus in Gresham in Multnomah County. The majority of of the school’s 8,758 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be in the order of $5,126 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $10,031 yearly, while books and supplies may cost about $1,560, although this varies from program to program.

Portland Community College

12000 SW 49th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97219-7132
(971) 722-6111
Electrical and Computer Engineering – Certificate Program, Electrical and Computer Engineering – Associate Program

Portland Community College offers various Certificate program options for future professionals, a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are taught at their campus in the city of Portland, OR. The majority of of the school’s 29,003 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be in the order of $4,088 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $8,840 yearly, while books and supplies may cost roughly $1,689, although this will vary with the program.

Salem, OR Area

Chemeketa Community College

4000 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, Oregon 97305
(503) 399-5000
Electrician Apprenticeship – Certificate Program, Electrician Apprenticeship – Associate Program

Chemeketa Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in Salem in Marion County, OR. The majority of of the school’s 11,454 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is about $4,500 and for students from other states around $11,790 for each academic year. Learning materials may cost roughly $1,200, although this will vary with the program.

Southern Oregon & Linn County Nonmetropolitan Area Area

Linn-Benton Community College

6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany, Oregon 97321
(541) 917-4999
Electrical and Computer Engineering – Certificate Program, Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies – Associate Program

Linn-Benton Community College offers various Certificate program options for future professionals, a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are offered at their campus in the city of Albany. The majority of of the school’s 5,721 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally around $4,731 and for out-of-state students approximately $10,538 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $870, although this will depend on the program.

Rogue Community College

3345 Redwood Hwy, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527-9291
(541) 956-7501
Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies – Certificate Program

The Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies Certificate program in Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies at Rogue Community College is based at their campus in Grants Pass in Josephine County, OR. Most of the school’s 4,954 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The cost of tuition for in-state students is in the order of $4,344 and for students from outside the state in the order of $5,172 per year, while books and supplies may cost in the order of $1,200, although this varies from program to program.

Umpqua Community College

1140 Umpqua College Rd., Roseburg, Oregon 97470-0226
(541) 440-4600
Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies – Associate Program

Umpqua Community College offers various Associate program options for future opticians. All programs are based at their campus in Roseburg in Douglas County. This public college has around 2,246 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The cost of tuition for in-state students is in the order of $4,991 and for students from outside the state in the order of $9,515 per year, while books and supplies may cost in the order of $1,800, although this varies from program to 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 Oregon may also wish to review their options in Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California.

FAQs

What Are the Continuing Education Requirements for Electricians in Oregon?

In Oregon, supervising and general journeyman electricians must complete 24 continuing education credits in Oregon rule and law, code changes, and code-related courses. Limited journeyman and technician and specialty electricians must complete between four and 16 continuing education credit hours

How much do electricians earn in the state of Oregon?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of Oregon made an average of $74,920 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $42,570 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $102,950.

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