How to Become an Electrician in West Virginia

For anyone looking for a career where you can use problem-solving skills and be free from sitting at a desk all day, consider becoming a licensed electrician. In the state of West Virginia, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a growth in the rate of new electricians’ helpers of 3 percent by 2030. Electrical and electronic repairers specializing in substations and powerhouse repair are expected to see a 5 percent increase, while electrical power line installers and repairers are expected to see an 8 percent increase by 2030. In this guide, you can also find relevant electrician schools in West Virginia.[En Español]

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in West Virginia

The licensing process in West Virginia begins by getting a journeyman license. The journeyman license can be obtained by completing one of the three following options: completing a vocational course that has 1,080 hours of educational training; taking an electrical apprenticeship course; or by documenting four years of work under a licensed electrician. Applications for becoming an apprentice are submitted to the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. West Virginia has agreements with the states of Kentucky and Virginia so that requirements that have been met in those states can be transferred to West Virginia. There is an application process for this scenario.

After 10,000 hours, or five years, of working as a journeyman or obtaining other hands-on experience as an electrician, you can apply to become a master electrician. This does not include educational hours accrued in a vocational school. Work experience to become a master electrician includes residential, commercial and industrial. The state of West Virginia wants to see that you have a well-rounded background in order to become a master electrician. If you have the necessary hours, the next steps include completing the application, paying the licensing fees and taking the master electrician exam.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in West Virginia

Apprenticeship programs are available through both union and non-union companies. An apprenticeship has the advantage of providing you with educational hours and the work experience required to get your journeyman license. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has several programs that are offered by the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), preparing participants for their career as an electrician. In the state of West Virginia, you can complete these programs if you reside in Charleston, Wheeling, Clarksburg, Huntington and Parkersburg jurisdictions. Check with the IBEW chapters in these locations to see where the jurisdictional lines are and if you are eligible to apply.

To participate in a JATC program you need to be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, have completed and passed an algebra class, have a current driver’s license and pass an aptitude test. After completing the aptitude test, you will be contacted to participate in an interview. If you pass the interview process, you will then be placed on the JATC admission selection list.

West Virginia Schools for Electricians

Several schools in West Virginia offer training in electrical technology or electrician training. Most offer certificates. Here are a few schools that offer electrician training.

• Pierpont Community and Technical College. Based in Fairmont, West Virginia, Pierpont offers AAS degrees for Electric Utility Technician: Line Workers or Electric Utility Technician: Substation Electricians. These programs are part of the Power Systems Institute (PSI), a joint effort with FirstEnergy. Students going through these programs will be well prepared to work as electric utility technicians.
• James Rumsey Technical Institute. Located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, James Rumsey Technical Institute offers an Electrical Technician Certificate. The program is 11 months long and consists of 30 hours weekly of training.
• Fayette Institute of Technology (FIT). FIT offers a certificate in Industrial Electricity, preparing students who have completed the 1080-hour course for taking the journeyman exam upon completion.

Outlook and Salary Expectations

Most of the career options for electricians in the state of West Virginia are increasing. Electrician helpers are predicted to see a 3 percent growth, electrical and electronic repair are expected to increase by 5 percent, and the number of electrical power line installers and repairers is expected to increase by 8 percent. The highest demand in West Virginia is for electrical power line installers and repairers. According to the BLS, there were 3,570 employed in 2023. The need predicted by 2030 is 3,680, reflecting that qualified, trained electrical technicians are in demand.

The average salary for an electrician in West Virginia is $67,840 a year, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. The top 10% of electricians in the state earn $95,140 or more per year. In the related trade of electrical power line installers and repairers, workers in the state average $85,000 a year, with the top 10% earning $115,350 or more. The highest earnings go to those with the most years of experience.

Salaries in West Virginia 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	3,570	$30.34	$63,100	$36,490	$47,280	$80,570	$88,140
Helpers--Electricians	140	$15.38	$32,000	$23,440	$29,100	$35,890	$41,600
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	120	$37.81	$78,650	$38,480	$55,210	$84,780	$90,270
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	240	$45.09	$93,800	$75,950	$90,040	$97,550	$104,160
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	430	$38.43	$79,940	$49,040	$58,940	$100,420	$102,520

Electrician Salaries in West Virginia 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
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	13,830	$34.90	$72,600	$21.92	$26.68	$50.16	$55.04
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	780	$29.32	$60,990	$17.33	$22.40	$36.95	$39.48
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	290	$29.11	$60,540	$17.35	$20.53	$38.51	$42.14
Wheeling, WV-OH	490	$31.18	$64,850	$18.05	$26.81	$38.60	$43.03
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
Winchester, VA-WV	150	$29.09	$60,510	$17.59	$22.87	$34.69	$40.00
Beckley, WV	350	$37.47	$77,940	$17.02	$23.19	$39.87	$40.81
Charleston, WV	520	$31.26	$65,020	$18.20	$23.02	$39.49	$42.37
Morgantown, WV	300	$26.09	$54,270	$17.50	$21.90	$38.95	$46.56
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	180	$27.73	$57,670	$17.10	$20.78	$37.95	$38.13

Working as an Electrician in West Virginia

There are a wide variety of job options for those who choose to pursue a career as an electrical technician. At the journeyman level, some job options that you could consider are working for an electrical contractor, working in residential construction or commercial buildings, government agencies or industrial sites. You could also pursue getting your master electrician license and hiring other electricians to work for you in your own electrical contracting business. The timeframe to achieve the top licensing tiers in the electrical technician industry is in the range of three to five years. Jobs are plentiful in West Virginia for those looking to pursue a career in this industry.

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Neighbor States

Residents of West Virginia may also wish to review their options in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky.