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Job Outlook
In North Carolina, electrician jobs will see a 15.8% increase until 2024, as reported by the Department of Commerce.
As an electrician in the State of North Carolina, expect to be paid $45,745 per year, though the salary can reach $52,127 annually.
By contrast, these salaries are a bit lower than at the national level, with the median one being $47,951 per year, and the highest being $54,640 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Electricians in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $46,972 |
| Raleigh | $46,004 |
| Greensboro | $45,697 |
| Durham | $45,744 |
| Winston-Salem | $45,937 |
| Fayetteville | $44,000 |
| Cary | $46,004 |
| High Point | $46,100 |
| Wilmington | $43,736 |
| Asheville | $44,048 |
If this industry interests you, have a look at the requirements for becoming an electrician.
Complete Your Apprenticeship
Every county has its own licensing requirements:
- Raleigh – 2 years and 4,000 hours of job experience, or 36 credits in an electrical course approved by the City of Raleigh’s Electrical Examination Board.
- Charlotte/Mecklenburg County – 4 years and 8,000 hours of supervised electric work
- Greensboro – 4 years and 8,000 hours of supervised electric work
Vocational schools
By enrolling in a vocational school and getting a 2-year degree, you can easily meet the requirements for your journeyman license.
The class subjects typically cover:
- Electrical Theory
- AC/DC Circuits
- Blueprints
- Electrical Construction Calculations
- Commercial and Residential Wiring
- Electrical Motor Controls and Transformers
- Industrial Safety/First Aid/OSHA
- National Electric Code
The programs are designed to help you get hired and work towards getting licensed.
After you complete the training, you will be placed with an employer for an entry-level electric position.
You will be able to work on:
- Data communication systems
- Alarm and fire systems
- Electrical installation and maintenance (residential, commercial, and industrial)
- Electrical machines and equipment
To get hired, you can also reach out to non-union companies like Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc, in Apex or Charlotte.
Some of the best electrical companies in the state include Starr Electric Company in Charlotte or Pullen Construction Company in Raleigh.
Apprenticeship Programs
These provide structured training that includes theory and practice.
The programs are managed by the Electrical Training Alliance and available through JATCS in your region.
After you finish your training, you can get employed by a union company.
Non-union programs are similar, but the companies looking for apprentices work independently.
If you have a technical school diploma, such a program could be ideal for you.
You can contact the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc in:
- ABC-Carolinas Office – Triangle Office (Apex)
- ABC Carolinas Office – Lowcountry Office (Charlotte)
- ABC Carolinas Office (Charlotte)
- ABC-affiliated Carolinas Electrical Contractors Association (Charlotte)
35 Electrician Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Asheville-Buncombe Tech College | 340 Victoria Rd. Asheville, NC |
| Beaufort County Comm. College | 5337 US Hwy 264 East Washington, NC |
| Cape Fear Comm. College | 411 North Front Street Wilmington, NC |
| Catawba Valley Comm. College | 2550 U.S. Highway 70 SE Hickory, NC |
| Central Piedmont Comm. College | 1141 Elizabeth Avenue Charlotte, NC |
| Center for Technology and Health Education | 3509 Old Charlotte Highway Monroe, NC 28110 |
| Cleveland Comm. College | 137 South Post Road Shelby, NC 28152 |
| Coastal Carolina Comm. College | 444 Western Boulevard Jacksonville, NC |
| College of the Albemarle — Edenton-Chowan Campus | 800 North Oakum Street Edenton, NC |
| Durham Technical Comm. College | 1637 E. Lawson St. Durham, NC |
| Fayetteville Tech | 2201 Hull Road Fayetteville, NC |
| Gaston College — Dallas Campus | 201 Highway U.S. 321 South Dallas, NC |
| Guilford Technical Comm. College | 601 East Main Street Jamestown, NC |
| Halifax Comm. College | 100 College Drive Weldon, NC 27890 |
| Haywood Comm. College | 185 Freelander Dr. Clyde, NC |
| Isothermal Comm. College — Rutherford Campus | 286 I.C.C. Loop Road Spindale, NC |
| James Sprunt Comm. College | 133 James Sprunt Drive Kenansville, NC |
| JATC of Asheville and Local Union #238 | 45 Sardis Road Asheville, NC 28806 |
| JATC of Charlotte | 1900 Cross Beam Drive Charlotte, NC 28217 |
| JATC of Greensboro | 7802 Thorndike Road Greensboro, NC 27409 |
| JATC of Raleigh Durham | P.O. Box 13551 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 |
| JATC of The Carolinas | P.O. Box 820 Hampstead, NC 28443 |
| Martin Comm. College — Williamston Campus | 1161 Kehukee Park Road Williamston, NC |
| McDowell Technical Comm. College | 54 College Drive Marion, NC 28752 |
| Mitchell Comm. College — Statesville | 500 West Broad Street Statesville, NC |
| Pamlico Comm. College | 5049 Highway 306 South Grantsboro, NC |
| Piedmont Comm. College | 1715 College Drive Roxboro, NC 27573 |
| Pitt Comm. College | 1986 Pitt Tech Rd. Winterville, NC |
| Roanoke-Chowan Comm. College | 109 Community College Road Ahoskie, NC 27910 |
| Randolph Comm. College | 629 Industrial Park Ave. Asheboro, NC |
| Richmond Comm. College | 1042 West Hamlet Avenue Hamlet, NC 28345 |
| Robeson Comm. College | 5160 Fayetteville Road Lumberton, NC 28360 |
| Stanly Comm. College | 141 College Dr. Albemarle, NC |
| Tri-County Comm. College | Cherokee County Center of Applied Technology 2415 Airport Road Marble, NC 28905 |
| Wake Tech | 9101 Fayetteville Rd. Raleigh, NC |
Pass the journeyman test
Each county in North Carolina has its own requirements, and below are those for 3 big cities in the state.
Charlotte/Mecklenburg County
The County Code Enforcement department issues the licenses, for which you need:
- Be hired as an electrician
- A 4 year of experience under a contractor
- Passing the journeyman test
The exam is managed by The North Carolina Association of Electrical Contractors.
After passing it, you need to renew your certification every other year.
Raleigh
The licenses in this county are issued by The City of Raleigh Electrical Examining Board, and require:
- An honest character
- An experience of 2 years or 36 credits in an electrical course
- Proof of experience
- A score of 75% in the journeyman exam
Greensboro
In this city, you need:
- 4 years of experience doing electrical work
- Passing the journeyman testing
Become an electrical contractor
The next step in your career is becoming a contractor, which allows you to start your own business.
The licenses are issued by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
There are 3 types of certifications, limited, intermediate, and unlimited.
The requirements are:
- As a limited contractor, you can only work on projects worth less than $50,000 and 600 volts and also need a 4-year experience.
- As an intermediate contractor, you can only work on projects worth less than $130,000 and have 6 years of experience.
- There are no limits for an unlimited contractor, but you must submit work references from 2 people and have 5 years of experience.
Each of the contractor exams is 6 hours long and has 100 questions.
The intermediate and unlimited contractors license requires a bond proving you are able to take projects worth more than $50,000 and $130,000, respectively.
The electrical contractor licenses should be renewed once a year, and additional education hours are required.
Electrician Schools by City
