Electrician Classes in Pennsylvania (Top Schools)

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Pennsylvania already has more than 20,000 working electricians, the industry is still on the rise.

According to the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, there’ll be a 13.8% increase in electrician jobs by 2014.

So if you want to enter the electrical industry, now’s your chance to do it.

Here’s how you can become an electrician in Pennsylvania.

Potential Salary

As of May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following salary information for Pennsylvania electricians:

Mean Wage:

  • Annually – $68,660
  • Hourly – $33.01
PercentileAverage Annual Wage
10%$37,520
25%$48,170
50%$61,630
75%$80,300
90%$104,500

 

Annual Salary Range:
$37K
$61K
$10K

Average Salary of Electricians in Pennsylvania

City NameSalary
Philadelphia$51,595
Pittsburgh$47,116
Allentown$47,807
Erie$44,292
Upper Darby$51,595
Reading$47,418
Scranton$44,258
Bethlehem$47,807
Merion Station$51,595
Bensalem$54,152
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ1,150$74,920$36.02$127,250$44,350
Altoona, PA120$59,090$28.41$79,020$36,580
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA80$58,420$28.09$81,390$39,250
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA110$64,890$31.2$93,980$38,760
East Stroudsburg, PA190$60,390$29.04$76,310$38,700
Erie, PA350$63,880$30.71$81,680$41,600
Gettysburg, PA110$67,270$32.34$98,630$43,680
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA980$70,960$34.12$98,430$43,840
Johnstown, PA130$60,580$29.13$89,340$42,770
Lancaster, PA1,140$67,820$32.61$98,200$39,460
Lebanon, PA220$65,590$31.54$98,050$40,310
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD9,590$77,460$37.24$126,590$44,480
Pittsburgh, PA3,990$71,240$34.25$100,510$41,590
Reading, PA710$72,740$34.97$96,370$45,670
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA960$73,900$35.53$102,700$41,000
State College, PA170$64,060$30.8$107,230$42,360
Williamsport, PA170$62,530$30.06$90,640$43,040
York-Hanover, PA850$70,520$33.9$117,780$43,500
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Electricians, OCC 47-2111, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

How to Become an Electrician in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of the few states that doesn’t have state-wide licensing regulations for electricians.

Instead, it’s up to the local jurisdictions to set and oversee these regulations.

However, you must know that to legally perform electrical work, you must comply with the…

  • Electrical and building codes and construction industry guidelines where you intend to work
  • PA’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

For now, let’s take a look at some of the common and local licensing requirements as examples.

Becoming an Apprentice or Helper Electrician

In general, you need to have some on-the-job training or experience to qualify for a journeyman license or, in some cases, a journey-level position.

This is the one requirement that all local jurisdictions in Pennsylvania have in common.

You can become an apprentice or helper electrician in 3 ways:

  • Enroll in a 3– to 5–year apprenticeship program and attend 750 to 900 hours of classroom instruction
  • Enroll in a 2–year electrical program at a vocational school and acquire 2 years of on-the-job experience
  • Work under a licensed electrical contractor for at least 10 years

Becoming a Journeyman Electrician

Many local jurisdictions in Pennsylvania only need proof of apprenticeship or experience to make you qualified for a journeyman license.

Meanwhile, others will have you pass the journeyman electrician exam.

Allentown

To get a journeyman license in this city, you need to meet these qualifications:

  • Must be at least 21 years old
  • Has a high school diploma or GED equivalent
  • At least 4 years of experience
  • Successfully pass the journeyman exam

The exam will be open-book and last for 4 hours.

It’ll consist of 80 questions covering these topics:

  • General knowledge – 8%
  • Services and service equipment – 13%
  • Feeders – 3%
  • Branch circuits and conductors – 20%
  • Wiring methods and materials – 26%
  • Equipment and devices – 13%
  • Control devices – 3%
  • Motors and generators – 5%
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions – 11%

Your license will need an annual renewal.

Moreover, this license has reciprocity with the City of Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Kutztown, Reading, Scranton, and the State of Connecticut.

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

Only electrical contractor licenses are issued in these cities.

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Allentown

To work as a master electrician in this city, you need:

  • At least 4 years of journeyman experience
  • Successfully pass the master electrician exam

The exam lasts for 5 hours and consists of 100 open-book questions.

It’ll cover the following topics:

  • General knowledge and plan reading – 12%
  • Services and service equipment – 16%
  • Feeders – 4%
  • Branch circuits and conductors – 16%
  • Wiring methods and materials – 19%
  • Equipment and devices – 10%
  • Control devices – 3%
  • Motors and generators – 8%
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions – 12%

The passing rate is 70%.

You’ll need to renew the license yearly, and no insurance or bond is required.

Pittsburgh

The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections will issue the license.

You’ll need to meet these requirements:

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Successfully pass the electrical contractor exam
  • Copy of your recent photo ID
  • Proof of apprenticeship
  • $300,000 general liability insurance
  • Proof of city taxes registration

The exam lasts for 5 hours and consists of 100 open-book questions.

It’ll cover the following topics:

  • Wiring methods and materials – 19%
  • Services and service equipment – 16%
  • Branch circuits and conductors – 16%
  • General knowledge and plan reading – 12%
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions – 12%
  • Equipment and devices – 10%
  • Motors and generators – 8%
  • Feeders – 4%
  • Control devices – 3%

The passing rate is 70%.

You’ll need to renew the license yearly and provide proof of experience each time you renew it.

Philadelphia

The city’s Business Services Department will issue the license, and they’ll require the following:

  • At least 4 years of work experience
  • Proof of insurance – car insurance, worker’s compensation, and $500,000 general liability insurance
  • Proof of city taxes registration
  • 3 passport-sized photos
  • Successfully pass the electrical contractor exam

The exam lasts for 5 hours and consists of 100 open-book questions.

It’ll cover the following topics:

  • General knowledge and plan reading – 12%
  • Services and service equipment – 16%
  • Feeders – 4%
  • Branch circuits and conductors – 16%
  • Wiring methods and materials – 19%
  • Equipment and devices – 10%
  • Control devices – 3%
  • Motors and generators – 8%
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions – 12%

The passing rate is 70%.

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Pennsylvania

You need to have appropriate trade education and training to become an electrician.

You can get this through apprenticeship programs or trade schools.

Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by unions (through JATCs) and non-unions (through private employers).

To apply for an apprenticeship, both sponsors will require the following:

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Has a high school diploma/GED
  • Completed and passed high school algebra
  • Pass the general aptitude test

While union programs offer job placement after completion, non-unions require students to search for employment themselves.

Trade Schools

These offer structured classroom training and field experience.

At the end of the program, you will receive a diploma, which you can use to qualify for licensure or further your studies.

Here, some of the areas you’ll learn include:

  • NEC
  • AC/DC
  • Basic applied electrical math
  • Non-linear circuit analysis
  • Programmable logic controllers
  • Electric motor control
  • Blueprint reading

42 Electrician Schools in Pennsylvania

School NameAddress
AJATC1513 Ben Franklin Highway Douglassville, PA 19518
Allegheny County Community College595 Beatty Road Monroeville, PA 15146
Central Pennsylvania Chapter IEC8 Long Ln, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Career Institute of Technology5335 Kesslerville Road — Forks Industrial Park Easton, PA
Career Tech Center3201 Rockwell Ave. Scranton, PA
Cumberland-Perry Vo / Tech School110 Willow Mill Rd. Mechanicsburg, PA
Erie Institute of Technology940 Millcreek Mall Erie, Pennsylvania 16565
Forbes Road Career and Tech Center607 Beatty Rd. Monroeville, PA
Harrisburg Area Community CollegeOne H.A.C.C. Drive Harrisburg, PA
IEC Chesapeake8751 Freestate Drive Laurel, MD 20723
IEC of Northwest Pennsylvania316 Cherry Street Erie, PA 16507
JATC of Chester3729 Chichester Avenue Boothwyn, PA 19061
JATC of Harrisburg1501 Revere Street Harrisburg, PA 17104
JATC of Local 56185 Pennbriar Drive Erie, PA 16509
JATC of Local Union 3751201 West Liberty Street Allentown, PA 18102
JATC of Pennsylvania20 Morgan Drive Reading, PA 19608
JATC of Pittsburgh5 Hot Metal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203
JATC of Scranton4 East Skyline Drive South Abington Township, PA 18411
JATC of Shamokin25 South 5th Street Shamokin, PA 17872
JATC of Western Central Pennsylvania217 Sassafras Lane Beaver, PA 15009
JATC of Wilkes-Barre1269 Sans Souci Parkway Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706
JATC of Williamsport500 Jordan Avenue Montoursville, PA 17754
JATC of York555 Willow Springs Lane York, PA 17403
Johnstown Career and Technology Center445 Schoolhouse Road Johnstown, PA
Johnson College3427 North Main Ave Scranton, PA
Lehigh Career Institute4500 Education Park Schnecksville, PA
Luzerne County Community College1333 S. Prospect Nanticoke, PA
New Castle School of Trades4117 Pulaski Road New Castle, PA 16101
Northampton Community3835 Green Pond Bethlehem, PA
Orleans Technical College2770 Red Lion Rd. Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College101 Community College Way Johnstown, PA 15904
Pennco Tech – Bristol Campus3815 Otter St. Bristol, PA
Philadelphia Apprentice Training1719 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
Reading Area Community College10 South Second Street Reading, PA 19603
Steel Center for Career and Technical Education565 North Lewis Run Jefferson Hills, PA
SUN Area Tech Institute815 East Market Street New Berlin, PA 17855
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology750 E. King St. Lancaster, PA
Their Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter1500 Gehman Road Harleysville, PA 19438
Their Keystone Chapter135 T-801, Manheim, PA 17545
Triangle Tech1940-A Perrysville Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15214
Western Reserve Chapter of the IEC2007 South Ave. Youngstown, Ohio 44502
Westmoreland County Community College145 Pavilion Lane Youngwood, PA 15697

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