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Job Outlook
Pennsylvania already has more than 20,000 working electricians, the industry is still on the rise.
According to the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, there will be a 13.8% increase in electrician jobs by 2014.
As an electrician in the State of Pennsylvania, expect to be paid $47,855 per year, though the salary can reach $54,531 annually.
These salaries are at about the same level as the national ones, where the median one is $47,951 per year, and the highest $54,640 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Electricians in Pennsylvania
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
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 |
Let’s have a look at the requirements for becoming an electrician in this state.
Become an apprentice
Each county in this state has different requirements for journeyman licensing.
However, there are some that apply to most of Pennsylvania’s jurisdictions:
- Enroll in an apprentice program for 3 to 5 years and attend 750 and 900 hours of education; OR
- Enroll in a vocational school to get a 2-year diploma and 2 more years of experience; OR
- Be employed by an electrician for 10 years
Apprenticeship Programs
Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees (JATC) are available as a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) coordinates and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).
You can also enroll in similar non-union programs.
Both union and non-union programs have some requirements:
- Be 18 years old
- High school diploma/GED
- Take one year of algebra
- A general aptitude test
While union programs offer job placement, a non-union course requires students to search for employment.
Trade Schools
These offer structured classroom training and field experience.
At the end of the program, you will receive a diploma.
Class subjects include:
- DC Electronics / AC Electronics
- Basic Applied Electrical Math
- Non-linear Circuit analysis
- Programmable Logic Controllers
- Electric Motor Control
- National Electric Code
- Blueprint Reading
42 Electrician Schools in Pennsylvania
School Name | Address |
---|---|
AJATC | 1513 Ben Franklin Highway Douglassville, PA 19518 |
Allegheny County Community College | 595 Beatty Road Monroeville, PA 15146 |
Central Pennsylvania Chapter IEC | 8 Long Ln, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 |
CIT — Career Institute of Technology | 5335 Kesslerville Road — Forks Industrial Park Easton, PA |
CTC — Career Tech Center | 3201 Rockwell Ave. Scranton, PA |
Cumberland-Perry Vo / Tech School | 110 Willow Mill Rd. Mechanicsburg, PA |
Erie Institute of Technology | 940 Millcreek Mall Erie, Pennsylvania 16565 |
Forbes Road Career and Tech Center | 607 Beatty Rd. Monroeville, PA |
Harrisburg Area Community College — HACC | One H.A.C.C. Drive Harrisburg, PA |
IEC Chesapeake | 8751 Freestate Drive Laurel, MD 20723 |
IEC of Northwest Pennsylvania | 316 Cherry Street Erie, PA 16507 |
JATC of Chester | 3729 Chichester Avenue Boothwyn, PA 19061 |
JATC of Harrisburg | 1501 Revere Street Harrisburg, PA 17104 |
JATC of Local 56 | 185 Pennbriar Drive Erie, PA 16509 |
JATC of Local Union 375 | 1201 West Liberty Street Allentown, PA 18102 |
JATC of Pennsylvania – Delaware – New Jersey | 20 Morgan Drive Reading, PA 19608 |
JATC of Pittsburgh | 5 Hot Metal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 |
JATC of Scranton | 4 East Skyline Drive South Abington Township, PA 18411 |
JATC of Shamokin | 25 South 5th Street Shamokin, PA 17872 |
JATC of Western Central Pennsylvania | 217 Sassafras Lane Beaver, PA 15009 |
JATC of Wilkes-Barre | 1269 Sans Souci Parkway Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706 |
JATC of Williamsport | 500 Jordan Avenue Montoursville, PA 17754 |
JATC of York | 555 Willow Springs Lane York, PA 17403 |
Johnstown Career and Technology Center | 445 Schoolhouse Road Johnstown, PA |
Johnson College | 3427 North Main Ave Scranton, PA |
Lehigh Career Institute | 4500 Education Park Schnecksville, PA |
Luzerne County Community College | 1333 S. Prospect Nanticoke, PA |
New Castle School of Trades | 4117 Pulaski Road New Castle, PA 16101 |
Northampton Community | 3835 Green Pond Bethlehem, PA |
Orleans Technical College | 2770 Red Lion Rd. Philadelphia, PA |
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | 101 Community College Way Johnstown, PA 15904 |
Pennco Tech – Bristol Campus | 3815 Otter St. Bristol, PA |
Philadelphia Apprentice Training | 1719 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
Reading Area Community College | 10 South Second Street Reading, PA 19603 |
Steel Center for Career and Technical Education | 565 North Lewis Run Jefferson Hills, PA |
SUN Area Tech Institute | 815 East Market Street New Berlin, PA 17855 |
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | 750 E. King St. Lancaster, PA |
Their Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter | 1500 Gehman Road Harleysville, PA 19438 |
Their Keystone Chapter | 135 T-801, Manheim, PA 17545 |
Triangle Tech | 1940-A Perrysville Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15214 |
Western Reserve Chapter of the IEC | 2007 South Ave. Youngstown, Ohio 44502 |
Westmoreland County Community College | 145 Pavilion Lane Youngwood, PA 15697 |
Being employed by an electrician
If you pass the ICC or the Thomson Prometric exam and acquire 10 years of experience, you can apply for a journeyman license without additional training.
Electric jobs are generally posted on industry boards.
Pass the journeyman exam
Many counties in Pennsylvania don’t require an additional journeyman exam, and bringing proof of apprenticeship is enough.
However, there are 3 cities where licensing is required.
Allentown, PA
To get a journeyman license in this city, you need:
- An experience of 4 years
- A completed application form
- Be 21 years old
- High school diploma/GED
- Pass the journeyman test
The exam lasts for 4 hours and consists of 80 open book questions.
The topics cover:
- 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%
The license needs an annual renewal and offers reciprocity with the City of Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Kutztown, Reading, Scranton and the State of Connecticut.
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA
Only electrical contractor licenses are issued in these cities.
Become an electrical contractor
Every city has different requirements for a contractor license, so let’s have a look at 3 of the state’s largest cities.
Allentown, PA
To work as a master electrician in this city, you need:
- An experience of 4 years
- A completed application form
- Be 21 years old
- High school diploma/GED
- Pass the master electrician test
The exam lasts for 5 hours, consists of 100 open book questions and requires a 70% score to pass.
The topics cover:
- 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%
You will need to renew the license yearly, and no insurance or bond is required.
Pittsburgh, PA
The licenses are issued by The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections and required:
- Be 18 years old
- Pass the electrical contractor test
- Photo ID
- Proof of apprenticeship
- A $300,000 general liability insurance
- City taxes registration proof
The exam lasts for 5 hours, consists of 100 open book questions and requires a 70% score to pass.
Topics cover:
- 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%
You will need to renew the license yearly and provide proof of experience each time you renew it.
Philadelphia, PA
The electrical contractor license in this city requires:
- An experience of 4 years
- Car insurance, a $500,000 general liability insurance and Worker’s Compensation
- City taxes registration proof
- Three passport-sized pictures and a filled in application form
- Pass the electrical contractor test
The exam lasts for 5 hours, consists of 100 open book questions and requires a 70% score to pass.
Topics cover:
- 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 license will be released by the Business Services Department.