If you’re looking for a well-paying, hands-on job that’s in demand and does not require a college degree, a career as a licensed electrician could be a good fit.
Light Up Your Pocket and Possibilities
In Massachusetts, electricians make an average of $82,120 per year per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Starting out, you can expect to make around $58,970 per year. However, if you become an electrician through a union-sponsored apprenticeship program, you can make significantly more. For example, graduates of the Local 103 JATC apprenticeship program in Boston start out making over $55 per hour.
Electrician jobs are expected to grow 5 percent in Massachusetts between 2018 and 2028. And there are many opportunities for career advancement in this work. Some electricians work for an electrical contractor (company), while others choose to start their own electrical business. Moreover, as technology evolves, so does the electrical industry. The push to reduce our use of fossil fuels and adopt clean energy alternatives has created new specialty roles for electricians—from solar and smart meter installers to building new charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Becoming an Electrician
The path to becoming an electrician consists of several key steps:
- First, complete electrical training at an apprenticeship program or at a trade school or community college. Wherever you get trained, you will have to complete hundreds of classroom hours learning electrical science and theory, but an apprenticeship program will also pay you to perform electrical work under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician. Apprenticeship programs offer this advantage – you “earn while you learn.” That said, this is also why apprenticeship programs tend to be harder to get into.
- Once your training is complete, you will need to take an exam to earn your electrical license so you can work as an electrician. In Massachusetts, the licensing process is governed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. This Board requires that you complete a specific number of hours of supervised electrical work and classroom learning (through an apprenticeship program or by earning an electrical degree and working as an apprentice) to qualify to take the Journeyman Electrician licensing exam.
- If you pass this exam, you earn your Journeyman license (Class B license).
Note: If you wish to become licensed as a Master Electrician to start your own electrical business, you’ll need to work for at least a year as a licensed Journeyman, complete additional electrical coursework, and pass a Master Electrician licensing exam (Class A license).
Where to Find Training
There are various options for training to become an electrician. Here are some options in the Greater Boston area. Search online for opportunities near you.
- IBEW Local 103’s Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (JATC): This union apprenticeship program trains you to become an electrician in 5 years. You receive paid, hands-on training combined with classroom instruction. As a Year 1 apprentice, you start out making $22+/hour, but your pay increases as you move up in your training. You can apply to this 5-year program during your senior year of high school or later (applications open up in November of every year). The starting wage for program graduates is $55+/per hour. This is a highly competitive program, so read through its admission requirements carefully. To find union electrician apprenticeships in other parts of Massachusetts, please see the MBTU’s Local Union Directory.
- Franklin Cummings Tech (FCT): FCT offers a 12-month Certificate of Proficiency in Practical Electricity. As a student in this program, you will be introduced to all phases of the industry, including design, installation, estimating, and sales. This program fulfills the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electrician’s academic requirements for Journeyman electrician licensure by providing 600 hours of classroom instruction. You will need to secure an apprenticeship position after graduation to fulfill the work experience requirements for licensure.
- Southeastern Technical Institute: This public college offers a 10-month, 750-hour Electricity Program that runs from Mondays to Thursdays, 4:30-9:30 p.m. (a good option if you want or need to work during the day). This pre-apprenticeship program helps you qualify for and places you in electrical apprenticeship positions sponsored by local companies. It can also help improve your chances of getting into union-sponsored apprenticeship programs like the JATC option mentioned above. Like the union apprenticeship program described above, admission into this program is highly competitive.
A career as an electrician offers more than just a solid paycheck—it provides long-term job security, room for advancement, and the chance to work in a field that’s evolving with the future of clean energy. Whether you pursue a union apprenticeship or a technical school program, there are multiple paths to get started. With determination and the right training, you can build a rewarding career in a high-demand trade that keeps the world powered—literally. Now is a great time to take the first step toward lighting up your future.
Orquidia is the Assistant Director of NextGen Talent. She joined the NGT team from student affairs in higher education, supporting students through their ongoing development in the college setting. As a first-generation Dominican American, Orquidia is passionate about bridging the educational gap for low-income, first-generation collegegoers and students of color. Orquidia has a Master’s in College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island and a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
