In Massachusetts, O*Net projected a 29% employment growth for electricians from 2020 to 2030, with an average of 2,570 annual job openings.
This just means that many young individuals today wish to pursue an electrical career.
So if you’re one of them, here’s how you can become a licensed electrician in Massachusetts.
Page Navigation
- Potential Salary
- How to Become an Electrician
- How Master Electricians/System Contractors Obtain an MA Business License
- Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Massachusetts
- Electrician Schools by City
Potential Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts electricians have the following salary information:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $75,850
- Hourly – $36.47
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $38,420 |
| 25% | $48,370 |
| 50% | $75,990 |
| 75% | $98,610 |
| 90% | $127,900 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Massachusetts
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $54,544 |
| Worcester | $50,492 |
| Springfield | $50,108 |
| Lowell | $52,266 |
| Cambridge | $54,544 |
| Brockton | $51,931 |
| New Bedford | $50,540 |
| Fall River | $50,540 |
| Lynn | $54,544 |
| Quincy | $54,544 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 590 | $83,650 | $40.22 | $113,380 | $48,200 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 15,010 | $82,380 | $39.61 | $126,950 | $47,780 |
| Leominster-Gardner, MA | 150 | $74,770 | $35.95 | $102,790 | $45,900 |
| New Bedford, MA | 290 | $73,210 | $35.2 | $101,290 | $45,620 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 240 | $69,870 | $33.59 | $97,450 | $44,310 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 1,440 | $79,780 | $38.36 | $108,830 | $45,780 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 1,320 | $74,320 | $35.73 | $102,750 | $45,270 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become an Electrician
The MA Board of State Examiners of Electricians oversees the regulations and licensing of electricians.
They’ll issue the following licenses:
- Journeyman electrician
- Master electrician
- System technician
- System contractor
For apprentices, the MA Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) will do the overseeing.
Becoming an Apprentice Electrician
DAS understands that an apprenticeship is a way for you to receive on-the-job training and technical instruction while earning a salary.
So to become an apprentice, you need to enroll in an approved apprenticeship program.
Afterward, enter into an apprenticeship agreement with your sponsor employer, which enables you to receive the apprentice ID card.
This ID card will need to be worn at all times during the working hours of your apprenticeship.
Your sponsor will apply and annually renew the ID card for you to DAS, whereas you’ll complete the application form along with a passport-size photo.
Becoming a Journeyman Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet the following:
- Holds a high school diploma or equivalent
- At least 600 hours of classroom instruction from an approved electrician program
- At least 4 years with 8,000 hours of experience
- Successfully pass the licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of completing the required education hours
- Proof of work experience
- Copy of MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)
- Certificate of completing an approved 15-hour code update course(s)
- Fees:
- Application and exam fee – $226
- License fee – $104
Exam Details
The Board has contracted with PSI to help administer the electrician licensure exams.
For the journeyman exam, here are the exam details:
- Open book exam with only authorized references allowed to bring at the testing center
- Content
- Part I (theory) – 70 questions covering these topics:
- General knowledge
- Services
- Grounding and bonding
- Wiring methods and devices
- Motors
- Transformers
- Low-voltage distribution
- Special occupancies and equipment
- Overcurrent protection
- Lighting
- Alarm systems
- Part II (applied) – 30 questions covering these topics:
- Circuit calculations (Ohm’s Law)
- Electrical schematics and plans
- Materials and components
- Troubleshooting and testing
- MA amendments
- Licensing laws and regulations
- Part I (theory) – 70 questions covering these topics:
- Duration
- Part I – 180 minutes
- Part II – 60 minutes
- Passing rate – 70%
- Retakes – 6 chances within the 1-year eligibility period
License Renewal
Your license will expire after 3 years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed online renewal application
- Proof of completing 21 hours of approved continuing education courses, of which 15 hours are spent on code updates
- Renewal fee – $78
Becoming a Master Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet the following:
- At least 150 hours of classroom instruction from an approved electrician program
- At least 1 year of experience as a licensed journeyman
- Successfully pass the licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of completing the required education hours
Proof of work experience - Copy of MA CORI
- Certificate of completing an approved 15-hour code update course(s)
- Fees:
- Application and exam fee – $226
- License fee – $104
Exam Details
For the master electrician exam, here are the exam details:
- Open book exam with only authorized references allowed to bring at the testing center
- Content
- Part I (theory) – 80 questions covering these topics:
- State-specific electrical requirements
- General knowledge
- Services
- Grounding and bonding
- Wiring methods and devices
- Motors
- Transformers
- Low-voltage distribution
- Special occupancies and equipment
- Overcurrent protection
- Lighting
- Alarm systems
- Part II (business and law) – 50 questions covering these topics:
- MA licensing
- Estimating and bidding
Lien law - Financial management
- Tax laws
Labor laws - Project management
- Contracts
- Business organization
- Risk management
- Environmental and safety
- Part I (theory) – 80 questions covering these topics:
- Duration
- Part I – 240 minutes
- Part II – 120 minutes
- Passing rate – 70%
- Retakes – 6 chances within the 1-year eligibility period
License Renewal
Your license will expire after 3 years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed online renewal application
- Proof of completing 21 hours of approved CE courses, of which 15 hours are spent on code updates
- Renewal fee – $117
Becoming a System Technician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet the following:
- Holds a high school diploma or equivalent
- At least 300 hours of classroom instruction from an approved electrician program
- At least 2 years with 4,000 hours of experience
- Successfully pass the licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of completing the required education hours
- Proof of work experience
- Copy of MA CORI
- Certificate of completing an approved 15-hour code update course(s)
- Fees:
- Application and exam fee – $226
- License fee – $104
Exam Details
For the system technician exam, here are the exam details:
- Open book exam with only authorized references allowed to bring at the testing center
- Content
- Part I (theory) – 50 questions covering these topics:
- NEC alarm requirements
- Fire detection and notification
- Part II (applied) – 30 questions covering these topics:
- Circuit calculations (Ohm’s Law)
- Electrical schematics and plans
- Materials and components
- Troubleshooting and testing
- Licensing laws and regulations
- Part I (theory) – 50 questions covering these topics:
- Duration
- Part I – 180 minutes
- Part II – 60 minutes
- Passing rate – 70%
- Retakes – 6 chances within the 1-year eligibility period
License Renewal
Your license will expire after 3 years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed online renewal application
- Proof of completing 21 hours of approved CE courses, of which 15 hours are spent on code updates
- Renewal fee – $78
Becoming a System Contractor
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet the following:
- At least 75 hours of classroom instruction from an approved electrician program
- At least 1 year of experience as a licensed systems technician
- Successfully pass the licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of completing the required education hours
- Proof of work experience
- Copy of MA CORI
- Certificate of completing an approved 15-hour code update course(s)
- Fees:
- Application and exam fee – $276
- License fee – $155
Exam Details
For the system contractor exam, here are the exam details:
- Open book exam with only authorized references allowed to bring at the testing center
- Content
- Part I (theory) – 70 questions covering these topics:
- General electric and electronic theory and knowledge
- NEC alarm requirements
- Intrusion detection and notification
- Fire detection and notification
- Part II (business and law) – 50 questions covering these topics:
- MA licensing
- Estimating and bidding
- Lien law
- Financial management
- Tax laws
- Labor laws
- Project management
- Contracts
- Business organization
- Risk management
- Environmental and safety
- Part I (theory) – 70 questions covering these topics:
- Duration
- Part I – 180 minutes
- Part II – 120 minutes
- Passing rate – 70%
- Retakes – 6 chances within the 1-year eligibility period
License Renewal
Your license will expire after 3 years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed online renewal application
- Proof of completing 21 hours of approved CE courses, of which 15 hours are spent on code updates
- Renewal fee – $78
How Master Electricians/System Contractors Obtain an MA Business License
As a master electrician or system contractor, you may want to operate your own business.
To apply for a business license, you must meet these qualifications:
- You’ve been contracted to be the business’s Licensee of Record (LOR)
- Business has been registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s (SOC) Corporations Division
Afterward, you can submit the following minimum requirements to the Board:
- Completed online application
- Copy of the SOC filing
- Copy of the license of the LOR
- Letter of intent of the LOR
- License fee – $221
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Massachusetts
To become an electrician, you’ll need practical training and education in key areas of the trade.
You can get this either through an accredited vocational school or an approved apprenticeship program.
In a vocational school, you’ll earn a certificate or diploma which can help in your job placement upon graduation.
Also, many schools offer apprenticeships as part of their curriculum, where you’ll learn and earn under the supervision of a local employer.
Meanwhile, in an apprenticeship program, you’ll directly receive on-the-job training under the supervision of licensed electricians.
You’ll also receive a salary, which will start at 40% of that of a journeyman, with period increments upon good performance evaluation.
To enroll in an apprentice program, you need to meet these qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Passing grade in high school algebra
- Take a drug test
- Pass an aptitude test
- Valid driver’s license
The table below lists some of the schools and associations that you can consider enrolling in.
22 Electrician Schools in Massachusetts
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Bay Street Tech | 225 Turnpike Street Canton, MA |
| Ben Franklin Institute of Technology | 41 Berkeley Street Boston, MA |
| Bristol Community College | 777 Elsbree Street Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | 250 New Rutherford Avenue Boston, MA 02129 |
| IEC of New England | 1800 Silas Deane Highway Rocky Hill, CT 06067 |
| JATC of Boston | 194 Freeport Street Dorchester, MA 02122 |
| JATC of Brockton | 111 Rhode Island Road Lakeville, MA 02347 |
| JATC of Springfield | 185 Industry Avenue Springfield, MA 01104 |
| JATC of Worcester | 242 Mill Street Worcester, MA 01602 |
| Massasoit Community College | 1 Massasoit Boulevard Brockton, MA 02302 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College - Wellesley Hills Campus | 50 Oakland Street Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 |
| Martin Electrical and Technical School | 130 Kerry Place Norwood, MA 02062 |
| Porter and Chester Institute of Canton | 5 Campanelli Circle Canton, MA 02021 |
| Porter and Chester of Chicopee | 134 Dulong Circle Chicopee, MA 01022 |
| Porter and Chester Institute of Woburn | 8 Presidential Way Woburn, MA 01801 |
| Porter and Chester Institute of Worcester | 220 Brooks Street Worcester, MA 01606 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 1 Armory Street Springfield, MA 01102-9000 |
| The Peterson School of Vocational Training - Woburn Campus | 25 Montvale Ave. Woburn, MA |
| The Peterson School of Vocational Training - Worcester Campus | 486 Chandler Street Worcester, MA 01602 |
| The Peterson School of Vocational Training - Westwood Campus | 350 University Ave. Westwood, MA |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | 550 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115 |
| Worcester Electrician School | 1000 Washington St #710, Boston, MA 02118 |
Electrician Schools by City
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