Minnesota will increase its job demand for electricians by 10.6%, or 2,870 average annual job openings, until 2024.
This means that the state will need a highly skilled workforce to perform electrical services to its residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
So if you want to become a licensed electrician in Minnesota, now’s the time to do so.
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Potential Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Minnesota electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $68,970
- Hourly – $33.16
Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
10% | $41,000 |
25% | $49,380 |
50% | $64,120 |
75% | $80,930 |
90% | $100,180 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Minnesota
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Minneapolis | $51,067 |
St. Paul | $51,067 |
Duluth | $45,385 |
Rochester | $46,344 |
Maple Lake | $45,800 |
Wood Lake | $42,628 |
Saint Cloud | $44,383 |
Lakeville | $50,751 |
Eden Prairie | $50,981 |
Burnsville | $50,924 |
Regional Salary
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duluth, MN-WI | 530 | $76,230 | $36.65 | $99,380 | $47,760 |
Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 200 | $75,310 | $36.21 | $96,980 | $47,450 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,820 | $83,120 | $39.96 | $110,700 | $48,470 |
Rochester, MN | 370 | $76,050 | $36.56 | $101,850 | $47,320 |
St. Cloud, MN | 630 | $75,690 | $36.39 | $103,670 | $46,930 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Minnesota
The MN Board of Electricity regulates and issues the licenses for the following electricians:
- Unlicensed electrician*
- Class A journeyworker electrician
- Class A master electrician
- Class B installer
- Lineman
- Maintenance electrician
- Power limited electrician
Note (*): MN allows unlicensed individuals to perform electrical services so long as they register with the Board.
Qualifications
If you’re applying for a license, you’ll have to meet these requirements to legally provide electrical services:
- Must be at least 17 years old
- Employed by a licensed electrical contractor or registered electrical employer
- Meet the experience and education requirements
- Class A journeyworker electrician
- At least 48 months or 8,000 hours of experience
- Can credit up to 1 year of experience if you completed an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course
- Class A master electrician – at least 60 months or 10,000 hours of experience
- Class B installer – at least 12 months or 2,000 hours of experience
- Lineman – at least 48 months or 8,000 hours of experience
- Maintenance electrician
- At least 48 months or 8,000 hours of experience
- Can credit up to 1 year of experience if you completed an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course
- Power limited electrician
- At least 36 months or 6,000 hours of experience
- Can credit up to 1 year of experience if you completed an approved 2-year post-secondary electrical course or other technical training
- Class A journeyworker electrician
- Successfully pass the required licensure exam
Meanwhile, if you’re applying as an unlicensed individual, you must meet the following:
- Work performed is within the scope of what the employer is authorized to perform
- Under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyworker or master electrician
License Application
To apply for the license, you must submit the following:
- Completed application form
- Applicable fees
- Unlicensed individual – $14
- Licensed individual – $50
- Proof of meeting the experience and education requirements (for licensed individuals only)
Exam Details
The Board will administer the exams, which have the following details:
- Duration – 5 ½ hours each
- No. of questions
- Class A journeyworker electrician – 80 questions
- Class A master electrician – 80 questions
- Class B installer – 25 questions
- Lineman – 50 questions
- Maintenance electrician – 70 questions
- Power limited electrician – 80 questions
- Passing score – 70%
License Renewal
The registration as an unlicensed electrician will expire after one year, while all other licenses expire after two years.
To renew the license, you must submit the following:
- Completed renewal application form
- Applicable renewal fees
- Unlicensed individual – $19
- Class A journeyworker electrician – $43
- Class A master electrician – $73
- Class B installer – $43
- Lineman – $38
- Maintenance electrician – $43
- Power limited electrician – $43
- Proof of completing approved continuing education hours
- Unlicensed individuals – 2 CE hours
- Licensed individuals except for lineman – 16 CE hours
How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in Minnesota
The Board also regulates and issues the electrical contractor license.
To apply for the license, you must meet the following:
- Business registration with the Secretary of State
- Designate a Responsible Licensed Individual (RLI)
- Obtain insurance coverage
- Public liability insurance – at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate, and $50,000 in property damage
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Obtain a surety bond – $25,000
Once you completed these, you can submit the following:
- Completed application form
- Application fee – $128
- Proof of insurance coverage and surety bond
Renewal for the license is required every two years.
To renew, submit the following:
- Completed renewal application form
- Renewal fee – $128
- Proof of active business filing with the Secretary of State
- Current certificates of insurance
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Minnesota
Being a professional electrician will require you to first get the proper trade education and training.
You can receive this by either attending a vocational school or an apprenticeship program.
Both will enable you to learn the competencies to perform electrical work, such as:
- Cable splicing
- Code calculations
- Electrical grounding
- Instrumentation
- National Electrical Code
- Electrical safety work practices
- OSHA/construction safety
- Basic welding
Below are the schools and associations offering approved electrical training programs that you can check out.
21 Electrician Schools in Minnesota
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Anoka Technical College | 1355 West Highway 10 Anoka, MN 55303 |
Dakota County Tech School | 1300 145th Street East Rosemount, MN |
Dunwoody Tech | 818 Dunwoody Boulevard Minneapolis, MN |
Hennepin Technical College | 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 |
Iron Range JATC | 2230 LONDON ROAD SUITE 200 DULUTH, MN 55812 |
JATC Minnesota State | 452 Northco Drive Fridley, MN 55432 |
JATC South Central Minnesota | 80th Street Southeast Rochester, MN 55904 |
JATC Saint Paul Electrical | 1330 Conway Street Saint Paul, MN 55106 |
JATC Minneapolis | 13100 Frankfort Parkway Saint Michael, MN 55376 |
Minneapolis Community / Tech School | 1501 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College - Moorhead Campus | 1900 28th Ave South Moorhead, MN 56560 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College - Wadena Campus | 405 Colfax Ave Southwest Wadena, MN |
Northland Tech - East Grand Forks Campus | 2022 Central Avenue Northeast East Grand Forks, MN |
Northwest Tech | 905 Grant Ave. Southeast Bemidji, MN |
Riverland Community College - Albert Lea Campus | 2200 Riverland Drive Albert Lea, MN 56007 |
Riverland Community College - Austin Campus | 1900 8th Avenue Northwest Austin, MN 55912 |
Ridgewater College | 2101 15th Avenue Northwest Willmar, MN 56201 |
St. Cloud Tech | 1540 Northway Drive St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
St. Paul College | 235 Marshall Ave. Saint Paul, MN |
Southeast Technical College - Winona Campus | 1250 Homer Road Winona, MN 55987 |
Twin Ports / Arrowhead | 802 Grafield Ave. Ste. 102 Duluth, MN 55802 |
Electrician Schools by City
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