According to the O*Net report, Mississippi has a 9% projected growth for electricians from 2020 to 2030.
This means that there’ll be an average of 670 job openings annually during the decade.
So if you want to enter the electrical field, now’s the time to do so.
Below, you’ll learn how to become a licensed electrician in Mississippi.
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Potential Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $54,240
- Hourly – $26.08
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $34,510 |
| 25% | $38,380 |
| 50% | $48,940 |
| 75% | $60,110 |
| 90% | $62,270 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Mississippi
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jackson | $42,671 |
| Gulfport | $42,163 |
| Biloxi | $42,499 |
| Hattiesburg | $41,899 |
| Greenville | $42,628 |
| Meridian | $42,421 |
| Tupelo | $40,451 |
| Southaven | $45,294 |
| Vicksburg | $42,240 |
| Pascagoula | $42,158 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 1,840 | $61,470 | $29.55 | $66,100 | $44,880 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 170 | $53,720 | $25.83 | $85,940 | $30,520 |
| Jackson, MS | 680 | $50,580 | $24.32 | $66,020 | $34,280 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the regulations and issuance of licenses fall under the jurisdiction of local-level licensing boards.
So apprentices, journeymen, and master electricians will need to check with their respective local boards on how to get their Primary Electrician License.
Primary Electrician License
In some aspects, the Primary Electrician License is equivalent to a journeyman or master electrician license in other states.
Usually, to qualify for the journeyman license, you’ll need to meet the following:
- 5 years (8,000 hours) of job experience
- 1,000 hours of classroom-based technical instruction
- Successfully pass the required licensure exam
The exam will test your competencies in the following areas:
- General electrical knowledge
- Service, feeders, and branch circuits
- Grounding and bonding
- Conductors and cables
- Raceways and boxes
- Special occupancies and equipment
- Electrical power
- Motors
- Low voltage
- Lighting
- Illuminated signs
- Fire detection and alarm systems
- Safety information
- Overcurrent protection
To pass, you have to score over 70%; some jurisdictions require a score of over 75%.
How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in Mississippi
Unlike electrician licenses for professionals, electrical contractor licenses have state-wide license regulations and issuance.
The MS State Board of Contractors oversees this responsibility.
The Board issues one major license classification and 8 specialty license classifications.
- Major: Electrical contractor license, either residential or commercial
- Specialties:
- Alarm systems, access systems, and security equipment
- Communication systems and low voltage electrical
- Installation of automated meter reading equipment
- Instrumentation – electrical
- Telecommunications
- Transmission and distribution lines (electrical)
- Turbine generator maintenance and repair
- Underground cable installation
- Traffic control (electrical)
You can hold multiple specialty license classifications if you don’t want to apply for the major license classification.
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet one of these requirements:
- 1 year of experience under the supervision of a master electrician and completed a 4-year electrical degree; OR,
- 4 years of experience under the supervision of a master electrician and holds a certification from an electrical trade school
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
For residential electrical contractor license
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of your experience in the chosen classification
- Proof of each qualifying party’s employment
- 3 reference letters, one of which must be from the bank or financial institution
- Certificate of insurance coverage
- Current general liability insurance
- Worker’s compensation insurance, if applicable
- For entities:
- Certificate of good standing with the MS Secretary of State
- MS Tax ID or Federal Tax ID
- Applicable fees
- Application – $50
- Additional specialty license classification $100
For commercial electrical contractor license
- Completed and notarized application form
- Proof of your experience in the chosen classification
- Proof of each qualifying party’s employment
- 3 reference letters, one of which must be from the bank or financial institution
- Reviewed or audited financial statements in the last 12 months prepared by the CPA
- Certificate of insurance coverage
- Current general liability insurance – $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate
- Worker’s compensation insurance, if applicable
- MS Sales Tax Number or MS Use Tax Number
- MS Income Tax ID Number or Federal Income Tax ID Number
- For entities: Certificate of good standing with the MS Secretary of State
- Applicable fees
- Application – $400
- Additional specialty license classification $100
Exam Details
The Board has contracted with PSI to administer the following exams:
- MS law and business management exam
- Trade exam
- MS master electrician – if you only want to be licensed in Mississippi
- NASCLA accredited trade examination for electrical contractors – if you want to be recognized as a licensed contractor in multiple states/jurisdictions
Here are the exam details:
- Exam fee – $240
- Exam length
- Law and business management – 50 questions in 2 hours
- MS master electrician – 80 questions in 3 hours
- NASCLA exam – 100 questions in 4.5 hours
- Exam type: open book
- Eligibility period – 6 months
- Passing score
- MS exams – 70%
- NASCLA exam – 75%
- Exam attempts – unlimited
License Renewal
Your license will need renewal every year.
To renew, you must submit the following:
For residential electrical contractor license
- Completed renewal application
- Proof of each qualifying party completed 2 credit hours of approved continuing education
- Current general liability insurance
- Worker’s compensation insurance, if applicable
- For entities: proof of good standing with the MS Secretary of State
- Renewal fee – $100
For commercial electrical contractor license
- Completed renewal application
- Current general liability insurance
- Worker’s compensation insurance, if applicable
- For entities: proof of good standing with the MS Secretary of State
- Balance sheet showing the following net worth
- Major classification – $50,000
- Specialty classification – $20,000
- Renewal fee – $400
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Mississippi
To start your electrical career, you must first receive proper trade education and training.
You can get this from technical schools or apprenticeship programs.
Technical School
Most technical schools have electrical programs that ensure your success no matter the type of environment you’ll work in.
Some of the areas you’ll learn include:
- Commercial wiring
- Residential wiring
- Industrial wiring
- AC and DC circuits
- Branch circuit and service entrance calculations
- Electrical drawings and schematics
- Motor control systems
- Equipment maintenance and troubleshooting
- Solid-state motor control
- Programmable logic controllers
Once you graduate, you’ll usually find entry-level positions such as a helper or apprentice, earning the needed experience for a professional license.
Apprenticeship Program
If you prefer real-world on-the-job training, you can apply for an apprenticeship program.
These programs will usually require the following:
- Fill out an apprentice application
- Holds a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Transcripts or records of classes you attended that are mandatory in the program, such as Algebra I
- Reside within the jurisdiction
- Pay the fee ($25)
- Pass the test and the interview
If you want to join an apprenticeship program through the union, you’ll have to pay dues and carry a card.
Many companies prefer hiring those who graduated from one of these technical schools or apprenticeship program sponsors.
16 Electrician Schools in Mississippi
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Copiah Lincoln Community Junior College | 1028 J C Redd Drive Wesson, MS 39191 |
| East Mississippi Community College - Golden Triangle | 8731 South Frontage Road Mayhew, MS |
| Hinds Community College | 3925 Sunset Drive Jackson, MS 39213 |
| Itawamba Community College | 3200 Adams Farm Road Belden, MS 38826 |
| JATC of Corinth and Tupelo | 105 North Madison Street Corinth, MS 38835 |
| JATC of Gulfport | 2417 32nd Street Gulfport, MS 39502 |
| JATC of the Meridian Area | Douglas Olson P.O. Box 964 Meridian, MS 39302 |
| Jones County Junior College | 900 South Court Street Ellisville, MS 39437 |
| Meridian Community College | 910 Highway 19 North Meridian, MS |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | 289 Cherry St. Moorhead, MS |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Perkinston Campus | 51 Main Street Perkinston, MS 39573 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Jackson County Campus | 2300 Highway 90 Gautier, MS 39553 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Jefferson Davis Campus | 2226 Switzer Rd, Gulfport, MS 39507 |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College | 101 Cunningham Boulevard Booneville, MS |
| Pearl River Community College | 101 Highway 11 Poplarville, MD |
| Southwest Mississippi Community College | 1156 College Dr. Summit, MS |
Electrician Schools by City
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