According to O*Net, Nebraska will have a 15% projected growth from 2020 to 2030 for electricians.
This means that an average of 750 jobs will open every year throughout the decade.
With such good job security, you can bet that there’ll be a job waiting for you upon training completion.
So here’s how you can become a licensed electrician in Nebraska.
Page Navigation
- Potential Salary
- How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Nebraska
- Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Nebraska
- Electrician Schools by City
Potential Salary
As of May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following salary information for Nebraska electricians:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $52,120
- Hourly – $25.06
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $30,540 |
| 25% | $37,980 |
| 50% | $48,370 |
| 75% | $61,650 |
| 90% | $78,210 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Nebraska
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Omaha | $45,335 |
| Lincoln | $45,031 |
| Bellevue | $45,335 |
| Grand Island | $44,407 |
| Kearney | $44,407 |
| Fremont | $44,638 |
| Hastings | $44,407 |
| North Platte | $43,073 |
| Norfolk | $39,463 |
| Columbus | $44,407 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 210 | $54,030 | $25.98 | $77,250 | $37,840 |
| Lincoln, NE | 1,160 | $59,760 | $28.73 | $80,880 | $38,470 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 3,140 | $63,310 | $30.44 | $88,470 | $38,620 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Nebraska
The NE State Electrical Division regulates the license issuance for the following individuals:
- Apprentice electrician
- Journeyman electrician
- Residential journeyman wireman
- Fire alarm installer
- Electrical contractor
Becoming an Apprentice Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify for state registration, you must work under the direct supervision of an NE electrical license holder.
State Registration Application
To register with the state, you must submit the following:
- Completed license application form
- Applicable fee:
- If issued in an odd-numbered year – $20
- If issued in an even-numbered year – $40
- A copy of your current employer’s information
State Registration Renewal
Your registration expires on December 31 of even-numbered years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed license renewal form
- Renewal fee – $40
Becoming a Journeyman Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- At least 4 years of verifiable trade experience
- At least 3 years of verifiable trade experience and completed a post-secondary electrical course with an associate’s degree in electrical technology
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed license application form
- Application fee – $60
- License fee:
- If issued in an odd-numbered year – $25
- If issued in an even-numbered year – $50
- Proof of verified work experience
- Proof of completing an associate’s degree in electrical technology, if applicable
Exam Details
The Division will administer the electrical exams for licensure.
It will cover topics, including but not limited to:
- National Electrical Code (NEC) 2017
- Basic electricity – theory
- NE State Electrical Act
- Blueprint reading
Emergency circuits, including fire alarm circuits
The exam will consist of 50 questions to be completed in 3 hours.
During the exam, you’re allowed to use approved reference books.
License Renewal
Your license expires on December 31 of even-numbered years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed license renewal form
- Renewal fee – $50
- Proof of completing 12 hours of approved continuing education courses, of which 6 hours are about the NEC
Becoming a Residential Journeyman Wireman
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- At least 3 years of verifiable trade experience
- At least 2 years of verifiable trade experience and completed an associate’s degree in electrical technology
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed license application form
- Application fee – $60
- License fee:
- If issued in an odd-numbered year – $25
- If issued in an even-numbered year – $50
- Proof of verified work experience
- Proof of completing an associate’s degree in electrical technology, if applicable
Exam Details
The exam has the same information and coverage as the journeyman electrician licensure exam.
License Renewal
This license has the same renewal requirements as the journeyman electrician license.
Becoming a Fire Alarm Installer
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
- At least 2 years of verifiable experience in fire alarm systems
- Have been working as a registered apprentice for a licensed fire alarm installer for 2 years
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed license application form
- Application fee – $60
- License fee:
- If issued in an odd-numbered year – $25
- If issued in an even-numbered year – $50
- Proof of verified work experience
Exam Details
The exam has the same information and coverage as the journeyman electrician licensure exam.
License Renewal
This license has the same renewal requirements as the journeyman electrician license.
Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor
Qualifications
To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Graduated from a 4-year electrical engineering course at an accredited school and at least 1 year of verifiable trade experience as a journeyman electrician
- At least 1 year of verifiable trade experience as a licensed journeyman electrician
- At least 5 years of verifiable trade experience in planning, supervising, laying out, and installing electrical systems
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed license application form
- Application fee – $125
- License fee:
- If issued in an odd-numbered year – $125
- If issued in an even-numbered year – $250
- Proof of verified work experience
Exam Details
The exam has the same coverage as the journeyman electrician licensure exam.
License Renewal
Your license expires on December 31 of even-numbered years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed license renewal form
- Renewal fee – $250
- Proof of completing 12 hours of approved continuing education courses, of which 6 hours are about the NEC
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Nebraska
If you want to succeed in the electrical field, you need to first acquire trade education and training.
You can obtain those from approved electrical programs offered by technical schools and apprenticeship sponsors.
Both will provide classroom and hands-on training to ensure you’ll become competent electricians in the industry.
If you want to apply for a union-sponsored apprenticeship program, you must meet these requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Valid driver’s license
- Passing grade in high school algebra
- Pass the general aptitude test and physical exam
Pay the union fee
Non-union-sponsored apprenticeship programs have more or less the same requirements as union ones.
The table below lists some of the accredited schools and associations offering approved electrical programs.
12 Electrician Schools in Nebraska
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Central Community College - Grand Island Campus | 3134 West Highway 34 Grand Island, NE 68802 |
| Central Community College - Hastings Campus | 550 South Technical Boulevard Hastings, NE 68901 |
| JATC of Greater Nebraska | 8960 L Street Omaha, NE 68127 |
| JATC of Lincoln | 6200 South 14th Street Lincoln, NE 68512 |
| Metropolitan Community College | Applied Technology Center 10407 State Street Omaha, NE 68122 |
| Mid-Plains Community College - McCook | 1205 East Third Street McCook, NE 69001 |
| Mid-Plains Community College - North Platte Campus | 1101 Halligan Dr. North Platte, NE |
| Northeast Community College | 801 East Benjamin Ave. Norfolk, NE |
| Southeast Community College - Milford Campus | 600 State Street Milford, NE |
| Western Nebraska Community College - Alliance Campus | 1750 Sweetwater Avenue Alliance, NE 69301 |
| Western Nebraska Community College - Scottsbluff Campus | 1601 East 27th Street Scottsbluff, NE 69361 |
| Western Nebraska Community College - Sidney Campus | 371 College Drive Sidney, NE 69162 |
Electrician Schools by City
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