47 Best electrician schools 2024

Watt’s up? If you’re interested in taking the plunge into one of the most dynamic trades, then look no further. Electricians skillfully install, upgrade, and maintain electrical systems to illuminate homes and power the world.

Plus, with 7 billion people on the planet the need for power will not dim anytime soon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians are projected to grow 6% (faster than the average) from 2022-2032.

Are you confident that becoming an electrician is the right plan for you? Then check out our list of the best electrician schools to ensure you’re getting a wallet-friendly education.

» Read: Discover the highest paying jobs without a degree

Electrician trade school or apprenticeship

There are 2 common paths to become an electrician; you can find an apprenticeship directly or enroll in a trade school first. Although there are pros and cons to each route, some of the benefits of attending a trade school before your apprenticeship are:

• You get a chance to develop electrician skills in a setting where your core focus is learning rather than doing workplace tasks to fit the job at hand.
• Many apprenticeship programs require participants to complete a certain number of post-graduation work hours, and trade school can count toward this.
• Apprentices typically need to work full-time, while trade school students can work part-time and complete their degree; plus, they can often take coursework online.
• Many programs prepare students for the Journeyman Electrician Examination.

Best schools for electricians

These are the best electrician schools based on our carefully devised ranking methodology. We know most people avoid trade or vocational programs because of the price tag, but the following schools offer students an education with a post-graduation salary that more than makes up for the cost of tuition. These are shockingly good schools!

To be featured on this list, schools needed to have at least 10 graduates a year.

How much is electrical school?

According to our database, the average cost of electrical school is $12,088. To get this number we took the average tuition cost of 215 schools across the country that offered either a certificate or associate program under the IPEDS category of Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.

However, the average cost of the 47 best electrician schools above is only $7,478, which is why choosing a program based on economic value can make all the difference.

How long is electrical school?

Depending on if you’re looking to get a certificate or associate degree, electrical school can take anywhere from less than a year to 2 years. Although electrical school itself can be short, becoming an electrician can take up to 5 years.

This can vary based on your state’s requirements, but typically becoming a journeyman electrician will require the completion of an electrical apprenticeship which requires 8,000 to 10,000 hours (or 4-5 years).

Online electrician school

Although you cannot become a certified electrician without getting your hands dirty, learning theoretical and foundational knowledge before stepping into a lab or shop can be beneficial.

Here are a few of the best online electrician schools:

1. Community College of Allegheny County Community Education
2. South College
3. Nashville State Community College

Best states for electricians

What are the best states for electricians? Depends on how you define “best”. Below we have 2 different metrics that outline the best states based on highest salaries and employment levels. Hawaii may have the highest salary, but they only employ between 3,480-7,990 electricians, so think twice before packing your bags and buying some Tommy Bahama shirts.

Highest paying states:

1. Hawaii – $88,630
2. District of Columbia – $85,910
3. Washington – $85,190
4. Illinois – $84,790
5. Oregon – $83,180

States with the highest employment level:

1. California – 73,300
2. Texas – 64,360
3. Florida – 42,250
4. New York – 39,000
5. Michigan – 25,440

Ready to get started?

Electricity isn’t going anywhere and neither are electricians. But the path you take needs to fit your aspirations and budget. The best schools for electricians are designed to get students out of the classroom and onto a job site without carrying hefty student loans with them.