← All career paths

Trades & Construction

How to become a Master Electrician

From journeyman electrician: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there
2–4 years
Typical pay
$75k–$110k
Starting from
Journeyman electrician

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from journeyman electrician and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

See master electrician jobs open now

The route

  1. Complete your journeyman years

    Most states require 2–4 years licensed as a journeyman before you may sit the master exam.

    Course that covers thisJourneyman Electrician Exam Practice TestUdemy · around $19.99
  2. Log the required experience hours

    States count documented hours, so keep your own records — employers lose them.

  3. Study the NEC properly

    The master exam goes deeper into calculations and design than the journeyman paper.

  4. Pass the master electrician exam

    State-administered, open-code-book, and heavily weighted to load calculations.

    State master electrician licence

  5. Pull permits or run a shop

    The master licence is what lets a company hold an electrical contractor licence.

  6. Destination

    Master Electrician

    Browse jobs now

Course links are Udemy affiliate links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.