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Electricians in Michigan: what they earn
Electricians in Michigan earned a median $76,270 a year in May 2025, $36.67 an hour. 23,530 people held the job, 5.3 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 21% above the national figure of $63,190, and Michigan ranks 14 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an electrician in Michigan — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes. ↓
The full wage spread in Michigan
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $20.66 | $42,980 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.21 | $50,360 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $36.67 | $76,270 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $44.38 | $92,300 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $49.58 | $103,120 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $35.50 | $73,840 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Michigan against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | New Jersey | $77,250 | 13,520 |
| 12 | Montana | $76,760 | 2,750 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $76,540 | 14,310 |
| 14 | Michigan | $76,270 | 23,530 |
| 15 | California | $76,160 | 73,310 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $76,120 | 2,960 |
| 17 | Maine | $75,380 | 3,780 |
The complete ranking is on the Electricians page.
Against the national figure
| Michigan | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $76,270 | $63,190 |
| Median hourly | $36.67 | $30.38 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $42,980 | $42,640 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $103,120 | $108,510 |
| Employed | 23,530 | 757,220 |
Other trades in Michigan
Plumbers and pipefitters ($80,190) · HVAC technicians ($60,850) · Welders ($49,990) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($57,180)
See all five ranked by pay in Michigan.
How to become an electrician in Michigan
Michigan licenses electricians at the state level through LARA on a tiered path — Apprentice (registration), Journeyman (8,000 hours over 4 years plus an exam), Master (12,000 hours plus an exam), and Electrical Contractor. The licensing authority is Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes.
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice (registration) | Register within 30 days of employment by a master electrician and contractor; stay enrolled in related technical instruction; renew yearly. No exam. | — | — | $15 |
| Electrical Journeyman | At least 20; complete 8,000 hours and 4 years as a registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or master; pass the PSI exam (minimum 75%). License fee $40. | 8,000 hrs (≈ 4 yrs) | Electrical journey exam (PSI, minimum 75%) | $40 |
| Master Electrician | At least 22; hold a journeyman license 2 years; 12,000 hours over at least 6 years; pass the PSI exam (minimum 75%). License fee $50. | 12,000 hrs (≈ 6 yrs) | Master electrician exam (PSI, minimum 75%) | $50 |
| Electrical Contractor | Hold a master license or employ a licensed master electrician of record. No exam, but you must apply. | — | — | — |
Reciprocity. Michigan holds no electrician reciprocity; out-of-state applicants submit their license and that state's requirements for review. The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses.
Renewal. Annual for the journeyman and master licenses (the electrical contractor license renews every three years).
Licensing sources: Michigan LARA Electrical Licensing (retrieved 2026-09-16) · Michigan LARA License Renewals (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as an electrician in Michigan?
Michigan licenses electricians at the state level through LARA on a tiered path — Apprentice (registration), Journeyman (8,000 hours over 4 years plus an exam), Master (12,000 hours plus an exam), and Electrical Contractor.
What does it cost to get licensed as an electrician in Michigan?
Application and license fees run from about $15 to $50 depending on the tier, with separate exam fees in some cases — see the table above.
How long does it take to become an electrician in Michigan?
You can be licensed as Electrical Journeyman after about 4 years of on-the-job training (8,000 hours); higher tiers take longer.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.