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Electricians in North Carolina: what they earn
Electricians in North Carolina earned a median $56,800 a year in May 2025, $27.31 an hour. 21,640 people held the job, 4.4 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 10% below the national figure of $63,190, and North Carolina ranks 49 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an electrician in North Carolina — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC). ↓
The full wage spread in North Carolina
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.29 | $40,130 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.63 | $47,070 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $27.31 | $56,800 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $29.77 | $61,920 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $36.09 | $75,060 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $27.33 | $56,850 | 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.
North Carolina against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | New Mexico | $58,390 | 5,020 |
| 47 | Georgia | $58,320 | 21,650 |
| 48 | Florida | $57,250 | 49,700 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $56,800 | 21,640 |
| 50 | Alabama | $55,690 | 10,900 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $49,070 | 7,500 |
The complete ranking is on the Electricians page.
Against the national figure
| North Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $56,800 | $63,190 |
| Median hourly | $27.31 | $30.38 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $40,130 | $42,640 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $75,060 | $108,510 |
| Employed | 21,640 | 757,220 |
Other trades in North Carolina
Plumbers and pipefitters ($57,080) · HVAC technicians ($57,260) · Welders ($50,590) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($51,530)
See all five ranked by pay in North Carolina.
How to become an electrician in North Carolina
North Carolina licenses electrical contractors statewide in three classes — Limited (projects up to $60,000), Intermediate (up to $150,000), and Unlimited (any value) — each requiring qualifying experience and a passing exam. The licensing authority is North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC).
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited (L) | Single projects up to $60,000, rated 600 volts or less. About two years' qualifying experience (one primary), then a passing exam (100 questions, minimum 70). License fee $100/year; exam $125. | — | NCBEEC Limited exam (100 questions, minimum 70) | $100 |
| Intermediate (I) | Single projects up to $150,000. About four years' qualifying experience (two and a half primary), then the exam. License fee $150/year; exam $125. | — | NCBEEC Intermediate exam | $150 |
| Unlimited (U) | Any project value. About five years' qualifying experience (four primary), then the exam. License fee $200/year; exam $125. | — | NCBEEC Unlimited exam | $200 |
Reciprocity. NCBEEC may grant a same-classification license without exam to contractors from reciprocal states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Renewal. Annual (each license expires one year after issuance), with 8 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: NCBEEC Licensing (retrieved 2026-09-16) · NCBEEC Reciprocity (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina licenses electrical contractors statewide in three classes — Limited (projects up to $60,000), Intermediate (up to $150,000), and Unlimited (any value) — each requiring qualifying experience and a passing exam.
What does it cost to get licensed as an electrician in North Carolina?
Application and license fees run from about $100 to $200 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 North Carolina?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
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.