by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 505 U.S. colleges awarded 35,302 degrees and certificates in Electrician. Certificates are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 417 schools in its 2027 Best Electrician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,795 one year after completing, rising to $57,171 after four years.
A major in Electrician covers Electrician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Install, Operate, Maintain, And Repair Electric Apparatus And Systems Such As Residential, Commercial, And Industrial Electric-Power Wiring; And Dc And Ac Motors, Controls, And Electrical Distribution Panels. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of Electronics And Electrical Systems, Wiring, Power Transmission, Safety, Industrial And Household Appliances, Job Estimation, Electrical Testing And Inspection, And Applicable Codes And Standards. Examples: [Construction Electrician], [Industrial Electrician].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, electrician is a popular field of study, with 35,302 degrees awarded annually. 505 colleges award electrician degrees, an average of 70 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 749.
By level, the 35,302 awards include 18,913 certificates, 3,145 associate degrees and 11,757 master’s degrees.
Women earned 5% of electrician degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,893 of 35,302). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (14,175) and Hispanic or Latino (11,218), and international students earned 92.
College Factual ranks 417 schools in its 2027 Best Electrician Schools ranking, including 92 for associate degrees. It also ranks electrician schools within 21 states. In all, 505 colleges offer electrician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Electrician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common electrician credential is the certificate: 18,913 of the 35,302 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to electrician call most for Critical Thinking, Speaking and Coordination, and for knowledge of Building and Construction, Mechanical and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an electrician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18,913 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,145 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,757 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to electrician, at 33.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 33.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 27.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 17.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.9% |
| Some college courses | 7.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Electrician, with an average median salary of $68,061; the strongest outlook belongs to Signal and Track Switch Repairers, at 10.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Fence Erector Supervisor, Concreting Supervisor, Street Supervisor and Drilling Superintendent.
The occupation related to electrician with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, at 646,091.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
| Electricians | 259,862 | -2.9% |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | 182,380 | 10.2% |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 132,549 | 5.2% |
Electrician graduates earn a median $39,795 one year after completing their program, $57,171 after four years and $53,416 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,795 |
| 4 years | $57,171 |
| 5 years | $53,416 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to electrician is Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, with a median salary of $88,342.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | $88,342 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Electricians | $57,376 |
| Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $53,048 |
Electrician has 3 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 5,300 degrees a year; the largest are Lineworker (2,856), Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General (2,336) and Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other (108). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Lineworker | 2,856 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General | 2,336 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other | 108 |
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