How Much Does an Electrician Cost per Hour?

Updated 2026-10-30

Electricians charge $40 to $120 per hour, depending on the job and location, according to This Old House (updated June 2026), which says that adds up to $150–$600 for most small to medium electrical tasks. Fixr’s electrician guide puts the average hourly rate higher, at $70 to $131, and a typical visit at $176–$327. Apprentices bill at the low end and master electricians at the high end, and a minimum charge or after-hours call can make a short visit cost more than the hourly rate suggests.

Electrician hourly rates: two sources side by side

What	This Old House (2026)	Fixr (2025)
Hourly rate	$40–$120	$70–$131 average (electrician guide); $40–$120 (panel guide)
Typical visit	—	$176–$327
Urgent call at night or on a weekend	adds at least $100–$200	premiums for emergency calls, no figure
Minimum for small jobs	flat rate equal to 1–4 hours	labor minimums, no figure
Travel	travel fee if the electrician drives a long distance	significant travel fee in remote areas

Both Fixr pages carry the same update date (Jan 31, 2025) but give different hourly figures; we show both rather than pick one.

Apprentice vs journeyman vs master rates

Level	Hourly rate (This Old House, 2026)	What they do
Apprentice	$40–$60	Small tasks under supervision; not every state licenses apprentices
Journeyman	$60–$90	Most electrical work without supervision
Master	$90–$120	Complex projects such as system design or rewiring a historic home

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says most electricians learn the trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, become journey workers after it, and may then advance to master electrician. “Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed,” and requirements vary by state.

For reference, BLS reports a median wage of $30.38 per hour for electricians in May 2025. That is what electricians are paid, not the rate a company bills you.

Service call fees and after-hours charges

This Old House says “an urgent service call, especially on a night or weekend, adds at least $100–$200 to the standard fee,” and that most electricians have a minimum price for small jobs, typically a flat rate equal to one to four hours. A travel fee can apply if the electrician has to drive a long distance.

When is it urgent? If an outlet, switch or panel feels warm or buzzes, have a licensed electrician look at it soon. If you smell burning, see smoke, or the panel is hot to the touch, leave the area and call 911.

Hourly vs flat pricing for panel and wiring jobs

“An electrician charges hourly for most services,” This Old House says, but outlets are priced per outlet unless the job is unusually difficult. Panel jobs are quoted as a project in the cost guides:

Job	This Old House (2026)	Fixr (2025)
200 amp panel, installed	$1,300–$3,000 (panel plus installation)	$1,600–$4,000 (replacement); $1,800–$4,500 (upgrade to 200 amps)
Moving the panel	$800–$3,000	about $1,000–$4,000
Fuse box to breaker panel	—	$1,500–$4,500
GFCI outlet, installed	$120–$200	—
240 V outlet	$200–$400	—
Electrical inspection	$125–$500	$125–$250 (initial inspection before a panel job)

Fixr’s panel guide says a panel installation takes four to eight hours with two electricians and may take several days, and that labor can be 40% to 60% of the total. For a panel job, ask for a fixed price for the whole job with the permit and inspection listed, so quotes can be compared line by line. See 200 Amp Panel Upgrade Cost and Electrical Panel Replacement Cost.

What affects the rate in your area

Cost of living: “Electricians’ hourly rates are higher in areas where the cost of living is higher, such as New York or California” (This Old House).
License level: apprentice, journeyman and master rates differ (above).
Urgency and timing: night and weekend calls cost more.
Distance: travel fees for long drives or remote areas (This Old House, Fixr).
Permits: This Old House puts electrical permits at $75 for simple work up to $900 for major rewiring; for panel upgrades it lists $50–$300. See Electrical Panel Upgrade Permits.

How to get an accurate price from an electrician

Ask for a written quote for all the work, as Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries advises.
Ask what’s included: the minimum charge, trip fee, parts, permit and inspection.
Group small jobs. This Old House suggests waiting until you have several small jobs and having them done at once.
Clear the work area so the electrician doesn’t spend paid time doing it (This Old House).
Check the license with your state licensing board. This Old House says you’ll need a licensed electrician “for all but the smallest electric jobs.”
Compare like with like. Get at least three written quotes for the same scope.

If your question is about an old panel, our Panel Risk Check helps you see how urgent a visit is and what to ask.

FAQ

Does a journeyman cost less than a master? This Old House lists journeymen at $60–$90 per hour versus $90–$120 for masters and suggests keeping masters for complex projects.

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