Electrician in Arkansas
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for AR
How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas
To become a licensed Journeyman Electrician in Arkansas, individuals must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction, typically through a 4-year apprenticeship program, or have 8 years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. After meeting the experience requirements, candidates must pass the Arkansas Journeyman Electrician Exam. The licensing body is the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Board of Electrical Examiners. Arkansas offers reciprocity for journeyman electricians with several states, and for master electricians with Oregon, North Dakota, Iowa, and Texas.
Electrician Requirements in Arkansas
| Detail | Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Board of Electrical Examiners |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Completion of a 4-year apprenticeship program or a 2-year electrical trade school program. |
| Experience Required | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Arkansas Journeyman Electrician Exam ($80) |
| Application Fee | $25 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing Education | 8.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age is 18. Experience can be 6,000 hours with 2 years of approved schooling for a journeyman license, or 8 years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience if not completing an approved apprenticeship. Master electricians need one year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, or a degree in electrical engineering plus two years of construction-related experience, or six years of construction industry experience (residential and commercial) including two years as a licensed journeyman electrician. Continuing education is required per National Electrical Code (NEC) cycle, not annually. All 8 hours must be related to the NEC. |
Source: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Board of Electrical Examiners
License Tiers
Arkansas offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| Journeyman | 8,000 |
| Master | 12,000 |
Electrician Salary in Arkansas
The median electrician salary in Arkansas is $49,420 per year, which is 20.7% below the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $35,490 |
| 25th | $38,470 |
| 50th (median) | $49,420 |
| 75th | $62,030 |
| 90th (experienced) | $73,060 |
Arkansas employs approximately 8,670 electricians.
Electrician Job Outlook
AI Impact on Electricians
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.78/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming an Electrician in Arkansas Worth It?
Factors to consider: Arkansas's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.