Electrician in Oregon
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for OR
How to Become an Electrician in Oregon
To become a General Journeyman Electrician in Oregon, individuals must obtain a license from the Building Codes Division. This typically involves completing a state-approved apprenticeship program, or accumulating 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience, or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience. Applicants must then pass the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam with a score of 75% or better and pay the associated application fee. Oregon has reciprocity agreements for General Journeyman electricians with Washington and Idaho, and for General Supervising Electricians with Arkansas and Utah.
Electrician Requirements in Oregon
| Detail | Oregon |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Completion of a state-approved apprenticeship program, OR 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 1,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories), OR 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience (with a minimum of 2,000 hours in residential, commercial, and industrial categories). |
| Experience Required | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam ($100) |
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 24.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age of 18 for electrical contractors. General Supervising Electrician requires an Oregon journeyman electrician license and an additional 8,000 hours of journeyman experience, or meeting the journeyman qualifications and 8,000 hours of journeyman experience. Exams are open-book and require a score of 75% or better to pass. A high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent is required for applicants who need to take an examination. Electrical contractors also need to be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and meet insurance and bonding mandates. |
Source: Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board
License Tiers
Oregon offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| General Journeyman (J) | 8,000 |
| General Supervising Electrician (S) | 8,000 |
Electrician Salary in Oregon
The median electrician salary in Oregon is $97,320 per year, which is 56.1% above the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $51,740 |
| 25th | $70,680 |
| 50th (median) | $97,320 |
| 75th | $116,140 |
| 90th (experienced) | $120,880 |
Oregon employs approximately 9,830 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 Oregon Worth It?
Factors to consider: Oregon's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.