Electrician in Texas
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for TX
How to Become an Electrician in Texas
To become a Journeyman Electrician in Texas, individuals must first register as an Electrical Apprentice with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) at 16 years old. They need to complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a Master Electrician and pass a criminal background check. After meeting the experience requirements, applicants can take the Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam, administered by PSI, which costs $78 and requires a 70% passing score on both the NEC Knowledge and Calculations portions. Texas offers reciprocity for Journeyman Electricians with several states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Electrician Requirements in Texas
| Detail | Texas |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | High school diploma or GED. |
| Experience Required | 8,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam (PSI) ($78) |
| Application Fee | $30 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing Education | 4.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age for an electrical apprentice is 16 years old. Experience must be gained under the supervision of a Master Electrician. Applicants must pass a criminal background check. The Journeyman Electrician Exam is split into two portions: NEC Knowledge and Calculations. You must pass each portion with a score of at least 70%. |
License Tiers
Texas offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | N/A |
| Journeyman | 8,000 |
| Master | 12,000 |
Electrician Salary in Texas
The median electrician salary in Texas is $56,920 per year, which is 8.7% below the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $37,170 |
| 25th | $46,010 |
| 50th (median) | $56,920 |
| 75th | $65,110 |
| 90th (experienced) | $78,100 |
Texas employs approximately 71,880 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 Texas Worth It?
Factors to consider: Texas's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.