Electrician Apprenticeship in California

Wages, programs & career outlook

Electricians install and repair the wiring, panels, fixtures, and controls that deliver power inside buildings. Residential, commercial, and industrial electricians each focus on different code requirements, voltage levels, and project types.

CA Median Salary
$76,540/yr
+23% vs. national
National Median
$62,350/yr
CA Employment
73,420
Electricians employed
CA Sponsors
51
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
9.5%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
81,000
Nationally, per yr

Electrician Apprenticeship in California: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered electrician apprenticeship in California combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

California pay vs. national

Median electrician wages in California are $76,540/year, +23% above the national median of $62,350. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

California has 51 registered apprenticeship sponsors for electrician listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.5% job growth for electricians nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 81,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — California-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

California Wage Spread

Annual wages for Electricians in California across all experience levels.

10th pct
$46,630
Median
$76,540
90th pct
$136,710
Middle 50% of workers earn $59,420$103,720

Current Electrician Apprenticeship Openings in California

No electrician apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for California. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Electrician Apprenticeship Sponsors in California

51 electrician-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for California. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current electrician apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
SURPRISE VALLEY ELECTRIFICATION CORPORATION Alturas
Willdan Electrical Of Ny, Inc Anaheim
Kern County Electrical Bakersfield Kern County
City of Banning Electric Utility Banning
City of Banning Electric Utility Apprenticeship Program Banning Riverside County
Santa Barbara County Joint Apprenticeship Committee Local 114 Buellton Santa Barbara County
CITY OF BURBANK ELECTRICIAN J.A.C. Burbank
CITY OF BURBANK TEST TECHNICIAN (ELECTRICIAN) J.A.C. Burbank
MOTION PICTURE STUDIO ELECTRICIAN (JOURNEYMAN WIREMAN) J.A.C. Burbank
Bergelectric Corp Carlsbad
Tri-County Electrical JATC Castroville Monterey County
Los Angeles County Electrical JATC City Of Commerce Los Angeles County
NCCIJAC Concord Contra Costa County
IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT (ELECTRICIAN) El Centro
FRESNO, MADERA, KINGS, AND TULARE COUNTIES OF CA J.A.T.C. Fresno
Fresno, Madera, Kings & Tulare County Electrical JATC Fresno Fresno County
CITY OF GLENDALE - STATION ELECTRICIAN/ OPERATOR JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Glendale
City of Lompoc Electric Lompoc Santa Barbara County
Contra Costa Co. Electrical JATC Martinez Contra Costa County
Western Electrical Contractor's Association (WECA) Mather Sacramento County
Central Valley JATC Modesto Stanislaus County
Solano - Napa Counties Electrical JATC Napa Napa County
IBEW LU 40 - L.A. County NECA JATC North Hollywood Los Angeles County
Ventura Co. Electrical JATC Oxnard Ventura County
CITY OF PASADENA WATER AND POWER DEPARTMENT POWER UTILITY ELECTRICAL MECHANIC J.A.C. Pasadena
+ 26 more sponsors in California
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Electrician openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2111 and state CA for the most relevant results.

Electrician Apprenticeship in California

Prospective Electrician apprentices in California have 51 trade-specific registered sponsors to explore — a mix of union locals, contractors, and employer-sponsored programs. Most major metro areas have accessible entry points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Electricians earn in California?
The BLS reports a median wage of $76,540/yr for Electricians in California (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
What is the length of an Electrician apprenticeship program?
A typical Electrician apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Electricians?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Electricians combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for an Electrician apprenticeship in California?
Our directory surfaces 51 Electrician-related registered sponsors in California. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Electrician apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $38,270/yr in California). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Electricians also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Electrical and Power Transmission Installers programs in California →
Or see all 188 programs nationwide.

Electrician in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in California

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.