Electrician Jobs in Maine

Becoming and working as a electrician in Maine

Electricians install, repair and inspect wiring, panels, lighting and controls in homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants, working to the National Electrical Code.

License path

• Maine's Electricians' Examining Board issues Master, Limited, Journeyman, Apprentice, Helper and Journeyman-in-Training electrician licenses (with Senior versions of master, limited, journeyman and helper for licensees over 70).
• A helper electrician makes installations while employed by a master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company and under the direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician; the license fee is $25.
• An apprentice electrician is in a 4-5 year educational and work program under direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician, in an apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or a recognized state apprenticeship agency.
• The standard path to the journeyman exam is 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice or helper plus a 576-hour program of study that includes a 45-hour National Electrical Code course.
• Shorter journeyman paths exist: a 2-year high school electrical program plus 7,000 field hours, or a Maine community college electrical program plus 4,000 field hours, each with the 45-hour NEC course.
• A master electrician needs at least 4,000 hours as a journeyman (or 12,000 hours of electrical installation experience) plus a 576-hour program of study, and must pass a written exam.
• The master exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and the limited exam has 50; both need 70% to pass. A limited electrician who works beyond the scope of the limited license needs a helper license and supervision.

Pay across Maine

BLS (May 2025) counts 3,780 electricians in Maine, with a median of $36.24 an hour and a range of $26.05 to $55.63 between the 10th and 90th percentiles. By region:

• Portland-South Portland area: $34.45/hr median, 1,870 jobs
• Lewiston-Auburn area: $37.71/hr median, 410 jobs
• Bangor area: $30.48/hr median, 210 jobs
• Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area: $35.50/hr median, 260 jobs
• Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area: $37.36/hr median, 650 jobs

Compare a specific offer with the free trade wage calculator, or read the guide to Maine’s licensed trades.

Sources: bls.gov · maine.gov · maine.gov · maine.gov · maine.gov · maine.gov · maine.gov