How Much Does It Cost To Hire An Electrician?

Electrician Cost

Electricians typically charge $40 to $100 per hour with a $75 service call-out fee. Small electrical projects range from $141 to $419 with most homeowners spending $280 on average. Project and hourly rates depend on the electrician's experience level and the type of work.

More extensive projects, such as replacing an electrical panel or rewiring a house ranges from $2,000 to $6,000 or more. The cost of electrical work depends on the job. Some projects are billed at an hourly rate while other jobs have a flat fee attached to them. Jobs charged at a flat fee rate can sometimes save you money since you will pay the quoted amount no matter how long the job takes.

Table of Contents

1. Electrician Cost
2. Electrician Hourly Rates
• Apprentice, Journeyman, or Master
• Service Call Fee
• Emergency Electrician
• Commercial Electrician
3. How Much Do Electricians Charge?
• Wire a House
• Outlet, Switch or Socket
• Light Fixtures
• Electrical Inspection
• Fan Installation
• Electrical Panel
• Generator
• Smart Home Devices
4. Electrician Labor Cost Factors
• Labor Rates By State
• Urgency & Time of Service
• Ways to Save Money
5. Hiring the Right Electrical Contractor
6. Electricians Near Me

Electrician Hourly Rates

Hiring a licensed electrician to bring your electrical work up to code averages from $40 to $100 per hour. Electrical wiring or lighting that requires a master electrician may be billed at an hourly rate of $100 to $120. Also, the service call fee ranges from $75 to $125.

An electrician's hourly wage is determined by how long they’ve been in business, the amount of education and years of experience they have, and the size of their business. A larger business has more overhead than a one-person shop, so they have to charge more. Their electrician hourly rate should not be confused with their hourly pay rate. An hourly billed rate includes overhead.

1. Supervisor expense
2. Payroll taxes and insurance
3. Setup, cleanup, moving equipment, etc.
4. Building rent, vehicle maintenance

The electrician rate per hour is not the end of the bill. If you’ve kept track and your electrician was at your house for two hours, don’t look for the bill to be $200. There will also be charges for parts and supplies, possibly a trip charge, and charges for anyone else they may have had working on the job.

Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Electrician

Requirements for the different levels of an electrician will vary by state, but in general they are:

• Apprentice Electrician – Apprentices are learning to be an electrician are usually are not licensed yet. An apprenticeship takes about four years and doesn’t work on their own. They can do basic work like replacing outlets, installing light fixtures, and assisting a master electrician in wiring projects.
• Journeyman Electrician – Journeyman have completed the four years of apprenticeship and technical schooling and passed the Electric Journeyman exam. They work without supervision and can work on all levels of projects from troubleshooting an electrical problem, wiring a new home, or installing a ceiling fan.
• Master Electrician – They have worked for two years as a journeyman and passed the Master Electrician exam. At this point, they can open their own business, bid on new jobs, and manage Journeyman and Apprentices. Typically, master electrician's design new electrical systems in both remodeling projects and new construction.

Electrician Service Call Fee

An electrician's service call fee averages $75 for an apprentice or journeyman and about $120 for a master electrician. This fee covers the time and fuel to get the technician to the job site. Sometimes, the service call charge will cover the first hour spent on the job.

If you miss your appointment, most no show and no call fees are billed as a service call. Electrical work estimates or inspections are also typically charged as service calls. If you have already identified the issue, electricians will often make the trip to a home and estimate the cost of the work needed for free.

Emergency Electrician Cost

Urgent or emergency repairs by your electrician on weekends, holidays, and evenings can cost $150 per hour, and they may also charge a callout fee of $75. Some electricians have flat rate minimums of $200 to $400 for working outside regular working hours, no matter how long they are there.

Commercial Electrician Hourly Rate

The average cost of a commercial electrician is $95 to $120 per hour or more. Commercial electricians usually charge 10%–30% more per hour than residential electricians because commercial jobs are generally larger than residential jobs, and commercial building codes are more stringent, requiring more experience and knowledge. Electricians are also working with higher voltages, making the work more dangerous.

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How Much Do Electricians Charge?

The average cost of small electrical jobs is $140 to $420, which includes the callout fee. Larger jobs run $1,600 to $10,000 or more. Make a list of all the electrical work your house needs and have it done in one or two visits to save money. Some electricians will have an electrical services price list on their site.

Cost to Wire a House

For a 3-bedroom, 1,500-square foot home, the average cost to rewire a house will be $2,300 to $5,600. It could cost $6,000 to $10.000 if you have to install wiring by running it through main walls, which involves opening walls, removing old wires, rewiring, and reinstalling drywall.

Things that affect this price are the number of outlets you want, the number of wired-in lighting fixtures, the number of appliances needing 220V outlets, and the number of fans. Be realistic about the number of outlets you’ll need and get that many. It doesn’t pay to skimp; it only means you’ll end up plugging in more outlet strips that could result in overloaded circuit breakers.

Electrician Cost to Fix an Outlet

An electrician will charge $120 to $150 to replace an interior electrical outlet and $200 to $275 for an exterior receptacle. Try to add in some other some electrical jobs at the same time to make up for paying the callout fee. In most cases, it’s better to combine tasks to save money.

Cost To Replace A Switch

The average cost to install or replace a light switch is $80 to $200. A new single pole switch is $150 to $200 while a new three-way light switch runs $100 to $250.

Charge to Install Lights or Light Fixtures

An electrician's charge to install lighting ranges from $135 to $415, with fixtures costing an additional $10 to $670 for lights ranging from a flush-mount 13” to a 16-light crystal chandelier. Buy a ceiling fan with a light attached to save on having to install two fixtures.

Electrical Inspection Cost

The cost for an electrical inspection is usually a free service, but mandatory home inspections by an appraiser or contractor generally run from $250 to $400. Fees are calculated using several different factors.

1. Is it residential or commercial?
2. Is it a code-compliance check, a diagnostic call, or a home inspection?
3. The square footage of the building being inspected will also dictate the electrical inspection cost. For example, a structure under 1,000 sq. ft. costs $200 and over 2,000 sq. ft, inspection costs start at $400.

An electrical inspection entails inspecting the home’s electrical system—wiring, appliance hookups, etc.—to make sure it is all up to code based on the National Electrical Code (NEC) of minimum standards. It’s a good idea to get this inspection done before purchasing a home or after a remodel. Check with your local building department to inquire about the fees that exist in your county. Sometimes more than one inspection is needed.

Attic and Ceiling Fan Installation

Installing a ceiling fan costs from $100 to $300 on average, not including the fan, which costs $50 to $300. Installing an attic fan costs $300 to $900, with the fan itself costing $50 to $500. The cost to install a bathroom exhaust fan is $150 to $550 for a replacement and $250 to $950 for a new install.

Ceiling fans improve the circulation of air in your home, making your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently. Fans can help you to save money on your energy costs. Attic fans help to eliminate hot, stuffy air from attic spaces. Many times this air is laden with moisture, contributing to mold and mildew growth in the attic. If you have allergy issues in your home, an attic fan may be part of a solution.

Replace or Upgrade an Electrical Panel

The cost to replace your electrical panel is between $850 to $2,500. Today, most homes need the 200-amp panel, but if you have a larger home and need 400 amps, the installation will cost from $2,000 up to $4,000. Trying to get by with a breaker box that is too small can result in tripped breakers, overheating, and fire. Those issues will cost more in the long run, so it might be a good idea to spend the extra money to get a 200-amp panel now and avoid repairs later.

Electrical Generator Services

A whole house generator costs $6,000 to $11,000 to install for the labor and materials. Prices depend on the generator's size and installation complexity. Your propane or diesel supplier should provide the fuel tank for the generator.

Generators are beneficial in the case of power outages, and many people take them camping to have a few luxuries in the wild. It pays to keep your generator in good working order, especially if your local weather is unpredictable.

Smart Home Devices and Home Automation

Installing smart home devices can cost as little as $100 for a central hub that you program yourself, or as much as $12,000 to automate an entire 3-bedroom, 2-bath home. Most homeowners spend $600 to $1,800 for basic home automation, while a hardwired system runs $4,000 or more.

Smart devices cover lighting, window coverings, smart appliances, and more. The system is integrated with your existing outlets. Not every item will need to be installed by an electrician, so check with your smart home device store for guidance.

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Electrician Labor Cost Factors

Electrician Labor Rates By State

Electrician labor rates vary by location. Metropolitan areas such as New York and Los Angeles have a higher cost of living, and therefore to work in, than rural areas. State wise, Alaska has the highest labor costs at 23% more than the norm, and Nebraska and New Mexico the lowest at -8% of the standard. Many things affect the rates charged by electricians. Local fees and taxes are a significant consideration, and every state, city, and town has different regulations concerning those.

Urgent Repairs & Time of Service

Urgent or emergency repairs tend to cost 1.5 times the hourly rate and can include rewiring or tapering anything that is sparking and could cause a fire, or poorly connected wiring to or from your electrical panel that has caused all power to the house to go out. You might find emergency repair costs on an electrician’s website, which can help you choose who to call.

Ways to Save Money on Electrical Services

There are many ways to save money and still get your electrical work done in a professional and timely manner.

• Call for quotes. Call at least three electricians and get quotes for your job. Keep careful notes of what each one includes in the quoted cost.
• Combine repairs. It’s not cost-effective to call an electrician to come out and fix one outlet. You’ll pay a trip charge and maybe a service call fee. Go through your home and list every electrical problem that needs to be fixed. The cost will be higher, but it will be lower per fixture.
• Forget the booking agency. The more people there are between you and your electrician, the more s/he will cost. Everyone gets a piece of the pie. Call the electrician directly to make appointments.
• Make sure the work area is clean and accessible. You don’t want your electrician to spend the first hour clearing a path to the job. Clear away anything that would obstruct the path and put away anything that might get in the way.
• Purchase your own appliances, devices, and fixtures instead of having the electrician supply them. This ensures you get precisely what you want. Keep in mind that more expensive devices may cost more for installation and that contractors usually get bulk discounts on appliances and fixtures.
• Install energy efficient fixtures and lighting systems.

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Hiring the Right Electrical Contractor

How do you know if you’re getting a professional electrician for your job?

Get three detailed quotes for any electrical work you need to make sure you are getting a fair price, and ask about warranties on the job done. Make sure the electrician is licensed and bonded, although some states don’t license electricians. See if yours does here.

• Look for positive reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Check with your state’s licensing board and verify his/her license.
• They should carry a minimum of $500,000 in insurance. Ask for proof of insurance.
• What are their emergency rates?
• What kind of warranty is offered on work?
• Are the companies employees drug tested and background checked?
• Do you feel comfortable in the electrician’s presence–comfortable enough to have them in your home?

Be sure to talk with and get quotes from 3 to 5 electricians before making a choice.

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