The Cost to Hire Electricians

How much do electricians cost? We break down the price of hiring an electricians and why finding an affordable electrician is the safest option.

Electrician Prices: How Much Does an Electrician Cost?

Due to a shortage of experienced professionals, licensed electricians are often able to charge high hourly rates for their labor. Unlike many home projects, it is generally not a good idea to DIY or hire a general handyman for electrical work. Since electrical projects have a component of safety involved, it is important to find an affordable electrician who performs quality work so your home and family stay safe. We break down how much an average electrical job costs so you can be informed when receiving multiple quotes from electricians. 

Comparing electrician pricing on a platform with verified reviews is often the best way to find the best local electrician at a fair cost. An independent journeyperson electrician may offer different or more flexible rates than an electrician working with a local franchise location, where pricing is standardized. Larger home improvement projects involving electrical work may require a permit or safety inspection afterwards to ensure that a home is meeting local electrical code. It is important to budget more money for these administrative costs so that home renovations align with the budget on hand. 

Electrician prices: Average cost

According to 2024 data from Angi, the average total cost of hiring an electrician is $348. Electricians typically charge an initial service fee of $100-200 and then apply an hourly rate for the second hour onward. Across the nation, hourly rates for electricians range from $50-130. 

If a contractor is quoting lower prices for electrical work, it is possible that they are an apprentice still in training or they lack licensure altogether. If you have a complicated project, it is important to seek out a licensed master electrician who has the highest level of knowledge and hands-on experience. 

Additional fees may apply for emergencies especially if they occur on a weekend or holiday. If you have a suspicious electrical issue, it may be worthwhile to call an electrician earlier before the problem blossoms into something more dangerous and expensive to repair. 

Hourly rates for the top 5 electrician platforms

Based on their own data, the average cost of hiring an electrician through Angi is $163 - $535. The Angi platform makes it simple to find local electricians and request quotes with a simple button click. Angi pros set their own hourly rates so it is generally worthwhile to request multiple estimates. 

Mister Sparky is a large electrical services franchise with locations in most US states. While rates vary by location, the Mister Sparky brand is committed to providing transparent pricing and can even adjust quotes to offer multiple price points as needed. If you need an affordable electrician with timely service, consider contacting your local Mister Sparky franchise. 

As a platform for service providers, Thumbtack can be an excellent resource for finding electricians. According to Thumbtack FAQs, an electrician’s average hourly rate is $75 but prices can vary widely depending on the scope of the project and the local cost of living. Thumbtack offers pricing guides for a local area which can be helpful when making a budget for more extensive electrical work. 

Pricing varies by location for Mr. Electric franchises. Customers who need a lot of electrical work may want to consider a Mr. Electric Advantage Plan for extra coupons and special discounts. Financing is also available for electrical emergencies and larger projects. Mr. Electric strives to provide their customers with affordable electrical services. 

If you need electrical installation, consider Home Depot Electrical Services. Pricing varies by location; reach out to your local Home Depot location for more information. 

 How many hours does the average electrical job take?

Small projects like installing outlets or light switches typically require less than 2 hours of an electrician's time. The average cost for indoor outlet installation is $200-300 while outdoor outlets cost slightly less at $150-260. The typical light switch installation costs $100-200. The hours for these simple electrical tasks will increase if there are other components involved. 

Depending on how many fixtures are involved, installing a new light ranges from $155-955 on average while installing home automation costs between $200-1,660. These tasks can take an electrician 1-4 hours to complete depending on the scope of the project. 

Larger projects like altering an electrical panel cost over $1,200 due to the complexity and the need to pull a permit. Moving an electrical panel costs $1,500-4,000 on average while simply upgrading a panel costs under $2,000 on average. These high costs are often due to the long workdays or even multiple work days needed for a single electrician to complete this complex work, especially if pieces of drywall need to be cut. Permits cost $75-150 depending on your local municipality and/or HOA requirements while a safety inspection afterwards costs approximately $100. 

What’s included in an electrician’s service?

An electrician’s service is typically a combination of a service fee (the cost of having an electrician “cross the threshold”) and an hourly rate that applies to every additional hour that an electrician needs to actually perform the work. Parts and administrative costs like permits can also be included in the total cost of electrical services. Obtaining a detailed cost estimate for major electrical projects is worthwhile to understand what line items are included. 

Because you are paying for an electrician’s expertise and their knowledge of the local building code, electricians often charge higher hourly rates than other contractors. 

How can I save money on an electrician?

Unlike other home improvement projects, DIY electrical work is not recommended for a typical homeowner. It is worthwhile to invest in quality electrical work done by a licensed and insured electrician. Obtain multiple quotes to find the most affordable local electrician for a particular repair or installation. 

Some franchises will offer payment plans or seasonal specials on electricians which can be a helpful way to save money on an electrician. Because of the service fee, it can be helpful to have an electrician complete multiple small projects in a visit which is more affordable than calling the same contractor multiple times. 

Is an electrician worth the cost?

Because you are paying for an electrician’s expertise and their knowledge of the local building code, electricians often charge higher hourly rates than other contractors.  The consequences of improper electrical installation or repairs could result in someone being electrocuted, fire inside walls, or sparking fixtures.

We recommend Angi

Need to price compare electricians in your local area? Find your best options on the Angi platform by reading detailed listings and reviews. If you need an experienced master electrician for larger projects or someone who specializes in generators or smart home devices, you can find a local expert on Angi’s easy-to-navigate site.  As one of the leading home services platforms, your options for local electricians will be quite robust on Angi. 

Angi is not paywalled and makes it easy to request a quote with just a few clicks. Use Angi as your resource for finding affordable contractors.

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