How Much Does an Electrician Cost Per Hour?
An electrician costs $50 to $130 per hour, plus a $100 to $200 service call fee that usually covers the first hour. Most household jobs land between $163 and $538 once labour, parts, and the call-out are added, averaging about $351. The hourly rate is only half the story — the licence level, the call-out fee, and whether it is an emergency decide the final bill.
This guide is written for homeowners, not electricians. It covers rates by licence level, prices for common jobs, the service-call trap, emergency surcharges, and when a flat quote beats an hourly rate.
Electrician Rates at a Glance
The table below shows typical prices in the United States, checked Nov 8, 2026 (sources: Angi, HomeGuide, and Housecall Pro).
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate (all levels) | $50–$130 per hour |
| Service call / first-hour fee | $100–$200 |
| Average job total | About $351 |
| Most jobs | $163–$538 |
| Small jobs | $150–$600 |
| Large projects | $2,000–$10,000 |
| Emergency / after-hours rate | $125–$250 per hour |
Angi, drawing on more than 100,000 verified projects, puts the national average at $351, with most jobs between $163 and $538 and hourly rates of $50 to $130. HomeGuide gives $40 to $100 per hour with a $75 to $125 call-out fee. Housecall Pro's 2026 data, from more than 636,000 electrical service entries, gives the same $50 to $130 hourly range with a $100 to $200 service call fee.
The service call fee is the part homeowners miss. It is charged on top of the hourly rate — or it covers the first hour, depending on the company — and it is why a 20-minute job can still cost $150.
Rates by Licence Level
Electrical licensing is tiered, and each tier is a real difference in training, not a marketing label. The tier of the person who does the work sets the rate.
| Licence level | Hourly rate | Call-out fee | Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $40–$60 | $75 | Works under supervision, about 8,000 supervised hours |
| Journeyman | $50–$100 | $75 | Completed apprenticeship, passed licensing exam |
| Master electrician | $90–$130+ | $125 | Years as a journeyman, plus a master exam |
An apprentice costs $40 to $60 an hour but must work under a journeyman or master electrician, so you are paying for two people. A journeyman at $50 to $100 an hour does most residential work. A master electrician at $90 to $130 or more designs systems, pulls permits, and signs off on the work — you need one for a panel replacement or a service upgrade.
Rates also vary by region: Housecall Pro's 2026 data puts a licensed journeyman at $55 to $65 an hour in Mississippi and $130 to $150 for the same work in San Francisco. East and West Coast cities run 20 to 40 percent above the national average, and rural areas run below it.
Cost by Job
Most electricians quote common jobs as flat prices, not hourly rates.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Replace a light switch or outlet | $100–$250 |
| Install a ceiling fan | $150–$400 |
| Install a new outlet | $150–$300 |
| Install a light fixture | $150–$400 |
| Replace a circuit breaker | $150–$300 |
| Install a GFCI outlet | $150–$250 |
| Install an EV charger | $500–$1,500 |
| Replace an electrical panel | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Whole-house rewire | $8,000–$15,000+ |
A single outlet or switch is a one-hour job, so the bill is mostly the $100 to $200 call-out fee plus parts. A panel replacement is a full day with a master electrician and a permit, which is why it costs $1,500 to $4,000. An EV charger runs $500 to $1,500 depending on the distance from the panel and whether the panel needs an upgrade.
The Service-Call Trap
The service call fee is where most homeowners overpay, because it is charged differently by different companies. There are three models — know which one you are getting.
The first model is a fee that covers the first hour: you pay $100 to $200, and a 45-minute job costs the fee and nothing more. The second model is a fee on top of the hourly rate: you pay $100 to $200 plus $50 to $130 an hour, so a 45-minute job costs $150 to $330. The third is a flat trip fee of $75 to $150 with no work included — the most expensive for small jobs.
Most electricians also apply a one- to two-hour minimum, so a 20-minute fix still bills as one or two hours. Ask three questions before booking: does the call-out fee cover the first hour, is there a minimum charge, and is the quote hourly or flat? A company that will not answer is a company to skip.
Emergency and After-Hours Rates
Emergency calls cost 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate. An electrician who charges $80 an hour during the day charges $125 to $250 an hour at night, at the weekend, or on a holiday.
| Situation | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Standard hours (weekday, daytime) | $50–$130 per hour |
| Evening or weekend | $100–$200 per hour |
| Night or holiday emergency | $125–$250 per hour |
A burning smell, sparking outlet, or dead panel is a genuine emergency — call now and pay the premium. A dead outlet in a spare bedroom is not — wait until Monday and save $100 or more.
Some companies charge a flat emergency call-out of $200 to $400 instead of an hourly premium. Either way, get the emergency rate in writing before work starts — a verbal "we will sort it out later" is how a $150 job becomes a $600 bill.
When a Flat Quote Beats Hourly
Hourly billing suits small, open-ended jobs: a faulty switch, a tripping breaker, a mystery fault that needs diagnosis. Flat quotes suit defined jobs: installing a ceiling fan, replacing a panel, wiring a new room.
For a defined job, always ask for a flat quote in writing, itemised into labour, parts, and the call-out fee. Compare three quotes, and be suspicious of the cheapest by a wide margin — it usually excludes the permit, the parts, or the call-out fee.
For a diagnostic job, hourly is fair, but cap it: agree a maximum number of hours before the electrician starts, and ask to be called before any work beyond the diagnosis begins.
A Worked Example: A Panel Replacement and Two Small Jobs
Take a homeowner who needs an electrical panel replaced and two ceiling fans installed.
Panel replacement, quoted flat (master electrician, one day):
- Master electrician, one day: $1,200 labour
- New 200-amp panel and breakers: $800
- Permit and inspection: $250
- Call-out fee (included in the flat quote): $0
Total: $2,250 — inside the $1,500 to $4,000 range.
Ceiling fans, quoted hourly by a journeyman:
- Service call fee (covers first hour): $150
- Second hour at $85: $85
- Two fans (parts, supplied by homeowner): $0
Total: $235 for both fans — about $118 per fan.
Combined, the homeowner pays $2,485. Booked as three separate visits, the same work would cost about $2,800, because each visit carries its own $100 to $200 call-out fee. Bundling small jobs into one visit is the cheapest way to hire an electrician.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not asking whether the call-out fee covers the first hour. The same $150 fee can mean a $150 job or a $280 job.
- Hiring unlicensed help for permit work. A panel replacement or service upgrade needs a master electrician and a permit — unlicensed work can void your home insurance.
- Paying hourly for a defined job. A ceiling fan or a panel has a known price — get a flat quote in writing.
- Calling at midnight for a non-emergency. A dead outlet in a spare room costs $50 to $130 an hour on Monday and $125 to $250 on Saturday night.
- Accepting a quote without the parts listed. A cheap labour quote with parts billed separately is not a cheap quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an electrician cost per hour?
About $50 to $130 per hour, checked Nov 8, 2026, plus a $100 to $200 service call fee. Apprentices charge $40 to $60, journeymen $50 to $100, and masters $90 to $130 or more.
How much does it cost to hire an electrician for a small job?
Most small jobs cost $150 to $600 all-in, averaging about $351. A single outlet or switch runs $100 to $250, and a ceiling fan $150 to $400.
What is the service call fee?
A $100 to $200 fee for the visit, which may or may not cover the first hour of work.
How much does an emergency electrician cost?
About $125 to $250 per hour at night, at weekends, or on holidays — roughly 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate. Sparking or a burning smell is worth the premium; a dead outlet can wait until Monday.
Should I get a flat quote or pay hourly?
Flat for defined jobs like a panel replacement or a ceiling fan. Hourly for diagnostic work like finding a fault, but agree a maximum number of hours first.
