Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 1992
Free estimates
Customers say: True professional
"He did an outstanding job ! And all the electrical work he did at our house was top notch. Would hire him again in an instant !"
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2004
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Was able to come in and get the job done, price was fair. Will definitely hire Amber Electrical again."
+2
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
Super Service Award Winner
In business since 2002
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"I am updating my rating for CA Electrical (Unfortunately Angi will not allow me to edit, so I am posting this as a new review). After posting my original review I was contacted by CA Electrical. The supervisor assured me that my experience was not their normal practice and that they normally made sure to call if there was a change of plans. I felt that they were earnest in trying to make things right, so I agreed to give them another chance. I ultimately decided to select them for my project to replace sub panel and install outlets. The crew was excellent and professional. They showed up on time, were professional and friendly, took extra care to ensure work spaces were left clean. Their workmanship was excellent and they did a great job of cleaning up some messy electrical wiring that had been there before. As an electrical engineer, I also appreciated the crews knowledge of code and ability to explain the technical side of the installation. I would use them again."
+123
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
Super Service Award Winner
In business since 1993
Emergency services offered
Warranties offered
"Chad was awesome! Looking forward to getting or home electrical up to code With Dalcon."
+9
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2000
Free estimates
Warranties offered
"It went extremely well, except for a minor misunderstanding with the inspection date by PGE. I had to call them myself to set up the appointment; something I thought Val was going to take care of. At any rate, his work was exceptional and I'm thinking of giving him a call for some current electrical needs that I have. His attention to aesthetically pleasing and neat workmanship is his strength, along with an outstanding electrical fund of knowledge.
"
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
Super Service Award Winner
In business since 1989
Free estimates
Customers say: True professional
"John Buckley Electric is a professional, licensed and provides first rate service at a fair price. Johnâ s work is second to none. We had an original corroded electric box and original fuses for power to the house. John worked with the electric company to coordinate all the work. All the electric was replaced in one day. Highly Recommend."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2007
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Yes. Warner Electric was wonderful. Showed up on time and very professional. Thank you Warner Electric."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2023
Free estimates
Offers commercial services
"Noel and Giovanny and team did a great job on our electrical work for our new home: they installed an in wall cable mgmt system, dry wall patched and repaired holes in the wall left by Best Buy during their faulty install attempt, and installed a new pendant lamp to replace two old ones (hence requiring the old box to be patched up as well). NCL was communicative and had a quick timeline from initial quote to finished project. They were very upfront and knowledgeable about the work that would be required, and actually took the time to explain to me what they were doing. Their quote process was more thorough than other providers, which meant that the cost of the job ended up being very close to quote. There was quite a bit of dry wall work to be done as well but the final result looks great! Would hire again for any electrical or drywall work."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2012
Free estimates
Small jobs welcome
"I could not recommend Lightning Electric more! When the owner came out for quote, he was informed, shared info I otherwise wouldn't have known. Was creative in finding solutions to the problems I was having and was pleasant in general. His team spent the entire day at our house working to address our problems. I was impressed with their professionalism and thorough approach to our issues. Even though there was a few over sites and mistakes, their response in addressing them was immediate."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2018
Emergency services offered
Small jobs welcome
"Emmanuel was very professional and explained the scope of the work clearly. I would highly recommend him to others who are in need of electrical work."
There is often some confusion about the type of work these professionals do. They only work on electrical systems such as outlets, lighting fixtures and electrical panels – they aren’t appliance repairmen.
There are three types of electricians: Master, Journeyman and Apprentice. Electrical licensing varies quite a bit by state. Some have licenses for apprentices and some do not. Some have a master’s rank while others stop at journeyman. Despite the differences, they all require a minimum amount of experience and usually classroom time.
Apprentice electricians aren’t usually licensed and spend 4 years learning the trade. Throughout that time, they work on a wide range of projects to learn to become a Journeyman. They’ll do basic work like installing fixtures and replacing outlets all the way to assisting in wiring a home. Regardless of the type of project, they must always be supervised by a Journeyman or Master electrician.
Journeymen work without supervision. In a few states, this is the highest level available and they can do all levels of work from wiring a new home to installing a light. In some states, they need a separate electrical contractor license to run a business. In places with a master’s level, a journeyman can do all work besides design new electrical systems.
Master electricians usually manage a shop, design new electrical systems in new construction and oversee both Journeyman and Apprentices. They typically bid new projects. Though they focus on larger projects, it’s not unheard of for a homeowner to request a Master Electrician for a house call. If you do, expect to spend up to 25% more for the visit.
Generally, you don’t tip electricians, but that’s not to say they don’t appreciate it if you do. You can offer them something to drink or eat, like coffee and donuts. Most will appreciate it if you do.
The education and certifications required to become an electrician vary by state, though they generally follow this list:
Apprentice
Does not always require a license depending on the state.
Learns on the job under Journeyman and Master Electricians.
Usually needs 4 years on-the-job training before they can test for a Journeyman license. Many states also require a technical degree to advance.
Always require supervision.
Journeyman
Needs between 8,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job training and usually 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom experience.
Can usually supervise apprentices.
They can diagnose and repair electrical problems.
Master
Achieved after an additional two years (4,000 hours) working as a Journeyman and taking the Master Electrician Exam.
Besides diagnosing and repairing electrical systems, they also design them. In most places they run shops and inspect Journeyman and Apprentice work.
Not a recognized rank in all states.
Electrical Contractor License is an optional license in some states for a Master Electrician to run a business. Some states have this instead of the Master license.
Electricians make an average of $26 per hour but it ranges with experience and licensing. An apprentice may make about half that while a Master Electrician may hit closer to $40 per hour. This figure represents how much they make; not how much they bill. Their salary is only one component of their costs. They must also figure in overhead, taxes, equipment, insurance and several other expenses.
Leave electrical work to the professionals. Electrical systems are complex and potentially hazardous when not handled and installed correctly. If it were easy, it wouldn’t take 4 years to become a journeyman or 6 years for a master’s license. If you are determined to forge ahead yourself, understand home electrical safety before beginning any project.Even for simple common electrical projects, a licensed pro is best. Not only is it safer, but contractors guarantee and insure their work. Hire a professional to keep your home’s electrical systems functioning properly and safely.
Use our comprehensive electrician directory page to find local, licensed contractors. You can browse ratings, reviews and pricing of top professionals in your area. Sign up to receive quotes or let us match you to an electrician near you.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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