How much does an electrician cost?
Electricians charge about $40-$120/hour (typically ~$80/hr), with a $150-$200 first-hour minimum; small jobs run $150-$600.
Key takeaways
- Electricians charge roughly $40-$120/hour, and rates rise by credential: apprentice $40-$60, journeyman $60-$90, master $90-$120 (This Old House).
- Many set a minimum of $150-$200 for the first hour, then bill lower for additional time (Today's Homeowner).
- Small-to-medium tasks typically total $150-$600, such as switch or GFCI installs and outlet work (This Old House; Today's Homeowner).
- A panel or service upgrade is a big-ticket job: $1,300-$3,000, with 200-amp service around $2,000-$3,000 (This Old House; Today's Homeowner).
- Emergency or off-hours calls add a 25-50% premium or roughly $100-$200 on top of standard fees (Today's Homeowner; This Old House).
An electrician typically costs about $40 to $120 per hour, with many setting a $150 to $200 minimum for the first hour. Small-to-medium jobs usually total $150 to $600, while a panel upgrade runs $1,300 to $3,000. (Sources: This Old House, Today’s Homeowner.)
What electricians charge in 2026
Electrical work is billed by the hour, but most electricians also enforce a minimum charge because even a quick fix requires travel, setup, and testing. This Old House puts the overall hourly range at $40-$120 and breaks it down by license level. Today’s Homeowner reports a $150-$200 minimum service fee for the first hour, with lower rates for additional time, and notes that small-to-medium tasks generally total $150-$600.
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (overall) | $40-$120/hr | This Old House |
| Apprentice / journeyman / master | $40-$60 / $60-$90 / $90-$120 per hr | This Old House |
| First-hour minimum | $150-$200 | Today’s Homeowner |
| Emergency / off-hours | +25-50%, or +$100-$200 | Today’s Homeowner; This Old House |
| Grounding an outlet | $50-$100 | This Old House |
| Light switch install | $85-$200 | This Old House |
| GFCI outlet install | $120-$200 (~$150) | This Old House; Today’s Homeowner |
| Ceiling fan install | $100-$650 | This Old House |
| Circuit breaker replacement | $150-$300 | This Old House; Today’s Homeowner |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,300-$3,000 | This Old House |
| 200-amp service upgrade | $2,000-$3,000 | Today’s Homeowner |
| Whole-house rewiring | $6-$10/sq ft; ~$5,000-$10,000 for 2,000 sq ft | This Old House; Today’s Homeowner |
These figures show why the hourly rate alone rarely predicts your bill: a switch swap that finishes inside the first hour still triggers the minimum, while larger projects like a panel upgrade or a rewire are quoted as whole jobs rather than by the hour.
What moves the price
- License level: A master electrician bills $90-$120/hr versus $40-$60 for an apprentice, so credentials drive the rate (This Old House).
- Minimum charge: The $150-$200 first-hour minimum means very small jobs cost more per minute than large ones (Today’s Homeowner).
- Job scope: Grounding an outlet ($50-$100) is a fraction of a panel upgrade ($1,300-$3,000) or a whole-house rewire ($5,000-$10,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home) (This Old House; Today’s Homeowner).
- New wiring vs. swap: Costs climb when a job needs new circuits or wiring runs, e.g., a ceiling fan spans $100-$650 depending on whether wiring already exists (This Old House).
- Emergency and off-hours timing: Expect a 25-50% premium (Today’s Homeowner) or an added $100-$200 for emergency calls (This Old House).
- Region: Both guides note high-cost metros push rates to the top of the range, while rural markets sit lower.
To control costs, group several small electrical tasks into one visit so a single minimum charge covers them, request itemized written estimates, and confirm the electrician is licensed and pulls permits for larger work. All figures are ranges that vary by location and job and are current as of the verified date; confirm pricing with a licensed local electrician before hiring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average hourly rate for an electrician?
This Old House puts the overall range at $40 to $120 per hour: about $40-$60 for an apprentice, $60-$90 for a journeyman, and $90-$120 for a master electrician.
Is there a minimum charge to call an electrician?
Yes. Today's Homeowner reports a $150 to $200 minimum service fee for the first hour, with lower rates applied to additional time.
How much does it cost to install an outlet, switch, or GFCI?
Grounding an outlet runs $50-$100, a light switch $85-$200, and a GFCI outlet about $120-$200 (roughly $150) (This Old House; Today's Homeowner).
What does an electrical panel or service upgrade cost?
This Old House cites $1,300-$3,000 for a panel upgrade; Today's Homeowner puts a 200-amp service upgrade at $2,000-$3,000 and 400-amp at $4,000 or more.
How much is it to rewire a house?
Rewiring an existing home costs about $6-$10 per square foot; Today's Homeowner estimates roughly $5,000-$10,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home.
Do electricians charge more for emergencies?
Yes. Today's Homeowner cites a 25-50% off-hours premium, and This Old House notes emergency service can add about $100-$200 to standard fees.
Sources
