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Electrician Cost Calculator

Electrician Cost Calculator

Costs to hire an electrician vary greatly by region. Let’s calculate the cost for your zip code.

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NATIONAL COSTS

Average Cost

$398

Low Cost

$85

High Cost

$8,698

See Electrician Cost Calculator Breakdown 

Average Cost Project Low-Cost Project High-Cost Project

Cost

Materials

1 15 amp 125v residential-grade duplex straight-blade receptacle

$1

1 single-gang wall plate for a duplex receptacle

$1

1 non-metallic two-gang conduit box, 35 cubic inch

$4

Labor

Setting up the job and installing the new outlet box, duplex receptacle, and wall plate

$79

Material

48" five-blade rattan fan

$294

Labor

Installing and connecting a 48" five-blade fan

$104

Materials

HVAC monitoring, thermostat, and trending module

$2,108

Intruder motion-sensing and alarm module

$952

Main interior lighting and outdoor lighting control module

$1,625

Fire and emergency service direct interconnect module

$1,000

Remote door lock actuator module

$338

100 l.f. of wire for a smart home system

$111

Labor

Installing a smart HVAC monitoring system

$277

Installing a smart intruder alarm module

$173

Installing a lighting control system

$207

Installing a fire and emergency service direct interconnect

$138

Installing a remote door lock actuator

$35

Wiring and testing the smart home system, up to 100 l.f. of wire

$1,734

Total

$85

$398

$8,698

Electrician Cost Per Hour

Electricians typically charge between $40 and $120 an hour, which is influenced by where you live and the electrician’s license grade. There are three grades - Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. To achieve each grade, electricians must meet specific testing requirements. Each grade also has a range of costs they charge:

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Apprentice Electrician

To receive an Apprentice license, the electrician needs to complete hundreds of hours of classroom work, as well as 8,000 hours of supervised on-the-job experience. Apprentices can complete many basic electrical tasks, such as installing outlets and light fixtures, and they charge an average rate of $40 to $50 an hour.

Journeyman Electrician

A Journeyman electrician has completed their apprenticeship and taken and passed the Journeyman electrician exam. They are qualified to take on more complex projects in your home, such as wiring and installing an electrical panel or car charging station. They charge $50 to $70 an hour on average.

Master Electrician

Master electricians have completed more than 4,000 hours of work as a Journeyman. They have also taken and passed the Master electrician exam. This is the electrician you want to call for complex projects like installing a new whole-house generator or rewiring a historic property. Because of their experience, they charge between $100 and $120 an hour on average.

Electrician Service Call Rates

When you call an electrician out to your home, you may have a range of associated costs before the project even begins. For example, if you need diagnostic work done, this may have a separate hourly charge than the actual wiring and installation work. This rate is usually between $75 and $150 an hour and encompasses the travel and diagnostics and inspection of the job.

Some electricians also charge a higher rate for the first hour, then revert to their normal rate for the rest of the job. This service call rate guarantees their time and work, especially if the issue turns out to be something that could have been easily corrected, such as a tripped breaker. The rate covers their gas and time to come out to the job.

This service call rate is usually waived, however, if you are getting an estimate on a planned job. This estimate is usually provided at no charge.

Large projects may also have different rates. Some companies send out more than one electrician to the job, so they may charge a higher service call and hourly rate. In this case, expect to pay at least $150 an hour for the work.

Electrician Prices per Task

Most jobs that homeowners hire electricians for are single tasks or projects. While some involve the entire home, others may focus on only a single area, fixture, or room. Because each has different requirements and needs, their prices vary:

Outlet Installation Cost

Outlets are important to any home. Having the right number and type of outlets allows you to plug in appliances and electronics, powering and charging them as needed. There are many outlet types available from single-grounded 3-prong outlets to GFCI outlets for bathrooms and wet areas, and each has a different price. The average cost to install an outlet ranges from $140 to $175 on average but may cost more for specialty jobs.

Electrical Inspection Cost

If you are purchasing a new home or undergoing major renovations to an existing home, you may want to have an electrical inspection done. This can tell you the current state of the existing wiring, and during the inspection, the electrician can also make recommendations based on what it is you want to do with the space. Inspections are also a good idea if you suspect a problem and want to get to the bottom of it. An inspection costs $150 to $200 on average.

Circuit Breaker Replacement Cost

Circuit breakers are part of your electrical panel and aid in the safety of your home. The circuit breakers are designed to trip and break the connection in the event of a power overload. Over time, they can wear out, particularly if they trip often, leading to fire hazards and other safety concerns if the problem is not addressed. If you need it replaced, expect costs to average $150 to $250.

Light Fixture Replacement Cost

Most homes have at least one type of light fixture in every room. Many fixtures are designed to illuminate and enhance the room’s appearance. So, it is common to replace them over time. Fixtures can be anything from a simple dome light to an elaborate chandelier, and while material costs vary, the cost for the installation does not change much from job to job. The cost to replace a light fixture ranges from $165 to $195 on average.

Attic Fan Installation Cost

Attic fans provide important ventilation to this area of your home. The attic fan keeps air circulating so that the attic does not become superheated. This helps keep the rest of your home cooler and protect your roof from ice dams. Attic fans need to be sized to the space to work properly, and they may be installed alongside other types of attic ventilation, such as ridge caps. The cost to install a new attic fan averages $300 to $600.

Electric Meter Box Replacement Cost

The electric meter keeps track of how much electricity you use and allows the power company to keep track of your costs. It is located on the exterior of your home inside a weatherproof box, which is lockable and needs to be both secure and completely keep out the elements. Over time, they develop cracks and weak areas, leaving them vulnerable. If you need a new box, expect the replacement to cost between $500 and $700 on average.

Ceiling Fan Installation Cost

Ceiling fans add ambiance to a room, while also keeping it cooler in the warmer months of the year. Ceiling fans can contain lights, run in both directions, and have various other settings as well. Running them can help keep energy costs down rather than relying on air conditioning alone. They can also help warm a space by running it in reverse in the winter. They come in a range of sizes and styles and, therefore, have a range of costs to install, from $575 to $1,000 on average.

Subpanel Installation Cost

Your home’s electrical system starts with a circuit panel, which directs and controls the electricity to different areas of the home. A subpanel is a smaller panel that controls just one part of the home. This is useful when making a big upgrade in one area, such as installing a car charging station or wiring an addition. It can be installed within the main panel or on its own and costs $680 to $750 on average.

Recessed Lighting Installation Cost

Recessed lighting is one of the most popular methods of lighting a room in the home. It consists of lights inside “cans” that are dropped through the ceiling from above so that the light is flush with the ceiling. The cans come in varying sizes and finishes to meet different styles and needs. The average cost to install 6 cans is around $780 to $850, depending on how easy it is to access the ceiling from the area above. Expect higher costs if the electrician has trouble reaching the space.

Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel

Many homes today are underpowered, meaning that their electrical needs are outstripping what they are capable of providing. With appliances, electronics, and home automation, people are using more electricity than was anticipated when the home was built. The best way to fix this issue is to upgrade the electrical panel to a higher amp capacity. Electrical panels come in several sizes depending on your needs, and the average cost to upgrade is $2,500 to $4,500.

Generator Installation Cost

If you live in an area that sees frequent power outages, you may want to install a backup generator. Generators are located outside in your yard, and they come on automatically when there is a power interruption. They are wired directly into your home’s electrical system, usually near the circuit panel. A generator can be powered by propane or gas and requires a Master electrician to hook it up in most cases. They cost $4,500 to $9,000 to install on average.

Smart Home Installation Cost

It is possible to automate nearly every room in your home. Smart homes make your life easier and lower your energy bills. They can be simple or complex, depending on your needs, and can encompass a single room of your home or have systems spread throughout the entire property. Therefore, they have a wide range of associated costs, with average costs of around $5,000 to $9,000.

Cost to Rewire a House

If you have an older home, the wiring may not be safe, up-to-code, or able to handle the demands of modern households. So, it may be necessary to rewire the home, removing older and out-of-date wiring, outlets, and fuse boxes, and replacing them with modern, up-to-date materials. This can be a big job, which is largely dependent on the home’s size, age of the current wiring, and how accessible the various areas are. The average cost to rewire a home is $8,000 to $9,000, but it may be more if additional work is needed.

Cost to Ground a House

If you have an older home, there is a good chance that your outlets are not grounded. You can sometimes tell by looking at the outlets. If they are the old two-prong style, the outlet is not grounded. This can be a serious safety and fire hazard, and the best way to address the issue is by rewiring the home and bringing everything up to code at the same time. While there are some short cuts, an ungrounded home is usually just one piece of a more serious problem. Addressing the complete issue is usually the best course of action. This has a cost of $8,000 to $9,000 on average.

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Emergency Electrician Cost

If you have a sudden problem on a weekend, holiday, or overnight that cannot wait until the following business hours, you may need to pay a higher rate for the emergency call. The exact rate is dependent on the grade of the electrician. But in most instances, the cost of an emergency call starts at around $150 an hour and may go higher depending on demand. For example, a call to service a generator in the middle of a power outage will likely have a higher rate than a call to inspect a circuit breaker. During high-demand times and holidays, some jobs also have an add-on fee of an additional $100 to $200.

In addition, it is not uncommon for emergency calls to have a minimum, such as the equivalent of 2 to 4 hours of work. Even if the job takes 20 minutes, you must pay the minimum fee.

Always ask what the various rates are when you call so that you are prepared. Also, assess if this is a true emergency that needs service right or if you can wait until the next business day when rates are lower.

Commercial Electrician Hourly Rate

While residential electricians charge between $40 and $120 an hour on average, commercial electricians usually charge a higher rate. This is partly due to the different demands and complexities of commercial applications, and many electricians working on commercial projects are Master grade. The average hourly rate for commercial electricians is between $100 and $120 an hour. Emergency rates and service call fees also apply.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Light Dimmer Cost

Adding a dimmer to your lights raises and lowers the light level, depending on your needs. It may also save on your energy bills. They cost around $75 to $85 a piece on average.

Cost to Wire a Garage

Many older and detached garages do not have electricity. However, new codes require them to have at least one 20 amp circuit with at least one GFCI protected duplex receptacle for each vehicle. Wiring a garage to this minimum costs between $2,000 and $3,000 on average.

Cost to Wire a Basement

Most basements have at least rudimentary wiring already, but if you intend to finish the basement, you may want to add additional outlets, switches, light fixtures, and other items. This has costs starting at $2,000 but can go as high as $4,000 if a panel upgrade is also needed.

Energy-efficient Fixtures and Lighting Systems

As energy costs rise, many people want to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. The electrical work is identical, but the fixture is what drives the savings. Switching over can cost anywhere from $175 to $500 per fixture on average.