How much does an electrician cost per hour?
Electricians charge $50 to $130 an hour in 2026. What changes your price is below.
Most electricians bill $75 to $110 an hour, with apprentices at the low end and master electricians at the top. The first hour is often bundled into a $100 to $200 service call fee, and many electricians bill a one or two hour minimum.
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Is this price fair?
A fair price is $100 to $150.
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Middle of the range: $125
What you are paying for
How we calculate this
Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.
Rates by who you hire
| Apprentice electrician | $50 to $75 |
|---|---|
| Journeyman electrician | $75 to $110 |
| Master electrician | $90 to $130 |
| Emergency or after hours (per hour) | $100 to $260 |
What to know before you book
| First hour | Usually included in a $100 to $200 service call fee. Small jobs like a dead outlet are often done for that fee alone. |
|---|---|
| Minimum charge | One to two hours is common, even for a twenty minute job. |
| Permits | Panel work and rewiring need a permit, $200 to $900 on older homes. Not included in the hourly rate. |
| After hours | $100 to $260 an hour, or 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate. |
| Inspections | A safety inspection is priced like a service call, $100 to $200. |
| What is included | Labor. Parts and permits are extra. Small parts like a switch or outlet are sometimes included. |
Why it costs what it costs
Electrical work carries licensing, insurance and code liability that most trades do not, and a mistake can burn a house down. The hourly rate reflects that risk as much as the skill. The one to two hour minimum exists because the drive and the setup take as long as many small jobs.
Why this costs more in 2026
An hourly rate carries the cost of keeping a van on the road. Fuel is the part of that cost that moved most this year.
The short version is oil. Diesel passed $6 a gallon on the AAA national average for the first time on September 11, 2026. A year earlier it was about $3.70 (CBS 8 reporting AAA). That lands in trip charges, deliveries and anything made from petroleum. In March 2026, construction input prices were up 4.8 percent on the year, the biggest annual gain since January 2023, and one month of diesel prices rose 37.8 percent, the largest jump since 1990 (Roofing Contractor, April 2026). Quotes are being held open for shorter periods, so ask for the expiry date in writing.
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Common questions
How much does an electrician charge per hour?
$50 to $130 an hour in 2026, with $75 to $110 typical for a licensed journeyman.
Why does the electrician charge a two hour minimum?
To cover travel, setup and insurance on short jobs. Ask about it when booking.
Does the hourly rate include the service call fee?
Usually the fee covers the first hour. Extra hours are billed at the hourly rate.
How much is an electrician after hours?
$100 to $260 an hour, roughly 1.5 to 2 times the daytime rate.
Other jobs and rates
Compare prices
Related jobs people check next, with the usual 2026 price.
| Job | Usual price |
|---|---|
| Plumber hourly rate | $80 to $130 |
| Handyman hourly rate | $60 to $90 |
| HVAC hourly rate | $85 to $150 |
| CPA hourly rate cost | $150 to $500 |