Electrician Career Guide in Kansas
Explore electrician salary, licensing requirements, training pathways, apprenticeships, job outlook, and career opportunities in Kansas.
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How to Become an Electrician in Kansas
Most electricians in Kansas complete a four- or five-year registered apprenticeship sponsored by IBEW and NECA training organizations, Associated Builders and Contractors, community colleges, or licensed electrical contractors.
A typical four-year electrical apprenticeship includes approximately 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and at least 144 hours of related technical instruction during each year. Depending on the program, apprentices may complete approximately 8,000 field hours before reaching journey-level status.
Training covers electrical theory, National Electrical Code requirements, residential and commercial wiring, blueprint reading, conduit installation, motor controls, industrial systems, troubleshooting, and workplace safety.
Electrician training in Kansas commonly takes place through a registered apprenticeship or employer-sponsored program combining supervised field experience with classroom instruction. Because licenses are issued by cities or counties, applicants should select a program that satisfies the requirements of the jurisdiction where they intend to work.
Note: Training pathways vary by employer, program sponsor, and licensing category. Classroom education may provide useful technical preparation, but it does not automatically replace supervised work experience unless the applicable licensing authority specifically allows that credit.
Electrician Salary in Kansas
The salary figure shown on this page represents the Kansas median wage for electrician workers, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data. A median wage is the point at which half of workers earn more and half earn less. It is not a guaranteed starting salary.
Actual earnings may vary by experience, license level, metropolitan area, employer, industry, overtime, and union agreement.
Compared with the national median of $62,350, the median wage in Kansas is approximately $520 lower. This comparison does not account for differences in cost of living.
Licensing Authority for Electricians in Kansas
Note: Licensing rules, fees, examinations, exemptions, and renewal requirements may change. Applicants should verify current requirements directly with the authority listed above before beginning work, applying for an examination, or enrolling in a training program.
CAREER PREPARATIONElectrician Training Requirements in Kansas
Kansas does not currently establish one statewide journeyman electrician training pathway. Under the existing statutory framework for jurisdictions using designated examinations, an issuing city or county generally verifies at least two years of qualifying field experience for a journeyman or residential certificate. Up to one year may be satisfied through trade-related schooling consisting of at least 240 classroom hours. Local jurisdictions may impose additional examination, experience, fee, permit, or continuing-education requirements.
Electrical Theory & Calculations
Apprentices study voltage, current, resistance, circuitry, load calculations, conductor sizing, transformers, grounding, bonding, and electrical power-distribution principles.
National Electrical Code
Training covers National Electrical Code requirements, locally adopted electrical codes, wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding systems, service equipment, permits, inspections, and code-compliant installations.
Residential & Commercial Wiring
Students learn to install service equipment, branch circuits, panelboards, lighting systems, receptacles, switches, conduit, raceways, transformers, and other electrical components.
Industrial Controls & Automation
Industrial training includes three-phase power, motors, motor controls, programmable logic controllers, variable-frequency drives, robotics, aerospace manufacturing equipment, automation systems, and electrical troubleshooting.
Electrical Safety & OSHA Practices
Programs emphasize lockout/tagout procedures, arc-flash awareness, personal protective equipment, ladder safety, fall protection, confined-space awareness, grounding procedures, and safe work around energized electrical systems.
Electrician Training Providers in Kansas
| Provider | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| WSU Tech | Wichita | View Program |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | View Program |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | View Program |
| Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | View Program |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia | View Program |
Note: Program availability, admission requirements, tuition, and credit toward licensing requirements may change. Verify current details directly with the provider and the applicable state licensing authority before enrolling. Listings are informational and do not constitute rankings or endorsements.
PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITIESElectrician Apprenticeship Programs in Kansas
Wichita Electrical Apprenticeship
Organization: Wichita Electrical JATC / IBEW Local 271
Topeka Electrical Apprenticeship
Organization: Topeka Electrical JATC / IBEW Local 226
Kansas City Electrical Apprenticeship
Organization: Kansas City JATC / IBEW Local 124
Electrician Licensing Requirements in Kansas
Kansas currently uses a local electrician licensing system rather than one unified statewide electrician license. Cities and counties may license journeyman electricians, master electricians, residential electricians, and electrical contractors and may administer examinations, permits, inspections, fees, and continuing-education requirements.
Kansas does not issue a single statewide Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, or Electrical Contractor License. Instead, electrician and electrical contractor licensing is primarily administered by local cities and counties.
Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. Municipalities and counties may require applicants to document qualifying work experience, pass an approved trade examination, register with the local authority, obtain liability insurance, and renew their credentials periodically.
Electricians should verify the rules of each jurisdiction where they plan to work. A license or trade certificate issued by one Kansas city or county does not necessarily authorize electrical work in every other jurisdiction.
EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONSElectrician Job Outlook in Kansas
Kansas provides steady employment opportunities for electricians because of aerospace manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, commercial construction, utilities, healthcare facilities, logistics centers, renewable energy, and industrial modernization.
Wichita is a major market for industrial electricians because of its aerospace manufacturing base and supporting suppliers. The Kansas City metropolitan area provides opportunities in commercial construction, healthcare, data centers, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.
Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and other regional centers also support electricians working in government facilities, universities, hospitals, manufacturing plants, utilities, and residential construction.
Employment of electricians in Kansas is projected to grow by approximately 9% from 2022 to 2032, increasing from about 6,440 to 7,010 jobs. Approximately 640 electrician openings are projected each year, including openings resulting from employment growth and worker replacement.
Note: State employment projections may use a different base period from national BLS projections. Projected growth is an estimate rather than a guarantee of employment, and local demand may vary by metropolitan area, industry, construction activity, and employer investment.
CAREER QUESTIONSFrequently Asked Questions
What is the electrician salary in Kansas?
The statewide median wage for electricians in Kansas is approximately $61,830 per year, or $29.73 per hour, based on May 2024 occupational wage data. Actual earnings vary by experience, license level, location, employer, overtime, and industry.
Does Kansas require electrician licensing?
Kansas does not use one uniform statewide licensing rule for all electrician work. Local requirements may apply, and applicants should verify the rules in the city or county where they plan to work.
How long does it take to become an electrician in Kansas?
The time required depends on the license pathway and training program. A typical training pathway takes approximately 4–5 Years Apprenticeship, although licensing, apprenticeship, and employer requirements may differ.
Are electricians in demand in Kansas?
Kansas projects electrician employment to grow by approximately 9% from 2022 to 2032, with about 640 openings per year. Projections include both new positions and openings created when workers leave the occupation.
Career Data Sources
State wage, employment outlook, and licensing information is reviewed using government and official regulatory sources. Data and requirements may change after publication.
- May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2024 State OEWS
- Kansas Wages for Electrician (SOC 47-2111) — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor. Kansas Electrician Wages
- Kansas Electrician Employment Trends — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor. Kansas Electrician Employment Trends
- Applicable Kansas City or County Licensing Authority — Licensing authority. Applicable Kansas City or County Licensing Authority