Trade directory · Houston metro · Texas

Electrical contractors in
Houston, Texas.

A public directory of electrical contractor businesses serving greater Houston. Market data, licensing requirements, and cost benchmarks — updated continuously from public sources.

Employer Establishments

5,621

U.S. Census Bureau

Peak Season

May through September. Summer heat drives HVAC work and new construction ramps up. Hurricane season prep (August-September) creates urgent demand for generator installations and panel upgrades.

Market estimate

Avg. Response Time

2-4 business days for quote callbacks in Houston market. Emergency service calls typically same-day or next-day. Established contractors with crews can move faster.

Operator average

Avg. Hourly Wage

$29/hr

Bureau of Labor Statistics

§ J · OPEN JOBS

Electrical jobs in Houston

00 OPEN

0 open jobs in Houston.

The controlled job pilot is not open yet.

§ A · Market rates

Common Job Costs

HOUSTON-TX · LOCAL ESTIMATES

Service

Description

Cost Range

Service Panel Upgrade (100-200 amp)

Typical range based on local service panel upgrade (100-200 amp) jobs.

$1,500 – $3,500

New Circuit Installation (per circuit)

Typical range based on local new circuit installation (per circuit) jobs.

$150 – $300

Outlet/Switch Installation (per fixture)

Typical range based on local outlet/switch installation (per fixture) jobs.

$75 – $150

Troubleshooting & Repair (hourly diagnostic)

Typical range based on local troubleshooting & repair (hourly diagnostic) jobs.

$85 – $150

Full Home Rewire (2000 sq ft)

Typical range based on local full home rewire (2000 sq ft) jobs.

$8,000 – $15,000

Commercial Tenant Build-Out (per sq ft)

Typical range based on local commercial tenant build-out (per sq ft) jobs.

$3 – $8

§ B · Regulatory

Licensing Requirements

§1

Licensing Requirements

Texas requires three license tiers under TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation). Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of documented apprenticeship or equivalent work experience, pass TDLR exam (covers code, theory, safety). Master Electrician: 2 years documented experience as licensed journeyman, pass master exam. Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours experience, restricted to residential work under 600 volts. All licenses require fingerprinting, application fee ($85-$150), and renewal every 2 years with continuing education (8 CEU hours per renewal cycle). Houston enforces Texas Electrical Safety Standards and NEC 2020 code.

§2

Permit Requirements

City of Houston requires electrical permits for: new construction, service upgrades, rewiring, additions, alterations exceeding $5,000 value, generator installations, and any work requiring inspections. Permit fees run 0.75-1.5% of project cost. Permits obtained through Houston Building Department. Inspections required at rough-in stage and final sign-off. Commercial work in Houston also requires plan review by city engineer if exceeds certain scope.

§3

Inspection Schedule

Rough-in inspection required before drywall closure—inspector verifies wire routing, box placement, grounding, and code compliance. Final inspection after all fixtures installed, tests performed, circuits balanced. Commercial projects may require additional inspections at underground rough stage and equipment installation. Timeline: rough-in typically 3-5 days after scheduling; final within 2-3 days. Re-inspections cost $50-$150 per occurrence.

§4

Insurance Minimums

Texas does not mandate specific minimums by statute, but Houston commercial work and most GCs require: General Liability minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate. Workers' Compensation required if you employ any staff (statutory). Electrical contractors installing solar, generators, or HVAC-integrated systems should carry additional coverage. Many GCs demand $2M-$5M depending on project scope. Annual premium ranges $1,500-$4,000 for established shops.

§ C · ReadyDocs Compliance

Compliance research unavailable

View source dossier ↗

Source status: unavailable · 7/12/2026

Detailed instructions are withheld because the source is not available for verification.

§ M · DoorBase

Local market snapshot

181 ZIPs

Population3,206,570

Household income$69,860

Home value$332,355

Median rent$1,525

Unemployment4.30%

Job growth0.70%

Source: DoorBase, aggregated public ZIP-level data. Updated 9/6/2026.

§ C · Path to license

How to Get Licensed

5 STEPS

Accumulate Required Hours

Log 8,000 documented hours of electrical work under a licensed electrician. This can be through formal apprenticeship (typically 4-5 years) or direct supervised experience. Hours must be verified on TDLR-approved forms signed by your supervising licensed electrician. Keep detailed records—date, hours, type of work, supervisor name. Apprenticeship programs through unions or trade schools accelerate this and provide structured training. Self-documentation without formal apprenticeship is allowed but requires employer sign-off and is harder to prove.

01/05

Gather Documentation & Verify Hours

Submit all hour logs and apprenticeship/experience records to TDLR for verification. Include signed verification forms from supervising electricians and employers. TDLR reviews for legitimacy and may contact past employers. This process takes 2-4 weeks. Get a copy of your verified hours letter—you'll need it for exam registration. Incomplete or fraudulent hour documentation will be rejected and may trigger investigation.

02/05

Pass Background Check

Complete TDLR fingerprinting and background check (part of application). You'll be fingerprinted at an approved location; cost is minimal ($20-$40). Any felonies or fraud convictions can disqualify you. Misdemeanors are reviewed case-by-case. This step can take 3-6 weeks depending on volume. Once cleared, you're eligible to schedule the exam.

03/05

Register & Study for Exam

Register for the Journeyman Electrician exam through TDLR's testing vendor (Pearson Vue). Registration fee is $85-$150. Exam covers: NEC code (2020 edition for current tests), electrical theory, safety, wiring methods, grounding, and troubleshooting. Most pass with 70+ score. Study materials available through TDLR website, trade schools, and prep courses ($300-$800). Schedule your exam; appointments typically available 2-4 weeks out. Budget 3-6 months of study time if new to the material.

04/05

Pass Exam & Apply for License

Take and pass the Journeyman exam (70% score minimum). Results posted within 48 hours. Upon passing, immediately file your license application with TDLR, including proof of passing exam, verified hours, clean background check, and application fee ($85-$150). License is issued within 5-10 business days once application is complete. You'll receive your license number via email; request a physical license card. You can legally work immediately upon issuance. Renewal required every 2 years with 8 CEU hours and renewal fee ($50-$85).

05/05

§ D · Field notes

About This Market

UPDATED APR 2026

Houston's electrician market is tight and competitive. You've got roughly 5,621 licensed establishments statewide, but Houston's metro area alone—with explosive residential development in suburbs like The Woodlands, Katy, and Pearland, plus heavy commercial activity downtown and along the energy corridor—concentrates serious demand. New construction drives 50-60% of residential work; the rest is service, upgrades, and remedial work. Costs stay reasonable because there's volume, but labor runs $85-$150/hour for service calls and established hourly rates for larger projects. Material costs are Houston-standard—no premiums. The real pressure comes from competition and seasonal swings. Summer crushes the market; winter slows to maybe 60% of peak capacity.

To work this market seriously, you need a Journeyman or Master license—no shortcuts through TDLR; they audit apprenticeship hours hard. Get your Houston business tax certificate and understand that the city enforces code reviews aggressively on commercial work. Peak season May-September means you book crews now or you don't work then. Build relationships with GCs early—they control 40% of commercial job flow. Liability insurance at $2M minimum is non-negotiable if you want commercial contracts. Know the 2020 NEC cold; Houston inspectors are thorough. Panel upgrades and new service runs are your bread-and-butter residential work. Hourly diagnostic work for troubleshooting is high-margin if you've got efficiency. Don't underestimate the permit timeline—factor 5-7 days into project schedules. If you can pull permits fast and execute clean inspections first try, you'll outpace competitors.

Data Sources

Median hourly wage for electricians in Texas
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics, 2023
Number of licensed electrical establishments in Texas
U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2022)
Texas licensing requirements and exam details
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Electrician Program
Houston permit requirements and processes
City of Houston Building Department, Houston Building Code (adopted 2020 NEC)
Service call rates and project cost ranges
Market survey of Houston-area licensed electrician contractors (2024)
Insurance requirements for Texas electricians
Texas General Contractors and trade industry standards; general liability underwriting guidelines
Peak season and demand patterns
Seasonal construction activity data, Houston Building Permits Office, and contractor field experience

§ E · FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

05 QUESTIONS

Q/01

What's the typical hourly rate for electrician service calls in Houston?

Service call rates range $85-$150/hour depending on experience level, time of day, and complexity. BLS median for Texas electricians is $28.50/hour wages, but service rates charged to customers are 2.5-5x that figure. Emergency after-hours calls (nights, weekends) run $150-$200/hour with minimum 2-hour charges. Established contractors with crews and reputation can command premium rates; newer shops compete on price.

Q/02

How long does it take to get a Journeyman Electrician license in Texas?

The timeline depends on your apprenticeship path. Formal apprenticeship: 4-5 years (8,000 documented hours). Direct experience route: 8,000 hours of on-the-job work under a licensed electrician, typically 4-5 years full-time. Once hours are logged and verified by TDLR, you apply, pay fees ($85-$150), clear background check, then sit for the exam. Exam scheduling takes 2-4 weeks. Total: 4-6 years from start to license in hand. Renewal every 2 years requires 8 CEU hours.

Q/03

Do I need a permit for every electrical job in Houston?

No, but most work does. Houston Building Department exempts minor repairs (like replacing outlets or switches without circuit changes) and service calls that don't alter the system. You DO need permits for: new circuits, panel upgrades, service entrance work, rewiring, anything in additions, any alteration over $5,000 contract value, generator installations, EV charging, and solar. When in doubt, call the city. Missed permits trigger fines ($250-$1,000+) and can void insurance claims. Permit costs typically run 0.75-1.5% of project value.

Q/04

What's the difference between a Journeyman and Master Electrician license in Texas?

Journeyman is the foundation—you can wire, install, troubleshoot, and pull permits as the responsible licensed party on residential and light commercial work. Master requires 2 years documented experience as a licensed Journeyman and passing a more rigorous exam covering business, design, and advanced code. Master can design larger systems, supervise multiple crews, and hold permits on complex commercial projects. Both are required for commercial bidding, but Master carries more authority with GCs and for contract pricing. Wages: Journeyman averages $50-$65K annually in Houston; Master $65-$85K+ depending on business structure.

Q/05

What insurance do I need as an electrician in Texas?

Texas law doesn't mandate specific minimums, but the market does. General Liability: minimum $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate for residential; $2M-$5M for commercial (GCs require it). Workers' Compensation: mandatory if you have any employees, even one part-time. Tools & Equipment coverage recommended. Commercial clients often require proof before signing contracts. Annual premiums run $1,500-$4,000 for established single-owner shops; larger operations with crews pay $4,000-$10,000+. Verify your policy covers your license type—residential-only policies are cheaper but limit work scope.

§ F · Directory