How much does an electrician cost in Pennsylvania?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What does an electrician cost?

Most single visits land in the low hundreds of dollars. Angi puts the national average for hiring an electrician in 2026 at $351, drawn from 101,757 projects reported by contractors on its platform, with most homeowners paying $163 to $538. Fixr gives a narrower range of $176 to $327 per visit. Large jobs such as a new panel, a generator or a rewire run into the thousands.

None of these publishers gives a separate figure for Pennsylvania. Every number below is national and is given the way its publisher gives it.

What are the hourly rates?

The surveys agree on the shape and differ on the edges.

HomeAdvisor publishes the same $351 average and $163 to $538 range as Angi, so treat those two as one source. Both split hourly rates by grade: $40 to $60 for an apprentice, $60 to $90 for a journeyperson and $90 to $120 for a master electrician.

Why does a small job cost so much?

Because of the minimum. Angi says electricians charge for 1 to 4 hours of labor whatever the actual time, and HomeAdvisor gives the same window. Replacing one switch can therefore cost close to what replacing four would. Both publishers suggest writing down every small fault in the house and having them handled in one visit.

Fixr's job table shows how far apart the part and the visit can be. It lists outlet replacement at $18 to $34 and switch replacement at $33 to $61, yet its typical visit is $176 to $327. Read the small-job figures as the work itself, not the bill you will see once a call-out is added.

What do common jobs cost?

The table sets the two independent sets of figures side by side. Angi's and HomeAdvisor's are identical, so they appear once.

Angi also lists an outdoor outlet at $150 to $260 and a generator transfer switch at $400 to $2,500.

What does a panel upgrade cost?

Angi's dedicated panel page gives a 2026 national average of $1,600, with most homeowners paying $1,200 to $2,000. The amperage you move to is the biggest factor in its figures, panel and installation together:

• 100 amps: $800 to $1,500
• 150 amps: $1,300 to $1,600
• 200 amps: $1,300 to $2,000
• 300 amps: $1,800 to $3,500
• 400 amps: $2,000 to $4,000

The same page says replacing an existing panel, rather than raising its capacity, costs $520 to $2,200, about $1,300 on average, and that an indoor panel needing holes bored through walls adds work and drywall repair.

What does a car charger cost?

Angi's EV charger page gives a national average of $967 from 4,398 projects, with most homeowners paying $555 to $1,380. A Level 2 setup runs $700 to $2,000 all in on its figures, and professional installation alone $400 to $1,200. If the panel has to be upgraded first, Angi adds $800 to $2,000.

What do permits add?

In much of Pennsylvania, the fee is set by your municipality. Angi's general figure is $75 to $150 for a permit plus $100 to $125 for a safety inspection; for a panel, it gives $50 to $300.

Philadelphia publishes its own schedule. The city's electrical permit page sets a $100 filing fee, counted toward the permit fee, and a permit fee of $25 for each $1,000 of estimated electrical cost, with a $63 minimum, plus surcharges of $3 for the city and $4.50 for the state. In the city the owner also pays a licensed electrical inspection agency, which the city requires for all inspections.

Not every job needs a permit. The state's construction code regulation says an ordinary repair does not require one, but adding or relocating electric wiring is not an ordinary repair. A quote for new circuits, a panel or a charger should therefore say who obtains the permit and whether its cost is included.

What makes emergency work dearer?

Time. Angi says night and weekend call-outs add $100 to $200, and labor can reach double the normal rate. HomeAdvisor says time-and-a-half to double, plus a trip charge of $100 or more. The National Fire Protection Association lists the situations that call for an electrician promptly: warm or discolored outlets, sparks from an outlet, a tingling feeling when you touch an appliance, a burning smell. Those are not the moment to wait for Monday. A dimmer that has buzzed for a year usually is.

How do you compare two quotes?

• Check the scope line by line. One quote may include the permit, the inspection agency's fee, patching drywall or a new meter box; another may not.
• Ask whether the price is fixed or time and materials. Under Pennsylvania's home improvement law, a time-and-materials contract cannot exceed the written estimate by more than 10% without a change order you sign.
• Ask for the registration number. Contracts over $500 fall under that law, and electrical contractors who work on homes must register with the Attorney General.
• Ask what grade of electrician will do the work. The hourly figures above differ by grade.

What Pennsylvania requires of electricians explains the registration, licensing and permit rules behind those questions, and how to choose an electrician covers the rest of the checks. Electricians serving the region are listed on the electricians directory page.

Sources

1. How Much Does an Electrician Cost to Hire? [2026 Data], Angi
2. How Much Does an Electrician Cost in 2026?, HomeAdvisor
3. How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Electrician?, Fixr
4. How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel? [2026 Data], Angi
5. A Complete Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging Installation Costs [2026 Data], Angi
6. Get an Electrical Permit, City of Philadelphia
7. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
8. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
9. Electrical Home Fire Safety, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)