Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2022
Emergency services offered
Customers say: True professional
"Alexis responded quickly, gave a fair estimate while explaining the process quickly. He was friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and thorough. I would highly recommend for any electrical work needed."
+9
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 1976
Free estimates
Customers say: Quality work
"Very accommodating time wise, very efficient & willing to work with me to get the job done in the best way possible"
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2019
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
Classification C-10 especially Electrical license, from small and big jobs. Low voltage, data, electricall service panel. door bell by net's. Swap lighting. Electrical troubleshooting. And diagnostic. We are a locally owned and operated company with over 22 years of experience. We value honesty and integrity in all aspects of our business. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work as well as our commitment to outstanding results. We look forward to building lasting relationships with our clients and guarantee your satisfaction!
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2015
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"John did a great job. Very professional and was very clear with everything he was going to do. I highly recommend him for any electrical work."
+12
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2022
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Mr. Arechiga disconnected our old knob-an tube and grounded our 2 story home. We also had him upgrade our main panel to 200A solar ready. His responsiveness and professionalism made us feel safe and made this experience extremely easy. He was able to accommodate us within the week we highly recommend him!!"
+36
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
Super Service Award Winner
In business since 1996
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Juan and his crew were hired to swap out my main panel and sub panel. They were super professional and go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. They were always punctual, straight forward with their costs and super easy to get along with. Overall great value and I would highly recommend them. Theyâ ll be my go to electrical contract from now on!"
+20
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2024
Free estimates
Credit card accepted
"We hired proper power electric to update lighting and switches in our home. Forest and foster showed up on time. They were professional and in sync with each other. We added recessed lighting, fan ,and outdoor lights to our new home. Forest made suggestion to add another switch down the hallway to make it easier to turn off lights when going to the room. Both were knowledgeable, helpful and very friendly. They even helped my neighbor with their solar panel system. We had a great experience and will definitely hire again."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 1987
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"We submitted a service request through our AHS home warranty and were assigned to Budget Electric. It was after work hours. It affected our fridge and stove, so AHS put it as expedite/emergency. The next morning we were contacted by BE, and they found us a canceled appointment time for the following morning. In the meantime, I searched BE for reviews and saw quite a few negative reviews, leaving me nervous for our appointment. Based on the service we received, I don't know how they have bad reviews. The women answering my phone calls were very understanding and patient with may many phone calls. Michelle and another woman handled all my questions and concerns. There were a couple of times I wasn't able to reach them, but I'm assuming they were handling other calls or were at a unch break. Although it was an hour outside of our service window, we had an electrician show up soon after. With the storms, I think they're busy and sometimes run a little behind. Michael was the best and completely blew away all concerns as soon as he arrived. He was courteous and positive the entire time. He asked permission for coming inside, opening doors, going into rooms, etc. He patiently explained everything he did. He wasn't annoyed by curiosity or my questions. He was thorough and had diagnosed our problem in less than 5 minutes. Although it ended up being an issue for PG&E to fix, Michael double-checked the circuit breaker and boxes. He replaced a faulty fuse box to ensure no additional issues. After our service was complete, I shared our initial concerns based on previous reviews. Michael was still positive and genuinely courteous. He had positive things to say about Miguel and Abraham as well. He explained they have a high volume of service calls. He didn't make excuses. Without dismissing the other reviews, he said that with the volume of calls they do, there are probably some negative reviews. Although I don't typically leave reviews, I felt it was only fair to give an honest review after reading the negative reviews. Thanks to BE and Michael for service above and beyond!"
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2002
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Marcus was fantastic. Fixed and finished the project quickly and professionally. I have put MM Electric in my contact list for future projects."
Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2022
Warranties offered
Small jobs welcome
"My overall experience was very professional. Mr Alexander was very transparent in fully explaining the scope of the project during the entire process. Mr Alexander was always prompt and on time. He also took time to perform additional electrical diagnosis for possible future projects. The final walk through was super assuring and the final job was excellent. Even my Mom was totally satisfied and she is very very meticulous !!!!! Great project"
+18
There is often some confusion about the type of work these professionals do. They only work on electrical systems such as outlets, lighting fixtures and electrical panels – they aren’t appliance repairmen.
There are three types of electricians: Master, Journeyman and Apprentice. Electrical licensing varies quite a bit by state. Some have licenses for apprentices and some do not. Some have a master’s rank while others stop at journeyman. Despite the differences, they all require a minimum amount of experience and usually classroom time.
Apprentice electricians aren’t usually licensed and spend 4 years learning the trade. Throughout that time, they work on a wide range of projects to learn to become a Journeyman. They’ll do basic work like installing fixtures and replacing outlets all the way to assisting in wiring a home. Regardless of the type of project, they must always be supervised by a Journeyman or Master electrician.
Journeymen work without supervision. In a few states, this is the highest level available and they can do all levels of work from wiring a new home to installing a light. In some states, they need a separate electrical contractor license to run a business. In places with a master’s level, a journeyman can do all work besides design new electrical systems.
Master electricians usually manage a shop, design new electrical systems in new construction and oversee both Journeyman and Apprentices. They typically bid new projects. Though they focus on larger projects, it’s not unheard of for a homeowner to request a Master Electrician for a house call. If you do, expect to spend up to 25% more for the visit.
Generally, you don’t tip electricians, but that’s not to say they don’t appreciate it if you do. You can offer them something to drink or eat, like coffee and donuts. Most will appreciate it if you do.
The education and certifications required to become an electrician vary by state, though they generally follow this list:
Apprentice
Does not always require a license depending on the state.
Learns on the job under Journeyman and Master Electricians.
Usually needs 4 years on-the-job training before they can test for a Journeyman license. Many states also require a technical degree to advance.
Always require supervision.
Journeyman
Needs between 8,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job training and usually 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom experience.
Can usually supervise apprentices.
They can diagnose and repair electrical problems.
Master
Achieved after an additional two years (4,000 hours) working as a Journeyman and taking the Master Electrician Exam.
Besides diagnosing and repairing electrical systems, they also design them. In most places they run shops and inspect Journeyman and Apprentice work.
Not a recognized rank in all states.
Electrical Contractor License is an optional license in some states for a Master Electrician to run a business. Some states have this instead of the Master license.
Electricians make an average of $26 per hour but it ranges with experience and licensing. An apprentice may make about half that while a Master Electrician may hit closer to $40 per hour. This figure represents how much they make; not how much they bill. Their salary is only one component of their costs. They must also figure in overhead, taxes, equipment, insurance and several other expenses.
Leave electrical work to the professionals. Electrical systems are complex and potentially hazardous when not handled and installed correctly. If it were easy, it wouldn’t take 4 years to become a journeyman or 6 years for a master’s license. If you are determined to forge ahead yourself, understand home electrical safety before beginning any project.Even for simple common electrical projects, a licensed pro is best. Not only is it safer, but contractors guarantee and insure their work. Hire a professional to keep your home’s electrical systems functioning properly and safely.
Use our comprehensive electrician directory page to find local, licensed contractors. You can browse ratings, reviews and pricing of top professionals in your area. Sign up to receive quotes or let us match you to an electrician near you.
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