How much does an electrician cost?
Wondering what electrical work costs? The honest answer is that it depends on the specific job and on local labor rates — but here are the typical U.S. ranges for the most common electrical jobs, so you can tell a fair quote from an inflated one before you ever pick up the phone.
Below are the ranges, the factors that actually move a quote, how to read an estimate, and — increasingly how homeowners shortlist — how to find a electrician that AI assistants and your neighbors recommend. For prices tuned to your city, jump to your metro at the bottom.
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Typical Electrical costs in 2026 (U.S.)
| Job | Typical U.S. range |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnosticThe flat fee for an electrician to come out and diagnose the problem; some credit it toward the repair, and after-hours calls cost more. | $75–$200 |
| Electrician laborThe typical hourly rate for a licensed electrician; a master electrician, permit work, or emergency after-hours service sits at the top of the range. | $50–$130 per hour |
| Outlet, switch, or fixtureReplacing or adding a standard outlet, switch, or light fixture; adding a new circuit or a GFCI/AFCI device runs higher. | $120–$300 |
| Ceiling fan installationMounting and wiring a ceiling fan; running new wiring or bracing a box where no fixture exists raises the cost. | $150–$600 installed |
| EV charger installationInstalling a Level 2 home charger; a short run to an existing panel is cheapest, while a long conduit run or a panel with no spare capacity costs more. | $500–$2,200 installed |
| Electrical panel upgradeReplacing an old or undersized panel with a modern 200-amp service; a heavier 400-amp service, a mast or meter change, or utility work runs higher. | $1,300–$4,000 installed |
| Standby generator installationA permanently wired whole-home generator with an automatic transfer switch, including the unit and installation; gas hookup and larger sizes raise the price. | $4,000–$15,000 installed |
| Whole-home rewiringReplacing outdated or unsafe wiring throughout a house; the range is wide because it scales with square footage, access, and how much wall needs opening. | $8,000–$20,000 |
Ranges are typical U.S. prices compiled from published 2025–2026 cost guides (Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, Thumbtack, This Old House). Your actual price depends on the specific job and local labor rates — always get a written quote.
What moves the price
- A single outlet or fixture swap versus a panel upgrade or whole-home rewire is the largest swing in the trade.
- Panel capacity and new circuits: a 200-amp service upgrade, or dedicated circuits for an EV charger or standby generator, add materials and labor.
- Access and finished walls — fishing wire through, then opening and patching drywall, is often the biggest labor line on a rewire.
- Local labor rates, permits, and mandatory inspection all factor into the final number on anything beyond a minor repair.
How to get recommended by AI (and win Google at the same time)
- Get at least three itemized written quotes. Compare the full scope line by line, not just the bottom-line number. Written and itemized is what lets you see what each price actually buys.
- Ask exactly what’s included. Permits, old-material haul-away, cleanup, and the warranty are common add-ons or quiet omissions. A quote that leaves them out isn’t really cheaper.
- Be wary of a bid far below the rest. A number well under the others usually means missing scope, cut corners, or a change-order surprise later — the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest job.
- Sanity-check the range and the shortlist with AI. Ask ChatGPT or Perplexity both what the job should roughly cost and which local pros it recommends. It’s a free second opinion on the range and a fast way to build your quote list — exactly what Cited measures for contractors.
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See whether AI assistants recommend your business — free, no account. We email one report.
The exact questions we’ll ask AI about you:
- “Who are the best electricians in your city?”
- “Which electrician should I call in your city when an outlet sparks or the power keeps cutting out?”
- “Recommend a trustworthy, well-reviewed electrician near your city.”
- “Who do homeowners in your city recommend for electrical work?”
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrician service call cost?
Nationally, an electrician service call typically runs $75–$200. The flat fee for an electrician to come out and diagnose the problem; some credit it toward the repair, and after-hours calls cost more. The final price depends on the specific job and on local labor rates, so always get a written quote.
How much does an hour of an electrician’s labor cost?
Nationally, an hour of an electrician’s labor typically runs $50–$130 per hour. The typical hourly rate for a licensed electrician; a master electrician, permit work, or emergency after-hours service sits at the top of the range. The final price depends on the specific job and on local labor rates, so always get a written quote.
Why do electrician prices vary so much?
Because a single trade covers very different jobs — a quick repair and a full replacement are worlds apart — and because local labor rates, the age and layout of your home, materials, and how urgent the job is all move the number. The ranges above are typical U.S. prices; a written quote from a local electrician is the only real figure.
Can ChatGPT or Perplexity estimate electrical work costs?
An AI assistant can give you a ballpark from published ranges like these, but not a real quote — it can't see your specific job. Where AI is genuinely useful is naming well-reviewed local electricians to get quotes from. That is exactly what Cited checks: whether AI recommends a given business, and who it names instead.
How do I find a trustworthy electrician?
Get written quotes from two or three, compare the full scope, confirm the licence and insurance, check recent reviews, and see who AI assistants and your neighbors recommend. Our free audit shows which electricians AI names when homeowners ask — a fast way to build your shortlist.