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⚡ Electrical · Philadelphia

Average Electrician Cost in Philadelphia, PA

A electrician in Philadelphia charges roughly $79/hour — driven by the BLS OEWS national mean hourly wage of $34.40 for SOC 47-2111, the PA cost-of-living index of 95.6, and the standard 2.4× contractor markup. Below: project-by-project pricing, then 7 licensed local pros.

Electrician prices in Philadelphia, PA

ProjectTimeTypical costRange
Standard service call (diagnosis + minor repair) 1–2 hours $166 $136 – $199
Add a new outlet (15–20 amp, dedicated) 1–3 hours $191 $157 – $230
Ceiling fan install (existing wiring) 1–2 hours $182 $149 – $218
Panel upgrade (100A → 200A, includes permit) 1 day $1,841 $1,510 – $2,209
Level 2 EV charger install (50A circuit, hardwired) 4–6 hours $729 $598 – $875
Single room rewire (avg ~3 outlets + 1 fixture) 1 day $684 $561 – $821
Whole-house rewire (1500–2000 sq ft) 5–10 days $6,336 $5,196 – $7,604

Local rate = BLS national mean × 2.4 markup × (PA COL 95.6/100). Materials adjusted by the same factor.

What a electrician in Philadelphia actually does

A licensed electrician handles anything attached to the breaker panel or carrying line voltage (120V/240V). A standard residential service call begins with the panel: the electrician verifies the main breaker rating, looks for double-tapped breakers, checks for AFCI/GFCI compliance in the right rooms, and tests for proper grounding at the service drop. Outlet, switch, and fixture work is straightforward. Panel upgrades, sub-panel adds, EV-charger installs, and whole-house rewires require a permit, a load calculation (NEC Article 220), and an inspection by the local AHJ before the panel is energized.

Questions to ask before you hire in PA

  1. What is your master or journeyman license number, and is it active in this state?
  2. Will the work be done by a licensed electrician or by a helper with the licensee on call?
  3. Are you pulling the permit and scheduling inspection?
  4. Does the quote include any required panel-load calculations or breaker upgrades?
  5. What's the warranty on labor — and on the equipment you're installing?
  6. Are AFCI and GFCI breakers included where code now requires them?
Cash-only quotes, "I can do it without a permit so it's cheaper," and any pressure to upsize a panel without a written load calculation explaining why.

7 licensed electricians in Philadelphia

Patriot Sparks

📍 9611 Hill Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19102
★ 4.5 / 5 · 7 reviews · 36 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A+ 24/7 Emergency 36 yrs
Specialties: Smoke detector, Generator install, EV charger install, Outlet install, Knob-and-tube replacement

Patterson Power

📍 3997 Cedar Ln, Philadelphia, PA 19109
★ 4.6 / 5 · 184 reviews · 29 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A 24/7 Emergency 29 yrs
Specialties: Whole-house rewire, Smoke detector, Outlet install, Surge protection

Allen Voltage

📍 7245 Meadow Ter, Philadelphia, PA 19107
★ 4.5 / 5 · 293 reviews · 38 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A 38 yrs
Specialties: Knob-and-tube replacement, Ceiling fan, Smoke detector, Outlet install

Kelly Voltage

📍 2262 Elm Ter, Philadelphia, PA 19102
★ 4.3 / 5 · 376 reviews · 29 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured 24/7 Emergency 29 yrs
Specialties: Outlet install, Ceiling fan, Panel upgrade, Generator install, EV charger install

Philadelphia Electric

📍 2272 Magnolia St, Philadelphia, PA 19109
★ 4.0 / 5 · 85 reviews · 19 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A- 24/7 Emergency 19 yrs
Specialties: Panel upgrade, Whole-house rewire, Generator install, Recessed lighting

Hometown Wattage

📍 6260 Meadow Pl, Philadelphia, PA 19107
★ 4.5 / 5 · 33 reviews · 13 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A+ 24/7 Emergency 13 yrs
Specialties: Surge protection, EV charger install, Smoke detector, Knob-and-tube replacement, Outlet install

Howard Amp Pros

📍 3295 Hill Way, Philadelphia, PA 19102
★ 4.0 / 5 · 105 reviews · 18 years in business
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A- 24/7 Emergency 18 yrs
Specialties: Knob-and-tube replacement, Outlet install, Generator install, Recessed lighting, Smoke detector

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Seasonal electrical checklist for Philadelphia homeowners

Spring

  • Test every GFCI outlet (kitchen, baths, garage, exterior) using the on-device test/reset button.
  • Test smoke and CO detectors; replace batteries on any unit older than 10 years.
  • Inspect outdoor lighting and replace bulbs and weatherproof gaskets that have degraded over winter.
  • Walk the panel: look for rust, scorch marks, or warm breakers — any of these is a service call.

Summer

  • Inspect the exterior service drop and the meter base for storm damage; never touch the wires yourself.
  • If you run multiple high-draw appliances (window AC, EV charger, pool pump), have an electrician verify your panel can handle the simultaneous load.

Fall

  • Test the whole-home surge protector (or have one installed before winter storms).
  • Inspect generator transfer switch and run the generator under load for 20 minutes.
  • Replace outdoor incandescent bulbs with LEDs before holiday-light season.
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