When it comes to electrical work, even the most experienced DIY-ers prefer to call a professional electrician, because most people get nervous about electricity and with good reason. Even if you have knowledge of the basics, electricity can and has killed. Not only that, but having electrical work done by professional, licensed electricians is a good investment that will cover all bases.

One of the biggest concerns homeowners have when it comes to needing electrical work done around the house is the cost. Sometimes, electricians discover less obvious issues and unpleasant surprises that drive the cost up. To limit that as much as possible, it’s important to understand electrician labor cost and have a general idea of how much common projects may cost. 

In many instances, electricians will charge a flat fee for coming out to your home, but there are also professionals who waive that fee or provide a free assessment, depending on the work you need done. This fee can range anywhere between $50 and $100, depending on where you live and the company. Additionally, electricians charge an hourly rate, which also can vary greatly from $40 to $120, depending not just on location, but also the skill level of the electrician.

Another aspect of electrical work cost that should be understood is that booking an electrician to perform a small job like replacing a switch or fixing a doorbell will prove quite challenging. This is because there’s little profit margin in it. To that extent, people usually book electricians when they have a number of tasks at hand. Below, you’ll be able to find estimates of the most common projects and work electricians perform. 

1. Receptacle or Switch Repairing / Replacing 

Repairing or replacing a receptacle or a switch is a small, quick job. But if you have several outlets in your home that need work, then it might be worth calling an electrician. Some companies may have a minimum period of labor time that they charge for. All in all, this could end up costing you anywhere between $100 to $150.

Taking into account that an actual receptacle or a switch is not that expensive, you might want to wait and have this work done with other projects to make the most out of the electrician’s visit. 

2. Standard Receptacle to GFCI Replacement

If you don’t just require a simple receptacle repair or replacement, but you need to get a GFCI in place, then the cost of the project may increase. Typically, replacing a standard receptacle with a ground-fault circuit interrupter will end up costing you $120 to $150. However, it can run a little more if the job involves adding a new outlet location or running cable. If that’s the case, expect to pay anywhere between $200 to $250. 

3. Grounding an Outlet

Older homes can still have 2-slot receptacles, which are not grounded. A licensed and professional electrician will be able to turn that into 3-slot grounded outlets, which can accept 3-prong plugs. If the main panel or circuit breaker panel are grounded, then this should be an easy job that will not take longer than 30 minutes. 

In total, expect to pay around $150 – $200. Just like with the other smaller jobs, this is an example of electrical work that should be done all at once, when updating your home’s electrical system. If there’s no grounding at the main panel, then the cost will double at least.

4. 220/240-Volt Outlet Installation

When you need to install a new outlet or switch, in a place where there was none before, then it’s more work involved than simply replacing or repairing one. The electrician will have to create an opening in the wall, fish new cable to a power source, and make the necessary connections. This can cost anywhere between $150 and $200. 

When it comes to installing a 220/240-volt outlet, which is usually required for an electric range or clothes dryer, then the work is pretty much the same as any standard outlet. However, the overall cost is higher because the electrician will most likely need to run conduit and reorganize circuit breakers in the main panel. Sometimes, you may even need a new breaker. The length of the conduit will dictate the new price, but expect around $300 on average. 

5. Circuit Breaker Replacement

Working within the main service panel is definitely a job for a professional, licensed electrician. When circuit breakers wear out, which is very possible to happen,  you’ll have to call an electrician to come and replace them. On average, one circuit breaker switch replacement will cost $150 to $200, which includes both materials and labor.

6. Electrical Panel Update

The same way older homes have 2-slot outlets, they are also likely to have outdated electrical service, which is under-rated when it comes to modern appliances and devices. Decades ago, 60-amp services were standard, but now they can’t support modern loads. Even 100-amp services are considered the bare minimum, with most households going for 200-amp services. 

The cost to upgrade your electrical panel and service depends on what your current service is and what you’re upgrading to, but here are a few estimates to give you an idea. 

• 100-amp service upgrade: $1,200 to $2,500;
• 200-amp service upgrade: $2,000 to $3,500;
• 400-amp service upgrade: $3,000 to $4,500.

7. House Rewiring

Rewiring a house is a big project and an important decision for homeowners. It’s usually required in older houses that have knob-and-tube or just outdated wiring. The cost depends greatly on the size of the house, the existing wiring, as well as whether or not other updates are necessary as well. 

In most cases, a house rewiring requires walls to be opened up, although sometimes it can be done without removing the drywall. See below average costs for rewiring a home:

• Small Home (2 bedrooms, 1 bath): $3,000 to $5,000;
• Mid-Size Home (3-4 bedrooms, 2 bath): $5,000 to $13,500;
• Large Home (4+ bedrooms, 2+ bath): $8,500 to $25,000+