Electrician pricing is opaque by design. Most companies won't publish rates because they don't want you comparison-shopping, and because a "simple outlet replacement" can become a three-hour job once the wall is open. Here's what's realistic in 2026 so you know when you're being quoted fairly.
Hourly vs. flat-rate
Most residential electricians charge flat-rate pricing from a book, not hourly. This benefits the customer in most cases (you know the price up front) but does mean the fast electrician gets paid the same as the slow one. Expect hourly rates of $85-$150/hour in the DE/PA/MD/NJ corridor, with flat-rate prices calculated assuming 1.5-2x an hour.
Typical flat-rate prices
- Replace an outlet: $125-200
- Replace a GFCI outlet: $150-250
- Install a new outlet (existing circuit): $200-350
- Install a new outlet (new circuit): $400-700
- Replace a light fixture: $125-250 (plus fixture cost)
- Install a ceiling fan (new wiring): $350-600
- Add a switch or dimmer: $125-200
- Replace a breaker: $125-225
- Dedicated 240V circuit for EV charger: $600-1,800 depending on panel-to-garage distance
- Panel upgrade 100A to 200A: $2,500-4,500
- Whole-house rewire (2,000 sq ft): $8,000-15,000
- Service call minimum / diagnostic fee: $95-150
Why quotes vary so much
The same "install a ceiling fan" can be a 45-minute job or a 4-hour job depending on:
- Is there already a ceiling box rated for fan weight? (No = new box install)
- Is there existing wiring? (No = fish wires through the ceiling)
- Is there access from an attic or crawlspace?
- Is the junction box grounded? (In pre-1960 homes, often not)
- Does the switch control the fan, the light, or both separately?
A good electrician looks at the job and quotes the actual scope. A bad one quotes you for the easy version, then adds change orders when they discover the complexity.
Panel upgrades: the most commonly overpriced job
A 200A panel upgrade involves: turning off the utility power (coordinated with the utility company), removing the old panel, installing the new panel with a new main breaker, transferring every circuit, installing new grounding rods, and a city inspection. Honest price range: $2,500-4,500.
If you're quoted $6,000+ for a standard panel swap with no service mast change, no feeder upgrade, and no subpanels, you're being over-quoted. Get two more quotes.
Signs you need an electrician, not a handyman
- Flickering lights (panel or neutral issue)
- Warm outlets or switches (wiring problem , fire risk)
- Frequent breaker trips on the same circuit (overloaded or shorted)
- Buzzing sounds from the panel (loose connection or failing breaker)
- GFCI outlets that won't reset
- Burning smell at any outlet or the panel (immediate call, turn off the circuit)
- Aluminum wiring (pre-1975 homes; specialized pigtailing required)
- Knob-and-tube wiring visible in the attic or basement
Things a handyman can legitimately do
- Replace a light fixture (like-for-like, existing box)
- Swap a ceiling fan for another ceiling fan
- Change a dimmer or switch
- Replace a receptacle (not GFCI)
Anything involving the panel, running new wire, or new circuits , always an electrician. The cost difference is small; the risk of shoddy work is fire.
Find a local electrician
Wilmington, DE · Philadelphia, PA · Baltimore, MD · all electricians