7 Best Electricians in Milwaukee for 2026

Milwaukee's housing stock creates some genuinely specific electrical challenges. A huge share of the city's homes were built before 1960, which means knob-and-tube wiring in Riverwest bungalows, undersized fuse panels in Bay View two-flats, and aluminum branch wiring in the postwar ranches that line the streets of places like West Allis and Greenfield. Add in the region's brutal winters, which push heating systems and electric dryers hard for months at a time, and you get a local demand pattern that's heavier on panel upgrades, whole-home rewires, and generator hookups than you'd see in a sunbelt city. Contractors here also deal with Wisconsin's specific permitting rules: most electrical work beyond simple fixture swaps requires a permit pulled through the City of Milwaukee's DSPS-licensed contractor system, and inspections are part of the deal.

Every business on this page was drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked primarily by review rating and review count, with a small boost applied to those that show a working website and a reachable phone number. Before anything appears here, we check each business's homepage to confirm that electrical work is what they actually do as their primary service, which keeps unrelated contractors off the page. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Some businesses carry a Trust Verified badge. That badge means the business has additionally passed our full verification process, covering licenses and certifications, general liability insurance, operating history, customer review history, and registered business information. You can see exactly what that covers on our How We Verify page. Businesses without that badge have not been independently verified by us, and you should carry out those checks yourself before booking.

When you're ready to hire, ask any electrician you're considering whether they're licensed through Wisconsin's DSPS as a master or journeyman electrician, and confirm they'll pull the required permit for your job. Don't skip the permit step, because unpermitted electrical work can cause serious problems when you sell the home or make an insurance claim. Get at least two or three written quotes before committing, since labor rates in Milwaukee vary meaningfully, and the scope of work on older homes especially can expand once someone opens a wall. Ask each contractor to spell out exactly what's included in the quote, what's excluded, and how they handle unexpected findings like damaged conduit or outdated wiring that doesn't meet current code.

How We Select & Rate The Best Electricians in Milwaukee, WI

Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift applied to businesses that show a working website and a contactable phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that electrical work is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated businesses off the page. Permanently closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses showing a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification covering qualifications, insurance, operating history, customer review history, and registered business information. See our How We Verify page for the full list. All other businesses on this page have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring.

Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →

Quick Comparison: Electricians in Milwaukee, WI

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Phone
1	Lumen Lighting & Electric	⭐ 5.0	251	(414) 324-6273	View →
2	Walkowiak Electric, Inc	⭐ 4.9	287	(414) 294-4000	View →
3	Advance Electrical Contractors	⭐ 4.9	85	(414) 491-5280	View →
4	Prime Electric LLC	⭐ 4.9	41	(414) 234-7690	View →
5	KWK Electric Inc	⭐ 4.6	63	(414) 374-2076	View →
6	Action electric	⭐ 4.7	25	(414) 940-6717	View →
7	Frank Gillitzer Electric Co	⭐ 4.2	18	(414) 442-1620	View →

Our Top Picks

Lumen Lighting & Electric

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★★★★★ 5.0 (251 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 324-6273

With a 5-star rating across 251 Google reviews, Lumen Lighting & Electric has built a consistent track record in Milwaukee's 53204 corridor. The company handles residential and commercial electrical work, with particular focus on lighting installation and electrical systems. Customer feedback points to reliable service and clear communication throughout the job.

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Walkowiak Electric, Inc

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★★★★★ 4.9 (287 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 294-4000

Walkowiak Electric, Inc. is a Milwaukee electrician serving the 53215 area with a 4.9-star rating across 287 Google reviews. The company handles residential and commercial electrical work, giving Milwaukee homeowners and businesses a consistently well-reviewed local option. That rating, built over a substantial number of jobs, points to reliable workmanship and consistent customer follow-through.

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Advance Electrical Contractors

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★★★★★ 4.9 (85 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 491-5280

Advance Electrical Contractors handles residential and commercial wiring work in Milwaukee, with a particular focus on panel upgrades and new installations. The company holds a 4.9-star rating across 85 Google reviews, a consistent signal of reliable workmanship in the 53202 area and surrounding neighborhoods. Clients booking through their website can expect straightforward scheduling and on-site assessments before any project begins.

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Prime Electric LLC

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★★★★★ 4.9 (41 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 234-7690

Electrical work in Milwaukee's southwest side is the focus of Prime Electric LLC, a locally based contractor serving residential and commercial customers in the 53227 area. The company holds a 4.9-star rating across 41 Google reviews, a consistent signal of reliable workmanship. Services follow standard electrical contracting scope, from panel work and wiring to troubleshooting and code compliance.

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KWK Electric Inc

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★★★★★ 4.6 (63 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 374-2076

Panel upgrades and residential wiring are among the core specialisms at KWK Electric Inc, an electrical contractor serving Milwaukee and the surrounding area. The company holds a 4.6-star rating across 63 Google reviews, reflecting consistent work on both repair calls and larger installation projects. KWK Electric operates out of the 53212 zip code, keeping response times tight for neighbors on the north side of the city.

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Action electric

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★★★★★ 4.7 (25 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 940-6717

Electrical contracting in Milwaukee's 53228 corridor, Action Electric handles residential and commercial wiring, panel work, and service upgrades for homeowners and businesses across the area. A 4.7-star rating across 25 Google reviews points to consistent, reliable work. The company operates its own website at actionelectric.com for service inquiries and project estimates.

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Frank Gillitzer Electric Co

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★★★★☆ 4.2 (18 reviews)

Milwaukee, WI (414) 442-1620

Frank Gillitzer Electric Co handles residential and commercial electrical work in Milwaukee, operating out of the 53216 area. With a 4.2-star rating across 18 reviews, the company offers a consistent local track record for wiring, panel work, and general electrical service. Residents and small businesses in the area use them for both routine repairs and larger installation projects.

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Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an electrician cost in Milwaukee?

For straightforward jobs like replacing an outlet, installing a ceiling fan, or swapping a light fixture, expect to pay somewhere in the $100 to $250 range once you factor in a service call fee and an hour or two of labor. Panel upgrades are a common job in Milwaukee's older neighborhoods, and a 200-amp service upgrade typically runs $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the complexity of the existing setup and whether the meter base needs to be moved. Full or partial rewires of a pre-1960 home can run anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000 or more for a larger house. EV charger installs, which are increasingly common, usually land between $400 and $1,200 installed. Getting two or three quotes is normal and genuinely worthwhile, because pricing on older Milwaukee homes especially can shift once a contractor gets eyes on the existing wiring.

Do I need a permit for electrical work in Milwaukee?

Yes, for most work beyond simple fixture or device replacements. In Milwaukee, electrical permits are required for things like panel upgrades, new circuits, rewiring, and EV charger installs. The permit has to be pulled by a DSPS-licensed electrical contractor, not the homeowner, in most cases. Once the work is done, a city inspector signs off on it. This matters more than people sometimes realize: unpermitted electrical work can void homeowner's insurance coverage for related claims and can create real headaches during a home sale. Always ask your electrician upfront whether they'll be pulling a permit, and get that confirmed in writing.

My Milwaukee home still has a fuse box. Do I need to replace it?

Not necessarily as an emergency, but it's worth taking seriously. Older fuse panels aren't inherently dangerous, but they're typically limited to 60 or 100 amps, which isn't enough for a modern household running electric appliances, EV chargers, and multiple devices. Some insurance companies in Wisconsin are reluctant to cover homes with fuse boxes, or will charge higher premiums. If you're also seeing signs of knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring behind the fuse box, that's a stronger reason to have a licensed electrician assess the whole system. A panel upgrade to a modern 200-amp breaker panel typically runs $1,500 to $3,000 in the Milwaukee area, including the permit and inspection.

What's involved in an EV charger installation in Milwaukee?

Most home EV charger installs involve running a dedicated 240-volt circuit from your panel to the garage or driveway location where you want the charger. If your panel has available capacity, it's a fairly straightforward job. If your panel is already close to capacity or is an older 100-amp service, you may need a panel upgrade first, which adds cost. A standard Level 2 charger install in Milwaukee runs roughly $400 to $1,200 depending on how far the electrician needs to run conduit and whether any panel work is required. A permit is required for this work in Milwaukee. Some electricians also handle the utility coordination side, so it's worth asking about that upfront.

How do I know if my home's wiring is safe?

The most reliable way is to hire a licensed electrician for a home electrical inspection, which typically costs $100 to $300 in the Milwaukee area. Red flags worth acting on include frequently tripping breakers, flickering lights that aren't tied to a specific appliance, outlets or switch plates that are warm to the touch, a burning smell near outlets or the panel, and visible cloth-wrapped or ungrounded two-prong outlets throughout the house. If your home was built before 1970, there's a reasonable chance it has at least some knob-and-tube or early aluminum wiring. Neither is an automatic crisis, but both benefit from a professional look. A licensed electrician can tell you what's up to current code and what's a priority.

How do I verify and choose between electricians in Milwaukee?

Start by confirming that any electrician you're considering holds a valid Wisconsin DSPS electrical contractor license. You can look this up directly on the DSPS license lookup tool at the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services website. Ask for proof of general liability insurance and, if they have employees, workers' compensation coverage. Get itemized written quotes from at least two or three contractors and compare not just the bottom line but what's actually included, whether they'll pull the required permit, and what happens if they find additional problems once work starts. Check their public reviews across multiple sources, paying attention to how they handle complaints rather than just the overall star rating. If a business carries a Trust Verified badge on this page, those checks have already been done independently. For anyone without that badge, doing the verification yourself before you hand over any money is the smart move.

7 Best Electricians in Milwaukee for 2026

Quick Comparison: Electricians in Milwaukee, WI

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