Quick answer: The best electrician shirts are ones only another sparky would fully get, like skeleton-crew designs, wire-stripping jokes, and "we turn things on" humor. Wear them to the shop, on low-risk days and off the clock. For any work with arc flash exposure, a graphic tee is not your PPE. Follow NFPA 70E and wear arc-rated (AR/FR) clothing.
"Electrician" is one of the most-searched words on our store. Electricians have a sense of humor about the trade that nobody else quite understands, so we made shirts for them. Here's the lineup, plus the one safety rule every electrician shirt buyer should know.
Our electrician shirts
Strippin' for a Livin': Skeleton Electrician Shirt
Our most-searched electrician design. Strippin' for a Livin' puts a skeleton electrician front and center with the joke every apprentice hears on day one. It's a great gift for a journeyman who has heard them all.
We Turn Things On
We Turn Things On is a double meaning that's work-appropriate enough for the shop and funny enough for the bar after.
If I Was a Bad Electrician
If I Was a Bad Electrician is for the one who takes pride in clean terminations and code-perfect panels.
More for the trade
- I'm Here Because You Broke Something: the service electrician's motto.
- Supervisor? Never Heard of 'Em: for the foreman who still works the tools.
- Proud to Be Union: for IBEW members and every union tradesperson.
- Built to Last Skeleton Crew: the skeleton-crew look without a trade callout.
See every design in Graphic Tees, or read our round-up of funny work shirts by trade.
The safety rule: graphic tees aren't arc-rated
This is where an electrician shirt guide has to get serious for a minute. If you work on or near energized equipment where there's an arc flash hazard, your clothing is part of your PPE:
- NFPA 70E sets arc flash PPE categories. Where arc-rated clothing is required, you need garments labeled with an arc rating (ATPV or EBT), not a regular tee.
- Avoid melt-prone synthetics like polyester and nylon under or instead of AR clothing. In an arc flash they can melt onto skin.
- Casual tees, ours included, are not arc-rated. Wear them for shop days, rough-in, low-voltage work where your employer allows it, and off the clock.
If you're unsure, your employer's electrical safety program and the job's arc flash label decide it, not the shirt you like best.
Visibility for electricians on the road
Utility, street lighting, traffic signal and EV-charger crews often work next to traffic. That means hi-vis requirements on top of any arc flash requirements. Your employer may require garments that are both arc-rated and ANSI hi-vis. For non-energized tasks near traffic, standard ANSI gear works:
- ANSI Class 2 Hi-Vis Vest with 4 Pockets
- PIP Class 2 Eleven-Pocket Surveyor Vest with room for testers, markers and a phone
New to the classes? See ANSI Class 2 vs Class 3.
Want your company's name on it?
Electrical contractors often put their logo and license number on crew tees for the shop and for walking into a customer's home. Start with a blank like the Jerzees 363M Cotton Tee and read how to prep your logo file before you order.
FAQ
What do electricians wear to work?
It depends on the task. Everyday work is typically durable jeans or work pants, a work shirt, boots with an electrical hazard (EH) rating, safety glasses and gloves. Energized work adds arc-rated clothing and PPE per NFPA 70E.
Are these shirts a good gift for an apprentice?
Yes. Pair one with a trucker hat and you've got a solid gift. More ideas in our gift guide for tradesmen.
Compartir:
DTF vs Screen Printing for Custom Work Shirts: Which Is Better for Small Crew Orders?