Electrician salary: what electricians actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 757,220 electricians nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What electricians earn: the full range
The middle half of electricians earn between $23.76 and $40.36 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $52.17 ($108,510 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $20.50.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $20.50 – $23.76 | $42,640 – $49,430 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.76 – $40.36 | $49,430 – $83,940 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $40.36 – $52.17 | $83,940 – $108,510 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Electrician pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $48.71 | 60% above |
| Illinois | $47.87 | 58% above |
| Hawaii | $46.38 | 53% above |
| Washington | $45.78 | 51% above |
| Alaska | $43.00 | 42% above |
| Massachusetts | $38.18 | 26% above |
| District of Columbia | $37.97 | 25% above |
| New York | $37.86 | 25% above |
| Minnesota | $37.58 | 24% above |
| Connecticut | $37.28 | 23% above |
| New Jersey | $37.14 | 22% above |
| Montana | $36.90 | 21% above |
| Wisconsin | $36.80 | 21% above |
| Michigan | $36.67 | 21% above |
| California | $36.62 | 21% above |
| Wyoming | $36.59 | 20% above |
| Maine | $36.24 | 19% above |
| Rhode Island | $35.62 | 17% above |
| Nevada | $35.37 | 16% above |
| Maryland | $35.33 | 16% above |
| Indiana | $32.93 | 8% above |
| Pennsylvania | $32.50 | 7% above |
| Kansas | $31.66 | 4% above |
| North Dakota | $31.59 | 4% above |
| Missouri | $31.45 | 4% above |
| West Virginia | $31.16 | 3% above |
| Ohio | $31.11 | 2% above |
| Delaware | $30.63 | 1% above |
| Vermont | $30.49 | about the same as |
| Idaho | $30.29 | about the same as |
| Virginia | $30.24 | about the same as |
| New Hampshire | $30.21 | 1% below |
| Colorado | $29.92 | 2% below |
| Utah | $29.81 | 2% below |
| Louisiana | $29.59 | 3% below |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | 3% below |
| Tennessee | $29.37 | 3% below |
| Arizona | $29.36 | 3% below |
| Oklahoma | $29.33 | 3% below |
| Iowa | $29.26 | 4% below |
| Mississippi | $29.26 | 4% below |
| Nebraska | $29.24 | 4% below |
| Kentucky | $28.71 | 5% below |
| South Carolina | $28.24 | 7% below |
| Texas | $28.16 | 7% below |
| New Mexico | $28.07 | 8% below |
| Georgia | $28.04 | 8% below |
| Florida | $27.52 | 9% below |
| North Carolina | $27.31 | 10% below |
| Alabama | $26.78 | 12% below |
| Arkansas | $23.59 | 22% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $48.71 | $47.11 | #2 | 10,590 |
| Illinois | $47.87 | $47.87 | #1 | 23,120 |
| Hawaii | $46.38 | $42.16 | #4 | 3,070 |
| Washington | $45.78 | $42.79 | #3 | 19,380 |
| Alaska | $43.00 | $41.99 | #5 | 1,870 |
| Massachusetts | $38.18 | $36.09 | #12 | 17,810 |
| District of Columbia | $37.97 | $34.55 | #22 | 2,440 |
| New York | $37.86 | $35.09 | #18 | 40,130 |
| Minnesota | $37.58 | $38.11 | #10 | 14,350 |
| Connecticut | $37.28 | $35.98 | #13 | 7,710 |
| New Jersey | $37.14 | $34.14 | #23 | 13,520 |
| Montana | $36.90 | $39.01 | #8 | 2,750 |
| Wisconsin | $36.80 | $39.11 | #7 | 14,310 |
| Michigan | $36.67 | $38.12 | #9 | 23,530 |
| California | $36.62 | $33.08 | #32 | 73,310 |
| Wyoming | $36.59 | $39.47 | #6 | 2,960 |
| Maine | $36.24 | $37.36 | #11 | 3,780 |
| Rhode Island | $35.62 | $34.82 | #19 | 2,420 |
| Nevada | $35.37 | $35.37 | #15 | 8,350 |
| Maryland | $35.33 | $33.65 | #24 | 13,690 |
| Indiana | $32.93 | $35.29 | #16 | 19,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.50 | $33.30 | #31 | 22,730 |
| Kansas | $31.66 | $35.14 | #17 | 6,350 |
| North Dakota | $31.59 | $35.49 | #14 | 3,570 |
| Missouri | $31.45 | $34.64 | #21 | 12,780 |
| West Virginia | $31.16 | $34.82 | #20 | 4,290 |
| Ohio | $31.11 | $33.52 | #27 | 28,950 |
| Delaware | $30.63 | $30.69 | #38 | 2,260 |
| Vermont | $30.49 | $31.11 | #37 | 1,270 |
| Idaho | $30.29 | $31.72 | #36 | 5,690 |
| Virginia | $30.24 | $29.91 | #43 | 23,630 |
| New Hampshire | $30.21 | $28.99 | #48 | 3,330 |
| Colorado | $29.92 | $29.02 | #46 | 17,010 |
| Utah | $29.81 | $30.14 | #41 | 11,450 |
| Louisiana | $29.59 | $33.55 | #26 | 10,550 |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | $33.31 | #30 | 2,980 |
| Tennessee | $29.37 | $31.96 | #34 | 17,070 |
| Arizona | $29.36 | $29.16 | #44 | 21,140 |
| Oklahoma | $29.33 | $33.41 | #28 | 8,500 |
| Iowa | $29.26 | $33.33 | #29 | 10,310 |
| Mississippi | $29.26 | $33.63 | #25 | 6,610 |
| Nebraska | $29.24 | $32.45 | #33 | 6,440 |
| Kentucky | $28.71 | $31.83 | #35 | 11,030 |
| South Carolina | $28.24 | $30.14 | #42 | 8,010 |
| Texas | $28.16 | $29.00 | #47 | 76,770 |
| New Mexico | $28.07 | $30.44 | #39 | 5,020 |
| Georgia | $28.04 | $29.12 | #45 | 21,650 |
| Florida | $27.52 | $26.62 | #51 | 49,700 |
| North Carolina | $27.31 | $28.96 | #49 | 21,640 |
| Alabama | $26.78 | $30.16 | #40 | 10,900 |
| Arkansas | $23.59 | $27.15 | #50 | 7,500 |
Electrician wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.13 | $36.97 | 611,920 |
| 2000 | $19.29 | $36.06 | 640,260 |
| 2001 | $19.60 | $35.63 | 625,560 |
| 2002 | $19.90 | $35.61 | 593,010 |
| 2003 | $20.04 | $35.06 | 584,010 |
| 2004 | $20.33 | $34.65 | 582,920 |
| 2005 | $20.57 | $33.91 | 606,500 |
| 2006 | $20.97 | $33.49 | 617,370 |
| 2007 | $21.53 | $33.43 | 624,560 |
| 2008 | $22.32 | $33.38 | 633,010 |
| 2009 | $22.68 | $34.03 | 579,150 |
| 2010 | $23.20 | $34.25 | 514,760 |
| 2011 | $23.71 | $33.93 | 512,290 |
| 2012 | $23.96 | $33.60 | 519,850 |
| 2013 | $24.28 | $33.55 | 542,680 |
| 2014 | $24.57 | $33.41 | 566,930 |
| 2015 | $24.94 | $33.88 | 592,230 |
| 2016 | $25.35 | $34.00 | 607,120 |
| 2017 | $26.01 | $34.16 | 631,080 |
| 2018 | $26.53 | $34.01 | 655,840 |
| 2019 | $27.01 | $34.01 | 688,620 |
| 2020 | $27.36 | $34.03 | 656,510 |
| 2021 | $28.87 | $34.30 | 650,580 |
| 2022 | $28.96 | $31.86 | 690,050 |
| 2023 | $29.61 | $31.29 | 712,580 |
| 2024 | $29.98 | $30.77 | 742,580 |
| 2025 | $30.38 | $30.38 | 757,220 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median electrician wage changed by -10.3% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for electricians
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $50.53 | $64.61 | 7,340 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $50.24 | $75.30 | 740 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.21 | $59.65 | 17,720 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48.93 | $72.74 | 9,750 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $48.21 | $59.64 | 2,290 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $48.00 | $60.28 | 1,050 |
| Bend, OR | $47.69 | $59.26 | 610 |
| Salem, OR | $47.53 | $62.02 | 1,000 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $47.21 | $60.42 | 600 |
| Bellingham, WA | $46.92 | $61.15 | 560 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $46.44 | $62.28 | 530 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $45.52 | $58.99 | 750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44.63 | $87.66 | 9,060 |
| Medford, OR | $44.43 | $57.40 | 500 |
| Kokomo, IN | $43.89 | $47.46 | 730 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for electricians in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $103.81 | — | 18/21 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $89.71 | — | 5/5 |
| Washington | 97% | $87.78 | $84.62 | 39/39 |
| Alaska | 100% | $85.77 | — | 30/30 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $84.53 | — | 8/17 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $84.36 | — | 14/14 |
| Illinois | 100% | $83.99 | — | 102/102 |
| Delaware | 100% | $83.43 | — | 3/3 |
| Pennsylvania | 94% | $82.64 | $45.08 | 62/67 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $82.56 | — | 1/1 |
| Missouri | 98% | $81.86 | $31.86 | 115/115 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $80.85 | — | 5/5 |
| California | 91% | $80.15 | $23.46 | 58/58 |
| Oregon | 56% | $79.51 | $60.45 | 36/36 |
| New York | 92% | $76.39 | $60.66 | 62/62 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $70.47 | — | 72/72 |
| Ohio | 84% | $69.93 | $45.51 | 88/88 |
| Indiana | 97% | $68.36 | $10.58 | 91/92 |
| West Virginia | 65% | $66.44 | $43.27 | 55/55 |
| Iowa | 17% | $66.39 | $32.80 | 99/99 |
| Kansas | 22% | $64.30 | $38.59 | 105/105 |
| Kentucky | 78% | $63.40 | $42.47 | 120/120 |
| Michigan | 85% | $63.35 | $28.15 | 73/83 |
| Maine | 31% | $59.88 | $34.57 | 16/16 |
| Colorado | 98% | $59.17 | $35.14 | 64/64 |
| New Hampshire | 70% | $59.04 | $34.70 | 10/10 |
| Montana | 93% | $58.91 | $36.03 | 55/56 |
| Utah | 97% | $58.89 | $34.87 | 29/29 |
| Idaho | 95% | $58.74 | $27.83 | 44/44 |
| North Dakota | 79% | $57.59 | $34.00 | 53/53 |
| Virginia | 71% | $55.97 | $31.09 | 102/133 |
| Oklahoma | 91% | $54.54 | $27.78 | 77/77 |
| Nebraska | 100% | $53.88 | — | 93/93 |
| New Mexico | 88% | $53.71 | $33.42 | 33/33 |
| South Dakota | 73% | $53.15 | $32.33 | 66/66 |
| Arizona | 93% | $51.34 | $37.35 | 15/15 |
| Georgia | 77% | $49.20 | $27.04 | 159/159 |
| Florida | 60% | $47.70 | $19.96 | 67/67 |
| Tennessee | 40% | $47.70 | $33.77 | 95/95 |
| Texas | 19% | $47.19 | $22.93 | 251/254 |
| South Carolina | 67% | $46.79 | $15.86 | 46/46 |
| North Carolina | 32% | $45.41 | $18.57 | 100/100 |
| Louisiana | 83% | $43.91 | $30.93 | 64/64 |
| Arkansas | 45% | $43.89 | $26.95 | 75/75 |
| Mississippi | 70% | $42.94 | $26.13 | 82/82 |
| Vermont | 29% | $42.85 | $27.51 | 14/14 |
| Alabama | 36% | $41.24 | $23.78 | 67/67 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $69.45 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $76.74 | 87/87 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $78.49 | 17/17 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $49.43 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects electricians employment to change by +9.2% over 2025-35, with about 72,700 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare electrician pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do electricians make?
The median electrician earned $30.38 an hour, or $63,190 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 757,220 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $23.76 and $40.36 an hour.
How much do electricians make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $20.50 at the 10th percentile to $52.17 at the 90th, with a median of $30.38. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice electrician make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $20.50 to $23.76 an hour ($42,640 to $49,430 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays electricians the most?
Oregon had the highest median at $48.71 an hour in May 2025, followed by Illinois ($47.87) and Hawaii ($46.38). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are electrician wages going up?
In today's dollars the median electrician wage changed by -10.3% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $24.94 to $30.38.
Is electrician a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $63,190 a year, a 90th percentile of $108,510, projected growth of +9.2% and about 72,700 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111 (Electricians). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.