Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in California

Median $36.62 an hour for 73,310 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$36.62/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$76,160/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.50 – $67.4710th to 90th percentilehourly range
73,310Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Electrician pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrCalifornia: 10th $22.50 · 25th $28.50 · median $36.62 · 75th $49.52 · 90th $67.47California$36.62$22.50$67.47United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 15th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.08). 73,310 electricians work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.50 – $28.50$46,800 – $59,280roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$28.50 – $49.52$59,280 – $103,000the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$49.52 – $67.47$103,000 – $140,340the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSan Francisco: $44.63San Francisco$44.63San Jose: $43.77San Jose$43.77Hanford: $41.36Hanford$41.36Vallejo: $38.22Vallejo$38.22Salinas: $37.88Salinas$37.88Napa: $37.54Napa$37.54Santa Rosa: $37.20Santa Rosa$37.20Modesto: $36.88Modesto$36.88Santa Cruz: $36.83Santa Cruz$36.83San Luis Obispo: $36.80San Luis Obispo$36.80Stockton: $36.74Stockton$36.74San Diego: $36.62San Diego$36.62
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
San Francisco$26.62$44.63$87.669,06022% above
San Jose$26.10$43.77$83.345,48020% above
Hanford$23.32$41.36$74.0922013% above
Vallejo$23.49$38.22$68.397204% above
Salinas$22.95$37.88$63.205303% above
Napa$24.45$37.54$57.992403% above
Santa Rosa$23.01$37.20$64.901,0802% above
Modesto$23.18$36.88$66.157701% above
Santa Cruz$23.22$36.83$60.853301% above
San Luis Obispo$22.22$36.80$68.78530about the same as
Stockton$22.13$36.74$66.061,180about the same as
San Diego$23.03$36.62$60.708,060about the same as
Merced$21.40$36.60$67.11180about the same as
Bakersfield$22.49$36.47$59.591,410about the same as
Santa Maria$23.16$36.20$54.586301% below
Sacramento$22.23$35.98$62.516,3402% below
El Centro$21.91$35.80$58.321602% below
Los Angeles$22.19$35.49$63.3120,6103% below
Riverside$21.81$35.00$67.037,8804% below
Fresno$22.16$34.48$57.601,9806% below
Redding$22.34$33.43$64.813209% below
Yuba City$22.13$31.57$68.5822014% below
Chico$22.55$31.44$67.9132014% below
Oxnard$22.63$31.17$58.831,16015% below
Visalia$21.13$30.96$49.0464015% below

Electrician wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.62California$30.38United States
Median hourly wage for electricians, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.08$40.74$19.1352,100
2000$20.80$38.89$19.2960,570
2001$21.54$39.16$19.6062,130
2002$21.94$39.26$19.9052,420
2003$21.91$38.34$20.0453,260
2004$22.72$38.72$20.3357,230
2005$22.38$36.89$20.5759,150
2006$23.64$37.75$20.9760,350
2007$23.92$37.14$21.5360,950
2008$25.33$37.88$22.3258,670
2009$25.96$38.96$22.6852,490
2010$27.50$40.60$23.2044,130
2011$28.75$41.15$23.7141,790
2012$29.44$41.28$23.9641,900
2013$29.31$40.51$24.2846,020
2014$29.52$40.14$24.5749,850
2015$30.16$40.97$24.9455,580
2016$30.49$40.90$25.3560,620
2017$30.88$40.56$26.0163,060
2018$30.89$39.60$26.5366,260
2019$31.06$39.11$27.0172,870
2020$32.95$40.99$27.3671,010
2021$34.20$40.63$28.8765,870
2022$34.15$37.57$28.9673,300
2023$37.25$39.36$29.6172,880
2024$36.80$37.77$29.9873,420
2025$36.62$36.62$30.3873,310

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in California changed by -10.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 53 of the 58 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $80.15 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $23.46). 5 of the 58 counties still use a survey rate dated 1985 or earlier (for example Amador County at $20.17). The market median for the state is $36.62.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $111.42 (union)Alpine: $68.88 (union)Amador: $20.17 (survey)Butte: $68.88 (union)Calaveras: $111.42 (union)Colusa: $68.88 (union)Contra Costa: $111.42 (union)Del Norte: $23.46 (survey)El Dorado: $68.88 (union)Fresno: $111.42 (union)Glenn: $68.88 (union)Humboldt: $23.46 (survey)Imperial: $63.96 (union)Inyo: $82.22 (union)Kern: $82.22 (union)Kings: $111.42 (union)Lake: $23.46 (survey)Lassen: $68.88 (union)Los Angeles: $92.39 (union)Madera: $111.42 (union)Marin: $68.88 (union)Mariposa: $111.42 (union)Mendocino: $23.46 (survey)Merced: $111.42 (union)Modoc: $68.88 (union)Mono: $82.22 (union)Monterey: $111.42 (union)Napa: $68.88 (union)Nevada: $68.88 (union)Orange: $88.10 (union)Placer: $68.88 (union)Plumas: $68.88 (union)Riverside: $90.09 (union)Sacramento: $68.88 (union)San Benito: $111.42 (union)San Bernardino: $82.22 (union)San Diego: $85.39 (union)San Francisco: $111.42 (union)San Joaquin: $111.42 (union)San Luis Obispo: $79.92 (union)San Mateo: $111.42 (union)Santa Barbara: $79.77 (union)Santa Clara: $111.42 (union)Santa Cruz: $111.42 (union)Shasta: $68.88 (union)Sierra: $68.88 (union)Siskiyou: $68.88 (union)Solano: $68.88 (union)Sonoma: $68.88 (union)Stanislaus: $111.42 (union)Sutter: $68.88 (union)Tehama: $68.88 (union)Trinity: $68.88 (union)Tulare: $80.15 (union)Tuolumne: $111.42 (union)Ventura: $90.12 (union)Yolo: $68.88 (union)Yuba: $68.88 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$68.88$82.22survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for electricians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$0$25$50$75$100$125/hrFresno (Fresno): market median $34.48, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$76.94Fresno (Fresno)+$76.94Merced (Merced): market median $36.60, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$74.82Merced (Merced)+$74.82San Joaquin (Stockton): market median $36.74, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$74.68San Joaquin (Stockton)+$74.68Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz): market median $36.83, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$74.59Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)+$74.59Stanislaus (Modesto): market median $36.88, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$74.54Stanislaus (Modesto)+$74.54Monterey (Salinas): market median $37.88, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$73.54Monterey (Salinas)+$73.54Kings (Hanford): market median $41.36, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$70.06Kings (Hanford)+$70.06San Benito (San Jose): market median $43.77, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$67.65San Benito (San Jose)+$67.65Alameda (San Francisco): market median $44.63, prevailing (union) $111.42, gap +$66.79Alameda (San Francisco)+$66.79Ventura (Oxnard): market median $31.17, prevailing (union) $90.12, gap +$58.95Ventura (Oxnard)+$58.95Los Angeles (Los Angeles): market median $35.49, prevailing (union) $92.39, gap +$56.90Los Angeles (Los Angeles)+$56.90Riverside (Riverside): market median $35.00, prevailing (union) $90.09, gap +$55.09Riverside (Riverside)+$55.09Tulare (Visalia): market median $30.96, prevailing (union) $80.15, gap +$49.19Tulare (Visalia)+$49.19San Diego (San Diego): market median $36.62, prevailing (union) $85.39, gap +$48.77San Diego (San Diego)+$48.77Kern (Bakersfield): market median $36.47, prevailing (union) $82.22, gap +$45.75Kern (Bakersfield)+$45.75Santa Barbara (Santa Maria): market median $36.20, prevailing (union) $79.77, gap +$43.57Santa Barbara (Santa Maria)+$43.57San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo): market median $36.80, prevailing (union) $79.92, gap +$43.12San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo)+$43.12Butte (Chico): market median $31.44, prevailing (union) $68.88, gap +$37.44Butte (Chico)+$37.44El Dorado (Sacramento): market median $35.98, prevailing (union) $68.88, gap +$32.90El Dorado (Sacramento)+$32.90Napa (Napa): market median $37.54, prevailing (union) $68.88, gap +$31.34Napa (Napa)+$31.34
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamedaUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
CalaverasUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
Contra CostaUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
FresnoUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
KingsUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
MaderaUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
MariposaUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
MercedUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
MontereyUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
San BenitoUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
San FranciscoUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
San JoaquinUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
San MateoUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
Santa ClaraUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018
Santa CruzUnion ELEC0234-001 2025-12-30$77.45$33.97$111.42CA20260018

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the California prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in California?

898.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025899kAug 2026
Construction employment in California (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just electricians), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Santa Clara County10,214$185,881$3,575
San Francisco County3,490$142,706$2,744
San Mateo County1,730$125,364$2,411
Alameda County5,616$117,373$2,257
Contra Costa County2,692$112,739$2,168
San Joaquin County1,889$104,984$2,019
Yolo County481$102,314$1,968
Orange County13,450$99,444$1,912
San Bernardino County6,172$99,339$1,910
Napa County342$97,346$1,872
Sacramento County6,442$95,189$1,831
Sonoma County1,860$95,067$1,828

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in California?

The median electrician in California earned $36.62 an hour ($76,160 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $28.50–$49.52; the top 10% earn more than $67.47.

Where does California rank for electrician pay?

California ranks 15th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $36.62 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 53 counties, with a typical package of $80.15 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in California?

BLS counted 73,310 electricians in California in May 2025, 4.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.83; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 47-2111.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.