Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Iowa

Median $29.26 an hour for 10,310 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.26/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$60,860/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.12 – $43.0210th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,310Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Electrician pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $19.12 · 25th $22.31 · median $29.26 · 75th $38.45 · 90th $43.02Iowa$29.26$19.12$43.02United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 40th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.33). 10,310 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.12 – $22.31$39,770 – $46,400roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.31 – $38.45$46,400 – $79,970the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.45 – $43.02$79,970 – $89,480the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrDavenport: $36.99Davenport$36.99Sioux City: $35.54Sioux City$35.54Waterloo: $30.49Waterloo$30.49Ames: $30.44Ames$30.44Des Moines: $30.21Des Moines$30.21Omaha: $30.02Omaha$30.02Dubuque: $29.86Dubuque$29.86Iowa City: $28.61Iowa City$28.61Cedar Rapids: $24.15Cedar Rapids$24.15
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Davenport$19.54$36.99$41.52$49.271,45026% above
Sioux City$22.41$35.54$41.09$40.8330021% above
Waterloo$19.31$30.49$35.01$39.983604% above
Ames$19.18$30.44$34.28$43.272104% above
Des Moines$19.10$30.21$32.94$44.552,8703% above
Omaha$21.21$30.02$32.67$45.523,5303% above
Dubuque$20.48$29.86$34.20$43.492102% above
Iowa City$18.92$28.61$31.27$40.343702% below
Cedar Rapids$19.28$24.15$27.13$42.151,69017% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Electrician wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.38United States$29.26Iowa
Median hourly wage for electricians, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.86$32.58$19.135,920
2000$18.05$33.75$19.295,890
2001$18.19$33.07$19.606,380
2002$18.53$33.16$19.906,080
2003$18.38$32.16$20.046,300
2004$18.33$31.24$20.336,280
2005$19.59$32.29$20.575,980
2006$20.38$32.55$20.976,380
2007$20.46$31.77$21.536,260
2008$22.57$33.75$22.326,630
2009$22.58$33.88$22.686,480
2010$21.83$32.23$23.206,810
2011$21.85$31.27$23.716,600
2012$22.23$31.17$23.966,960
2013$23.92$33.06$24.286,590
2014$24.02$32.67$24.577,460
2015$25.19$34.22$24.947,770
2016$24.93$33.44$25.358,000
2017$25.74$33.81$26.017,990
2018$25.96$33.28$26.538,280
2019$26.89$33.86$27.018,510
2020$26.90$33.46$27.368,070
2021$28.57$33.94$28.877,180
2022$29.08$31.99$28.967,990
2023$30.61$32.34$29.617,450
2024$30.23$31.03$29.988,900
2025$29.26$29.26$30.3810,310

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Iowa changed by -14.5% over the last ten years of data and by -13.6% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Iowa?

+21.2%Jobs since 20198,510 then, 10,310 in 2025
+32.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.4× the US share, 4th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Iowa has changed by +74.2%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +21.2%.

Electricians in Iowa vs United States, 1999 = 100IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025174Iowa124United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Iowa vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIowa jobsIowa indexUS index
19995,920100100
20005,890100105
20016,380108102
20026,08010397
20036,30010695
20046,28010695
20055,98010199
20066,380108101
20076,260106102
20086,630112103
20096,48011095
20106,81011584
20116,60011284
20126,96011885
20136,59011189
20147,46012693
20157,77013197
20168,00013599
20177,990135103
20188,280140107
20198,510144112
20208,070136107
20217,180121106
20227,990135113
20237,450126116
20248,900150121
202510,310174124

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for electricians in Iowa

+12.1%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
860Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,420Jobs in 20249,440 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +12.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,420 to 9,440, with about 860 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 10,310 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 17 of the 99 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.39 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $32.80). 82 of the 99 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Adair County at $34.51). The market median for the state is $29.26.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $34.51 (survey)Adams: $34.51 (survey)Allamakee: $34.78 (survey)Appanoose: $32.86 (survey)Audubon: $34.51 (survey)Benton: $39.55 (survey)Black Hawk: $50.98 (union)Boone: $34.51 (survey)Bremer: $50.98 (union)Buchanan: $34.78 (survey)Buena Vista: $28.38 (survey)Butler: $34.78 (survey)Calhoun: $28.38 (survey)Carroll: $34.51 (survey)Cass: $34.51 (survey)Cedar: $32.86 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $34.78 (survey)Cherokee: $28.38 (survey)Chickasaw: $34.78 (survey)Clarke: $34.51 (survey)Clay: $28.38 (survey)Clayton: $34.78 (survey)Clinton: $74.56 (union)Crawford: $34.51 (survey)Dallas: $66.39 (union)Davis: $32.73 (survey)Decatur: $34.51 (survey)Delaware: $34.78 (survey)Des Moines: $32.43 (survey)Dickinson: $28.38 (survey)Dubuque: $63.00 (union)Emmet: $28.38 (survey)Fayette: $34.78 (survey)Floyd: $34.78 (survey)Franklin: $34.78 (survey)Fremont: $34.51 (survey)Greene: $34.51 (survey)Grundy: $50.98 (union)Guthrie: $66.39 (union)Hamilton: $28.38 (survey)Hancock: $28.38 (survey)Hardin: $34.78 (survey)Harrison: $67.29 (union)Henry: $32.73 (survey)Howard: $34.78 (survey)Humboldt: $28.38 (survey)Ida: $28.38 (survey)Iowa: $32.73 (survey)Jackson: $32.73 (survey)Jasper: $32.73 (survey)Jefferson: $32.73 (survey)Johnson: $35.93 (survey)Jones: $39.55 (survey)Keokuk: $32.73 (survey)Kossuth: $28.38 (survey)Lee: $32.73 (survey)Linn: $39.28 (survey)Louisa: $32.73 (survey)Lucas: $34.51 (survey)Lyon: $28.38 (survey)Madison: $66.39 (union)Mahaska: $32.73 (survey)Marion: $32.73 (survey)Marshall: $32.67 (survey)Mills: $67.29 (union)Mitchell: $34.78 (survey)Monona: $34.51 (survey)Monroe: $32.73 (survey)Montgomery: $34.51 (survey)Muscatine: $74.56 (union)O'Brien: $28.38 (survey)Osceola: $28.38 (survey)Page: $67.29 (union)Palo Alto: $28.38 (survey)Plymouth: $28.38 (survey)Pocahontas: $28.38 (survey)Polk: $66.39 (union)Pottawattamie: $67.29 (union)Poweshiek: $32.73 (survey)Ringgold: $34.51 (survey)Sac: $28.38 (survey)Scott: $74.56 (union)Shelby: $34.51 (survey)Sioux: $28.38 (survey)Story: $28.10 (survey)Tama: $32.73 (survey)Taylor: $34.51 (survey)Union: $34.51 (survey)Van Buren: $32.73 (survey)Wapello: $32.73 (survey)Warren: $66.39 (union)Washington: $34.20 (survey)Wayne: $34.51 (survey)Webster: $28.38 (survey)Winnebago: $28.38 (survey)Winneshiek: $34.78 (survey)Woodbury: $57.63 (union)Worth: $34.78 (survey)Wright: $28.38 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$28.38$32.73$34.51$37.27survey 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)Prevailing (survey)$20$40$60$80/hrScott (Davenport): market median $36.99, prevailing (union) $74.56, gap +$37.57Scott (Davenport)+$37.57Harrison (Omaha): market median $30.02, prevailing (union) $67.29, gap +$37.27Harrison (Omaha)+$37.27Dallas (Des Moines): market median $30.21, prevailing (union) $66.39, gap +$36.18Dallas (Des Moines)+$36.18Dubuque (Dubuque): market median $29.86, prevailing (union) $63.00, gap +$33.14Dubuque (Dubuque)+$33.14Woodbury (Sioux City): market median $35.54, prevailing (union) $57.63, gap +$22.09Woodbury (Sioux City)+$22.09Black Hawk (Waterloo): market median $30.49, prevailing (union) $50.98, gap +$20.49Black Hawk (Waterloo)+$20.49Benton (Cedar Rapids): market median $24.15, prevailing (survey) $39.55, gap +$15.40Benton (Cedar Rapids)+$15.40Johnson (Iowa City): market median $28.61, prevailing (survey) $35.93, gap +$7.32Johnson (Iowa City)+$7.32Boone (Ames): market median $30.44, prevailing (survey) $34.51, gap +$4.07Boone (Ames)+$4.07
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClintonUnion ELEC0145-008 2025-06-02$46.00$28.56$74.56IA20260038
MuscatineUnion ELEC0145-008 2025-06-02$46.00$28.56$74.56IA20260050
ScottUnion ELEC0145-009 2025-06-02$46.00$28.56$74.56IA20260073
HarrisonUnion ELEC0022-004 2025-06-01$46.40$20.89$67.29IA20260067
MillsUnion ELEC0022-004 2025-06-01$46.40$20.89$67.29IA20260070
PageUnion ELEC0022-009 2025-12-01$46.40$20.89$67.29IA20260051
PottawattamieUnion ELEC0022-004 2025-06-01$46.40$20.89$67.29IA20260072
DallasUnion ELEC0347-001 2025-06-01$45.45$20.94$66.39IA20260064
GuthrieUnion ELEC0347-002 2025-06-01$45.45$20.94$66.39IA20260079
MadisonUnion ELEC0347-002 2025-06-01$45.45$20.94$66.39IA20260079
PolkUnion ELEC0347-002 2025-06-01$45.45$20.94$66.39IA20260071
WarrenUnion ELEC0347-002 2025-06-01$45.45$20.94$66.39IA20260075
DubuqueUnion ELEC0704-001 2025-06-01$42.45$20.55$63.00IA20260065
WoodburyUnion ELEC0231-010 2025-06-05$40.68$16.95$57.63IA20260077
Black HawkUnion ELEC0288-002 2024-06-03$35.39$15.59$50.98IA20260062

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (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. Across the 89 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 48,022 in 2015 to 55,511 in 2025, +15.6%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Jefferson County964$108,157$2,080
Scott County381,782$105,367$2,026
Sioux County201,021$103,191$1,984
Polk County1393,535$88,714$1,706
Fayette County519$83,119$1,598
Pottawattamie County31587$82,587$1,588
Linn County741,429$81,605$1,569
Marion County9134$80,854$1,555
Woodbury County25556$78,443$1,509
Webster County16219$73,028$1,404
Black Hawk County28296$71,585$1,377
Winneshiek County15163$70,932$1,364

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Iowa?

The median electrician in Iowa earned $29.26 an hour ($60,860 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $22.31–$38.45; the top 10% earn more than $43.02.

Where does Iowa rank for electrician pay?

Iowa ranks 40th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $29.26 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 17 counties, with a typical package of $66.39 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Iowa?

BLS counted 10,310 electricians in Iowa in May 2025, 6.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.36; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Iowa?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Iowa went from 7,770 in 2015 to 10,310 in 2025, +32.7%, and +21.2% since 2019. Iowa's labor market agency projects +12.1% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 8,420 to 9,440 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Iowa?

Iowa projects about 860 openings a year for electricians over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 72,700 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 47-2111. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.