Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in North Carolina

Median $27.31 an hour for 21,640 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.31/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$56,800/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.29 – $36.0910th to 90th percentilehourly range
21,640Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Electrician pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $19.29 · 25th $22.63 · median $27.31 · 75th $29.77 · 90th $36.09North Carolina$27.31$19.29$36.09United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 49th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 49th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.96). 21,640 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.29 – $22.63$40,130 – $47,070roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.63 – $29.77$47,070 – $61,920the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.77 – $36.09$61,920 – $75,060the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia Beach: $29.98Virginia Beach$29.98Durham: $28.47Durham$28.47Charlotte: $28.41Charlotte$28.41Rocky Mount: $28.23Rocky Mount$28.23Greensboro: $28.07Greensboro$28.07Fayetteville: $27.74Fayetteville$27.74Raleigh: $27.31Raleigh$27.31Winston-Salem: $26.97Winston-Salem$26.97Greenville: $26.41Greenville$26.41Asheville: $26.25Asheville$26.25Wilmington: $26.00Wilmington$26.00Hickory: $25.83Hickory$25.83
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$21.14$29.98$30.62$39.085,74010% above
Durham$22.19$28.47$29.17$36.441,1604% above
Charlotte$21.04$28.41$29.20$36.695,2504% above
Rocky Mount$18.98$28.23$32.08$38.063403% above
Greensboro$20.88$28.07$30.22$35.141,9903% above
Fayetteville$19.28$27.74$30.15$40.086802% above
Raleigh$21.97$27.31$27.81$35.463,740about the same as
Winston-Salem$18.53$26.97$29.32$34.781,1201% below
Greenville$21.56$26.41$29.88$30.874803% below
Asheville$19.81$26.25$27.20$36.968604% below
Wilmington$18.12$26.00$26.97$36.329105% below
Hickory$18.98$25.83$29.19$36.335705% below
Burlington$18.03$24.71$26.51$34.7823010% below
Goldsboro$18.70$24.63$27.83$36.4316010% below
Jacksonville$17.66$23.30$25.30$36.9715015% below
Pinehurst$19.04$21.95$24.86$28.9221020% below

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

Electrician wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.38United States$27.31North Carolina
Median hourly wage for electricians, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.49$28.00$19.1318,290
2000$15.01$28.06$19.2918,950
2001$15.36$27.92$19.6016,580
2002$15.83$28.33$19.9016,390
2003$15.88$27.79$20.0416,460
2004$16.13$27.49$20.3314,910
2005$15.59$25.70$20.5717,030
2006$16.42$26.22$20.9717,510
2007$16.86$26.18$21.5318,070
2008$17.35$25.94$22.3219,230
2009$17.56$26.35$22.6815,990
2010$17.72$26.16$23.2013,980
2011$18.27$26.15$23.7111,760
2012$18.34$25.72$23.9613,020
2013$18.15$25.08$24.2812,960
2014$18.50$25.16$24.5713,980
2015$19.13$25.98$24.9413,960
2016$19.95$26.76$25.3514,080
2017$20.48$26.90$26.0115,680
2018$20.73$26.58$26.5316,220
2019$21.48$27.05$27.0119,320
2020$21.87$27.20$27.3618,190
2021$22.75$27.03$28.8717,530
2022$23.57$25.93$28.9622,640
2023$24.49$25.88$29.6121,900
2024$26.00$26.68$29.9823,660
2025$27.31$27.31$30.3821,640

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in North Carolina changed by +5.1% over the last ten years of data and by +1.0% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in North Carolina?

+12.0%Jobs since 201919,320 then, 21,640 in 2025
+55.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 42nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in North Carolina has changed by +18.3%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +12.0%.

Electricians in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120140200020052010201520202025124United States118North Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
199918,290100100
200018,950104105
200116,58091102
200216,3909097
200316,4609095
200414,9108295
200517,0309399
200617,51096101
200718,07099102
200819,230105103
200915,9908795
201013,9807684
201111,7606484
201213,0207185
201312,9607189
201413,9807693
201513,9607697
201614,0807799
201715,68086103
201816,22089107
201919,320106112
202018,190100107
202117,53096106
202222,640124113
202321,900120116
202423,660129121
202521,640118124

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 North Carolina

+10.4%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
2,590Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
25,830Jobs in 202428,510 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +10.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,830 to 28,510, with about 2,590 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 21,640 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 32 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.41 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.57). 53 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $15.77). The market median for the state is $27.31.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $44.43 (union)Alexander: $18.16 (survey)Alleghany: $15.77 (survey)Anson: $45.97 (union)Ashe: $15.77 (survey)Avery: $15.77 (survey)Beaufort: $18.57 (survey)Bertie: $18.57 (survey)Bladen: $20.43 (survey)Brunswick: $28.08 (survey)Buncombe: $45.91 (union)Burke: $18.16 (survey)Cabarrus: $45.97 (union)Caldwell: $18.16 (survey)Camden: $18.57 (survey)Carteret: $18.57 (survey)Caswell: $16.01 (survey)Catawba: $18.16 (survey)Chatham: $44.43 (union)Cherokee: $15.77 (survey)Chowan: $18.57 (survey)Clay: $15.77 (survey)Cleveland: $20.43 (survey)Columbus: $20.43 (survey)Craven: $28.08 (survey)Cumberland: $28.08 (survey)Currituck: $28.08 (survey)Dare: $18.57 (survey)Davidson: $45.41 (union)Davie: $45.41 (union)Duplin: $20.43 (survey)Durham: $44.43 (union)Edgecombe: $44.43 (union)Forsyth: $45.41 (union)Franklin: $44.43 (union)Gaston: $45.97 (union)Gates: $28.08 (survey)Graham: $15.77 (survey)Granville: $16.01 (survey)Greene: $21.37 (survey)Guilford: $45.41 (union)Halifax: $16.01 (survey)Harnett: $20.43 (survey)Haywood: $45.91 (union)Henderson: $45.91 (union)Hertford: $18.57 (survey)Hoke: $28.08 (survey)Hyde: $18.57 (survey)Iredell: $45.97 (union)Jackson: $15.77 (survey)Johnston: $44.43 (union)Jones: $28.08 (survey)Lee: $20.43 (survey)Lenoir: $20.43 (survey)Lincoln: $45.97 (union)McDowell: $15.77 (survey)Macon: $15.77 (survey)Madison: $45.91 (union)Martin: $18.57 (survey)Mecklenburg: $45.97 (union)Mitchell: $15.77 (survey)Montgomery: $20.43 (survey)Moore: $20.43 (survey)Nash: $44.43 (union)New Hanover: $28.08 (survey)Northampton: $16.01 (survey)Onslow: $28.08 (survey)Orange: $44.43 (union)Pamlico: $28.08 (survey)Pasquotank: $18.57 (survey)Pender: $28.08 (survey)Perquimans: $18.57 (survey)Person: $44.43 (union)Pitt: $44.43 (union)Polk: $15.77 (survey)Randolph: $45.41 (union)Richmond: $20.43 (survey)Robeson: $20.43 (survey)Rockingham: $45.41 (union)Rowan: $45.97 (union)Rutherford: $15.77 (survey)Sampson: $20.43 (survey)Scotland: $20.43 (survey)Stanly: $20.43 (survey)Stokes: $45.41 (union)Surry: $15.77 (survey)Swain: $15.77 (survey)Transylvania: $15.77 (survey)Tyrrell: $18.57 (survey)Union: $45.97 (union)Vance: $16.01 (survey)Wake: $44.43 (union)Warren: $16.01 (survey)Washington: $18.57 (survey)Watauga: $15.77 (survey)Wayne: $44.43 (union)Wilkes: $15.77 (survey)Wilson: $20.43 (survey)Yadkin: $45.41 (union)Yancey: $15.77 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.01$18.57$28.08$44.63survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50/hrWayne (Goldsboro): market median $24.63, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$19.80Wayne (Goldsboro)+$19.80Alamance (Burlington): market median $24.71, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$19.72Alamance (Burlington)+$19.72Buncombe (Asheville): market median $26.25, prevailing (union) $45.91, gap +$19.66Buncombe (Asheville)+$19.66Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $26.97, prevailing (union) $45.41, gap +$18.44Davidson (Winston-Salem)+$18.44Pitt (Greenville): market median $26.41, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$18.02Pitt (Greenville)+$18.02Anson (Charlotte): market median $28.41, prevailing (union) $45.97, gap +$17.56Anson (Charlotte)+$17.56Guilford (Greensboro): market median $28.07, prevailing (union) $45.41, gap +$17.34Guilford (Greensboro)+$17.34Franklin (Raleigh): market median $27.31, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$17.12Franklin (Raleigh)+$17.12Edgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $28.23, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$16.20Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)+$16.20Chatham (Durham): market median $28.47, prevailing (union) $44.43, gap +$15.96Chatham (Durham)+$15.96Onslow (Jacksonville): market median $23.30, prevailing (survey) $28.08, gap +$4.78Onslow (Jacksonville)+$4.78Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $26.00, prevailing (survey) $28.08, gap +$2.08Brunswick (Wilmington)+$2.08Cumberland (Fayetteville): market median $27.74, prevailing (survey) $28.08, gap +$0.34Cumberland (Fayetteville)+$0.34Moore (Pinehurst): market median $21.95, prevailing (survey) $20.43, gap −$1.52Moore (Pinehurst)−$1.52Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $29.98, prevailing (survey) $28.08, gap −$1.90Currituck (Virginia Beach)−$1.90Alexander (Hickory): market median $25.83, prevailing (survey) $18.16, gap −$7.67Alexander (Hickory)−$7.67
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AnsonUnion ELEC0379-009 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260021
CabarrusUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
GastonUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260005
IredellUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260007
LincolnUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
MecklenburgUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260008
RowanUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
UnionUnion ELEC0379-001 2024-09-01$32.31$13.66$45.97NC20260017
BuncombeUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
HaywoodUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
HendersonUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
MadisonUnion ELEC0238-003 2025-06-01$32.02$13.89$45.91NC20260016
DavidsonUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260124
DavieUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260124
ForsythUnion ELEC0342-003 2025-06-01$31.00$14.41$45.41NC20260004

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the North Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 116,615 in 2015 to 167,614 in 2025, +43.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Polk County641$146,679$2,821
Randolph County55617$103,661$1,993
Mecklenburg County3744,799$87,807$1,689
Lenoir County25551$86,264$1,659
Wake County4395,133$83,141$1,599
Cleveland County33395$81,963$1,576
Rutherford County16406$81,485$1,567
Guilford County1622,235$81,376$1,565
Durham County86995$80,411$1,546
Yadkin County14230$78,317$1,506
Cumberland County731,034$75,400$1,450
Union County117990$74,657$1,436

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in North Carolina?

The median electrician in North Carolina earned $27.31 an hour ($56,800 a year) in May 2025, 10% below the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $22.63–$29.77; the top 10% earn more than $36.09.

Where does North Carolina rank for electrician pay?

North Carolina ranks 49th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $27.31 an hour, and 49th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 32 counties, with a typical package of $45.41 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 21,640 electricians in North Carolina in May 2025, 4.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in North Carolina went from 13,960 in 2015 to 21,640 in 2025, +55.0%, and +12.0% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +10.4% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 25,830 to 28,510 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 2,590 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, North Carolina 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.