Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Pennsylvania

Median $32.50 an hour for 22,730 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$32.50/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$67,600/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.92 – $58.9510th to 90th percentilehourly range
22,730Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Electrician pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrPennsylvania: 10th $21.92 · 25th $26.51 · median $32.50 · 75th $45.92 · 90th $58.95Pennsylvania$32.50$21.92$58.95United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 22nd of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 31st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.30). 22,730 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.92 – $26.51$45,600 – $55,140roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$26.51 – $45.92$55,140 – $95,500the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$45.92 – $58.95$95,500 – $122,620the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrReading: $36.09Reading$36.09Philadelphia: $35.86Philadelphia$35.86Harrisburg: $34.53Harrisburg$34.53Scranton: $33.44Scranton$33.44Pittsburgh: $33.34Pittsburgh$33.34Allentown: $31.97Allentown$31.97Erie: $31.64Erie$31.64York: $31.43York$31.43Lancaster: $30.52Lancaster$30.52Williamsport: $29.60Williamsport$29.60Chambersburg: $29.47Chambersburg$29.47Gettysburg: $29.28Gettysburg$29.28
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Reading$22.08$36.09$37.17$62.4282011% above
Philadelphia$22.59$35.86$34.95$63.7610,09010% above
Harrisburg$18.68$34.53$34.98$62.261,0506% above
Scranton$20.29$33.44$35.73$56.821,0503% above
Pittsburgh$22.01$33.34$35.21$51.375,2103% above
Allentown$23.22$31.97$31.97$58.851,1002% below
Erie$18.22$31.64$34.77$45.334203% below
York$22.53$31.43$32.74$52.367703% below
Lancaster$19.71$30.52$31.05$64.021,2206% below
Williamsport$21.25$29.60$32.07$40.581309% below
Chambersburg$17.32$29.47$31.15$38.021509% below
Gettysburg$17.42$29.28$30.69$37.2911010% below
Lebanon$18.45$29.19$31.32$41.6823010% below
Johnstown$18.90$28.55$33.24$47.1714012% below
Altoona$17.97$28.18$31.49$49.4117013% below
State College$21.31$27.69$28.61$36.4118015% below

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

Electrician wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$32.50Pennsylvania$30.38United States
Median hourly wage for electricians, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.56$35.87$19.1326,960
2000$19.87$37.15$19.2926,430
2001$20.19$36.70$19.6025,320
2002$20.82$37.26$19.9024,260
2003$21.40$37.44$20.0423,310
2004$21.15$36.05$20.3322,990
2005$21.97$36.22$20.5722,370
2006$23.14$36.95$20.9723,440
2007$23.59$36.63$21.5323,280
2008$23.81$35.60$22.3224,440
2009$24.20$36.32$22.6822,700
2010$24.12$35.61$23.2020,770
2011$24.58$35.18$23.7120,930
2012$23.70$33.23$23.9620,320
2013$24.07$33.26$24.2820,460
2014$25.53$34.72$24.5722,110
2015$25.81$35.06$24.9423,240
2016$26.67$35.77$25.3521,850
2017$27.35$35.92$26.0121,580
2018$29.11$37.32$26.5321,390
2019$29.93$37.69$27.0121,370
2020$30.47$37.90$27.3619,560
2021$29.63$35.20$28.8719,390
2022$30.85$33.94$28.9621,210
2023$31.59$33.38$29.6120,770
2024$31.44$32.27$29.9821,860
2025$32.50$32.50$30.3822,730

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Pennsylvania changed by -7.3% over the last ten years of data and by -13.8% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Pennsylvania?

+6.4%Jobs since 201921,370 then, 22,730 in 2025
-2.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 48th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Pennsylvania has changed by -15.7%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +6.4%.

Electricians in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140200020052010201520202025124United States84Pennsylvania
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
199926,960100100
200026,43098105
200125,32094102
200224,2609097
200323,3108695
200422,9908595
200522,3708399
200623,44087101
200723,28086102
200824,44091103
200922,7008495
201020,7707784
201120,9307884
201220,3207585
201320,4607689
201422,1108293
201523,2408697
201621,8508199
201721,58080103
201821,39079107
201921,37079112
202019,56073107
202119,39072106
202221,21079113
202320,77077116
202421,86081121
202522,73084124

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 Pennsylvania

+8.1%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
2,320Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
23,970Jobs in 202425,900 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +8.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 23,970 to 25,900, with about 2,320 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 22,730 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 58 of the 62 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $82.64 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $45.08). 4 of the 62 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Juniata County at $44.44). The market median for the state is $32.50.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $64.24 (union)Allegheny: $85.90 (union)Armstrong: $85.90 (union)Beaver: $81.22 (union)Bedford: $82.64 (union)Berks: $74.00 (union)Blair: $82.64 (union)Bradford: $71.26 (union)Bucks: $110.18 (union)Butler: $85.90 (union)Cambria: $85.90 (union)Cameron: $82.64 (union)Carbon: $75.93 (union)Centre: $82.64 (union)Chester: $110.18 (union)Clarion: $85.90 (union)Clearfield: $82.64 (union)Clinton: $82.64 (union)Columbia: n/aCrawford: $81.22 (union)Cumberland: $67.42 (union)Dauphin: $67.42 (union)Delaware: $92.68 (union)Elk: $82.64 (union)Erie: $69.81 (union)Fayette: $85.90 (union)Forest: $85.90 (union)Franklin: $67.42 (union)Fulton: $82.64 (union)Greene: $85.90 (union)Huntingdon: $82.64 (union)Indiana: $85.90 (union)Jefferson: $82.64 (union)Juniata: $44.44 (survey)Lackawanna: $71.26 (union)Lancaster: $74.00 (union)Lawrence: $81.22 (union)Lebanon: $67.42 (union)Lehigh: $75.93 (union)Luzerne: $70.43 (union)Lycoming: n/aMcKean: $82.64 (union)Mercer: $81.22 (union)Mifflin: $40.48 (survey)Monroe: $107.63 (union)Montgomery: $110.18 (union)Montour: n/aNorthampton: $75.93 (union)Northumberland: $72.06 (union)Perry: $67.42 (union)Philadelphia: $122.07 (union)Pike: $107.63 (union)Potter: $68.02 (union)Schuylkill: $46.10 (survey)Snyder: $72.06 (union)Somerset: $82.64 (union)Sullivan: $71.26 (union)Susquehanna: $71.26 (union)Tioga: $66.98 (union)Union: $45.71 (survey)Venango: $85.90 (union)Warren: $85.90 (union)Washington: n/aWayne: $71.26 (union)Westmoreland: n/aWyoming: $71.26 (union)York: $64.24 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$68.38$74.77$82.64$85.90n/asurvey 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$50$100$150/hrPhiladelphia (Philadelphia): market median $35.86, prevailing (union) $122.07, gap +$86.21Philadelphia (Philadelphia)+$86.21Cambria (Johnstown): market median $28.55, prevailing (union) $85.90, gap +$57.35Cambria (Johnstown)+$57.35Centre (State College): market median $27.69, prevailing (union) $82.64, gap +$54.95Centre (State College)+$54.95Blair (Altoona): market median $28.18, prevailing (union) $82.64, gap +$54.46Blair (Altoona)+$54.46Allegheny (Pittsburgh): market median $33.34, prevailing (union) $85.90, gap +$52.56Allegheny (Pittsburgh)+$52.56Carbon (Allentown): market median $31.97, prevailing (union) $75.93, gap +$43.96Carbon (Allentown)+$43.96Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $30.52, prevailing (union) $74.00, gap +$43.48Lancaster (Lancaster)+$43.48Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $29.19, prevailing (union) $67.42, gap +$38.23Lebanon (Lebanon)+$38.23Erie (Erie): market median $31.64, prevailing (union) $69.81, gap +$38.17Erie (Erie)+$38.17Franklin (Chambersburg): market median $29.47, prevailing (union) $67.42, gap +$37.95Franklin (Chambersburg)+$37.95Berks (Reading): market median $36.09, prevailing (union) $74.00, gap +$37.91Berks (Reading)+$37.91Lackawanna (Scranton): market median $33.44, prevailing (union) $71.26, gap +$37.82Lackawanna (Scranton)+$37.82Adams (Gettysburg): market median $29.28, prevailing (union) $64.24, gap +$34.96Adams (Gettysburg)+$34.96Cumberland (Harrisburg): market median $34.53, prevailing (union) $67.42, gap +$32.89Cumberland (Harrisburg)+$32.89York (York): market median $31.43, prevailing (union) $64.24, gap +$32.81York (York)+$32.81
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
PhiladelphiaUnion ELEC0098-003 2026-05-04$75.05$47.02$122.07PA20260003
BucksUnion ELEC0098-007 2026-05-04$62.41$47.77$110.18PA20260078
ChesterUnion ELEC0098-011 2026-05-04$62.41$47.77$110.18PA20260083
MontgomeryUnion ELEC0098-010 2026-05-04$62.41$47.77$110.18PA20260099
MonroeUnion ELEC0102-013 2025-06-02$65.43$42.20$107.63PA20260098
PikeUnion ELEC0102-013 2025-06-02$65.43$42.20$107.63PA20260103
DelawareUnion ELEC0654-005 2025-06-02$52.71$39.97$92.68PA20260087
AlleghenyUnion ELEC0005-007 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260001
ArmstrongUnion ELEC0005-016 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260074
ButlerUnion ELEC0005-016 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260079
CambriaUnion ELEC0005-014 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260080
ClarionUnion ELEC0005-015 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260046
FayetteUnion ELEC0005-016 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260089
ForestUnion ELEC0005-015 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260051
GreeneUnion ELEC0005-015 2025-12-26$49.11$36.79$85.90PA20260053

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

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Montgomery County2883,433$109,211$2,100
Lawrence County18398$107,079$2,059
Chester County1331,616$106,501$2,048
Philadelphia County1381,163$104,291$2,006
York County991,474$103,819$1,997
Delaware County1661,848$100,733$1,937
Allegheny County2733,747$97,633$1,878
Dauphin County40950$95,318$1,833
Bucks County2672,259$93,176$1,792
Berks County861,087$88,527$1,702
Lancaster County1562,093$86,566$1,665
Butler County51495$85,601$1,646

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Pennsylvania?

The median electrician in Pennsylvania earned $32.50 an hour ($67,600 a year) in May 2025, 7% above the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $26.51–$45.92; the top 10% earn more than $58.95.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for electrician pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 22nd of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $32.50 an hour, and 31st after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 58 counties, with a typical package of $82.64 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 22,730 electricians in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 3.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Pennsylvania went from 23,240 in 2015 to 22,730 in 2025, -2.2%, and +6.4% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +8.1% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 23,970 to 25,900 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania projects about 2,320 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.