Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Virginia

Median $30.24 an hour for 23,630 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.24/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$62,900/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.61 – $50.8310th to 90th percentilehourly range
23,630Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Electrician pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $19.61 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.24 · 75th $37.59 · 90th $50.83Virginia$30.24$19.61$50.83United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 31st of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.91). 23,630 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.61 – $23.76$40,780 – $49,410roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.76 – $37.59$49,410 – $78,190the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$37.59 – $50.83$78,190 – $105,720the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $36.50Washington DC$36.50Charlottesville: $30.28Charlottesville$30.28Blacksburg: $30.04Blacksburg$30.04Virginia Beach: $29.98Virginia Beach$29.98Staunton: $29.88Staunton$29.88Harrisonburg: $29.75Harrisonburg$29.75Richmond: $29.50Richmond$29.50Kingsport: $28.88Kingsport$28.88Winchester: $28.35Winchester$28.35Lynchburg: $28.25Lynchburg$28.25Roanoke: $27.98Roanoke$27.98
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$21.49$36.50$33.52$58.4516,58021% above
Charlottesville$18.86$30.28$30.55$37.33460about the same as
Blacksburg$18.81$30.04$32.41$38.502701% below
Virginia Beach$21.14$29.98$30.62$39.085,7401% below
Staunton$18.14$29.88$32.80$37.842001% below
Harrisonburg$18.01$29.75$31.35$38.163702% below
Richmond$18.79$29.50$30.13$38.823,6002% below
Kingsport$17.99$28.88$33.43$36.847604% below
Winchester$17.67$28.35$29.38$39.271806% below
Lynchburg$17.22$28.25$31.60$40.733807% below
Roanoke$18.55$27.98$29.89$36.356107% below

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

Electrician wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.38United States$30.24Virginia
Median hourly wage for electricians, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.45$29.86$19.1316,700
2000$16.98$31.75$19.2921,410
2001$17.60$31.99$19.6019,220
2002$17.51$31.34$19.9018,920
2003$18.32$32.05$20.0418,170
2004$18.78$32.01$20.3316,880
2005$19.06$31.42$20.5717,630
2006$19.54$31.20$20.9718,330
2007$20.13$31.26$21.5319,760
2008$20.26$30.29$22.3219,500
2009$21.08$31.63$22.6818,540
2010$21.04$31.06$23.2017,940
2011$21.58$30.89$23.7117,040
2012$21.31$29.88$23.9616,840
2013$21.55$29.78$24.2816,940
2014$22.30$30.33$24.5716,750
2015$22.61$30.71$24.9417,180
2016$23.21$31.13$25.3516,680
2017$23.13$30.38$26.0115,980
2018$23.39$29.99$26.5315,700
2019$24.97$31.44$27.0118,440
2020$25.95$32.28$27.3618,460
2021$27.81$33.04$28.8720,880
2022$28.55$31.41$28.9621,590
2023$29.00$30.64$29.6122,150
2024$29.62$30.40$29.9824,300
2025$30.24$30.24$30.3823,630

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Virginia changed by -1.5% over the last ten years of data and by -3.8% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Virginia?

+28.1%Jobs since 201918,440 then, 23,630 in 2025
+37.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 16th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Virginia has changed by +41.5%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +28.1%.

Electricians in Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140160200020052010201520202025142Virginia124United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearVirginia jobsVirginia indexUS index
199916,700100100
200021,410128105
200119,220115102
200218,92011397
200318,17010995
200416,88010195
200517,63010699
200618,330110101
200719,760118102
200819,500117103
200918,54011195
201017,94010784
201117,04010284
201216,84010185
201316,94010189
201416,75010093
201517,18010397
201616,68010099
201715,98096103
201815,70094107
201918,440110112
202018,460110107
202120,880125106
202221,590129113
202322,150133116
202424,300146121
202523,630142124

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 Virginia

+9.2%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
2,560Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
25,480Jobs in 202427,820 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +9.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,480 to 27,820, with about 2,560 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 23,630 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 90 of the 131 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.97 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.09). 41 of the 131 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Albemarle County at $32.29). The market median for the state is $30.24.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $55.97 (union)Albemarle: $32.29 (survey)Alleghany: $19.75 (survey)Amelia: $55.97 (union)Amherst: $31.09 (survey)Appomattox: $31.09 (survey)Arlington: $82.56 (union)Augusta: $24.56 (survey)Bath: $19.75 (survey)Bedford: $31.09 (survey)Bland: $55.97 (union)Botetourt: $31.09 (survey)Brunswick: $55.97 (union)Buchanan: $55.97 (union)Buckingham: $32.29 (survey)Campbell: $31.09 (survey)Caroline: $55.97 (union)Carroll: $55.97 (union)Charles City: $55.97 (union)Charlotte: $55.97 (union)Chesterfield: $55.97 (union)Clarke: $82.56 (union)Craig: $31.09 (survey)Culpeper: $82.56 (union)Cumberland: $55.97 (union)Dickenson: $55.97 (union)Dinwiddie: $55.97 (union)Essex: $55.97 (union)Fairfax: $82.56 (union)Fauquier: $82.56 (union)Floyd: $65.74 (union)Fluvanna: $32.29 (survey)Franklin: $31.09 (survey)Frederick: $41.64 (survey)Giles: $65.74 (union)Gloucester: $51.06 (union)Goochland: $55.97 (union)Grayson: $55.97 (union)Greene: $32.29 (survey)Greensville: $55.97 (union)Halifax: $55.97 (union)Hanover: $55.97 (union)Henrico: $55.97 (union)Henry: $55.97 (union)Highland: $19.75 (survey)Isle of Wight: $51.06 (union)James City: $51.06 (union)King and Queen: $55.97 (union)King George: $55.97 (union)King William: $55.97 (union)Lancaster: $55.97 (union)Lee: $55.97 (union)Loudoun: $82.56 (union)Louisa: $19.75 (survey)Lunenburg: $55.97 (union)Madison: $19.75 (survey)Mathews: $51.06 (union)Mecklenburg: $55.97 (union)Middlesex: $55.97 (union)Montgomery: $65.74 (union)Nelson: $32.29 (survey)New Kent: $55.97 (union)Northampton: $55.97 (union)Northumberland: $55.97 (union)Nottoway: $55.97 (union)Orange: $19.75 (survey)Page: $19.75 (survey)Patrick: $55.97 (union)Pittsylvania: $55.97 (union)Powhatan: $55.97 (union)Prince Edward: $55.97 (union)Prince George: $55.97 (union)Prince William: $82.56 (union)Pulaski: $65.74 (union)Rappahannock: $82.56 (union)Richmond: $55.97 (union)Roanoke: $31.09 (survey)Rockbridge: $19.75 (survey)Rockingham: $24.56 (survey)Russell: $55.97 (union)Scott: $31.09 (survey)Shenandoah: $19.75 (survey)Smyth: $55.97 (union)Southampton: $55.97 (union)Spotsylvania: $41.32 (survey)Stafford: $82.56 (union)Surry: $55.97 (union)Sussex: $55.97 (union)Tazewell: $55.97 (union)Warren: $24.28 (survey)Washington: $31.09 (survey)Westmoreland: $55.97 (union)Wise: $55.97 (union)Wythe: $55.97 (union)York: $51.06 (union)Alexandria: $82.56 (union)Bristol: $31.09 (survey)Buena Vista: $19.75 (survey)Charlottesville: $32.29 (survey)Chesapeake: $51.06 (union)Colonial Heights: $55.97 (union)Covington: n/aDanville: $55.97 (union)Emporia: $55.97 (union)Fairfax: $82.56 (union)Falls Church: $82.56 (union)Franklin: $55.97 (union)Fredericksburg: $41.32 (survey)Galax: $55.97 (union)Hampton: $51.06 (union)Harrisonburg: $24.56 (survey)Hopewell: $55.97 (union)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $31.09 (survey)Manassas: $82.56 (union)Manassas Park: $82.56 (union)Martinsville: $55.97 (union)Newport News: $51.06 (union)Norfolk: $50.98 (union)Norton: $55.97 (union)Petersburg: $55.97 (union)Poquoson: $51.06 (union)Portsmouth: $50.98 (union)Radford: $65.74 (union)Richmond: $55.97 (union)Roanoke: $31.09 (survey)Salem: $31.09 (survey)Staunton: $24.56 (survey)Suffolk: $51.06 (union)Virginia Beach: $24.88 (survey)Waynesboro: $24.56 (survey)Williamsburg: $51.06 (union)Winchester: $41.64 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$31.09$51.06$55.97n/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)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrArlington (Washington DC): market median $36.50, prevailing (union) $82.56, gap +$46.06Arlington (Washington DC)+$46.06Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $30.04, prevailing (union) $65.74, gap +$35.70Floyd (Blacksburg)+$35.70Amelia (Richmond): market median $29.50, prevailing (union) $55.97, gap +$26.47Amelia (Richmond)+$26.47Surry (Virginia Beach): market median $29.98, prevailing (union) $55.97, gap +$25.99Surry (Virginia Beach)+$25.99Frederick (Winchester): market median $28.35, prevailing (survey) $41.64, gap +$13.29Frederick (Winchester)+$13.29Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $27.98, prevailing (survey) $31.09, gap +$3.11Botetourt (Roanoke)+$3.11Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $28.25, prevailing (survey) $31.09, gap +$2.84Amherst (Lynchburg)+$2.84Scott (Kingsport): market median $28.88, prevailing (survey) $31.09, gap +$2.21Scott (Kingsport)+$2.21Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $30.28, prevailing (survey) $32.29, gap +$2.01Albemarle (Charlottesville)+$2.01Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $29.75, prevailing (survey) $24.56, gap −$5.19Rockingham (Harrisonburg)−$5.19Augusta (Staunton): market median $29.88, prevailing (survey) $24.56, gap −$5.32Augusta (Staunton)−$5.32
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArlingtonUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260013
ClarkeUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260018
CulpeperUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
FairfaxUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260178
FauquierUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260020
LoudounUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260158
Prince WilliamUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260162
RappahannockUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
StaffordUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260174
AlexandriaUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260013
FairfaxUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260178
Falls ChurchUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260178
ManassasUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260162
Manassas ParkUnion ELEC0026-003 2025-06-02$59.50$23.06$82.56VA20260162
FloydUnion ELEC0466-001 2024-06-01$41.90$23.84$65.74VA20260175

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

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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 117 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 111,128 in 2015 to 136,979 in 2025, +23.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Loudoun County8811,474$111,334$2,141
Newport News city271,558$104,907$2,017
Louisa County14145$103,259$1,986
Henrico County822,352$98,725$1,899
Fairfax County1913,232$97,767$1,880
Suffolk city14244$95,289$1,832
Manassas city16316$87,906$1,691
Arlington County1329$86,214$1,658
Norfolk city36557$85,720$1,648
Prince William County1041,370$85,708$1,648
Manassas Park city639$78,862$1,517
Hanover County931,455$78,689$1,513

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

More on Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Virginia?

The median electrician in Virginia earned $30.24 an hour ($62,900 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $23.76–$37.59; the top 10% earn more than $50.83.

Where does Virginia rank for electrician pay?

Virginia ranks 31st of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $30.24 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 90 counties, with a typical package of $55.97 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Virginia?

BLS counted 23,630 electricians in Virginia in May 2025, 5.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.18; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Virginia went from 17,180 in 2015 to 23,630 in 2025, +37.5%, and +28.1% since 2019. Virginia's labor market agency projects +9.2% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 25,480 to 27,820 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Virginia?

Virginia projects about 2,560 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, Virginia 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: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.