Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in West Virginia

Median $31.16 an hour for 4,290 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$31.16/hrMedian hourly wageWest Virginia, May data
$64,810/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.97 – $45.7410th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,290Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Electrician pay in West Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, West VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWest Virginia: 10th $20.97 · 25th $23.37 · median $31.16 · 75th $40.35 · 90th $45.74West Virginia$31.16$20.97$45.74United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: West Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

West Virginia ranks 26th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 20th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.82). 4,290 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$20.97 – $23.37$43,620 – $48,610roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.37 – $40.35$48,610 – $83,920the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$40.35 – $45.74$83,920 – $95,140the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in West Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $36.50Washington DC$36.50Weirton: $33.08Weirton$33.08Wheeling: $32.20Wheeling$32.20Charleston: $31.17Charleston$31.17Huntington: $30.59Huntington$30.59Beckley: $30.32Beckley$30.32Hagerstown: $29.96Hagerstown$29.96Morgantown: $29.62Morgantown$29.62Parkersburg: $28.63Parkersburg$28.63Winchester: $28.35Winchester$28.35
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in West Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$21.49$36.50$33.52$58.4516,58017% above
Weirton$21.49$33.08$37.17$48.862606% above
Wheeling$21.26$32.20$36.47$45.883503% above
Charleston$21.33$31.17$35.14$44.88480about the same as
Huntington$18.22$30.59$34.60$46.448702% below
Beckley$20.90$30.32$34.30$43.703803% below
Hagerstown$21.81$29.96$31.80$45.214304% below
Morgantown$18.74$29.62$31.75$37.893205% below
Parkersburg$18.30$28.63$32.87$38.341408% below
Winchester$17.67$28.35$29.38$39.271809% below

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

Electrician wages in West Virginia over time

West Virginia, 1999-2025West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$31.16West Virginia$30.38United States
Median hourly wage for electricians, West Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWest Virginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.26$35.29$19.132,970
2000$18.27$34.16$19.292,810
2001$18.74$34.07$19.603,470
2002$19.29$34.52$19.903,520
2003$19.17$33.54$20.043,580
2004$18.81$32.06$20.334,170
2005$18.85$31.07$20.574,460
2006$19.65$31.38$20.975,110
2007$21.25$33.00$21.535,410
2008$21.77$32.55$22.325,070
2009$22.92$34.39$22.685,520
2010$22.77$33.62$23.205,020
2011$24.44$34.98$23.714,930
2012$24.85$34.85$23.964,700
2013$26.14$36.13$24.284,900
2014$25.31$34.42$24.574,760
2015$24.90$33.82$24.944,370
2016$24.16$32.41$25.353,590
2017$26.69$35.05$26.013,650
2018$26.02$33.36$26.533,770
2019$26.76$33.70$27.014,300
2020$26.27$32.68$27.363,400
2021$28.75$34.16$28.873,430
2022$29.81$32.79$28.963,500
2023$30.34$32.06$29.613,560
2024$30.70$31.51$29.984,010
2025$31.16$31.16$30.384,290

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in West Virginia changed by -7.9% over the last ten years of data and by -7.5% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in West Virginia?

-0.2%Jobs since 20194,300 then, 4,290 in 2025
-1.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 9th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in West Virginia has changed by +44.4%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -0.2%.

Electricians in West Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025144West Virginia124United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, West Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWest Virginia jobsWest Virginia indexUS index
19992,970100100
20002,81095105
20013,470117102
20023,52011897
20033,58012095
20044,17014095
20054,46015099
20065,110172101
20075,410182102
20085,070171103
20095,52018695
20105,02016984
20114,93016684
20124,70015885
20134,90016589
20144,76016093
20154,37014797
20163,59012199
20173,650123103
20183,770127107
20194,300145112
20203,400114107
20213,430116106
20223,500118113
20233,560120116
20244,010135121
20254,290144124

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 West Virginia

+6.2%Projected growth in West Virginia2024–2034, state agency
430Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,590Jobs in 20244,870 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

West Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +6.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,590 to 4,870, with about 430 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,290 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections.

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in West Virginia

On federally funded construction in West Virginia, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 36 of the 55 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.44 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $43.27). 19 of the 55 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Barbour County at $43.27). The market median for the state is $31.16.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WVBarbour: $43.27 (survey)Berkeley: $62.59 (union)Boone: $62.45 (union)Braxton: $43.27 (survey)Brooke: $70.48 (union)Cabell: $47.75 (union)Calhoun: $43.27 (survey)Clay: $62.45 (union)Doddridge: $71.49 (union)Fayette: $66.44 (union)Gilmer: $43.27 (survey)Grant: $62.59 (union)Greenbrier: $66.44 (union)Hampshire: $62.59 (union)Hancock: $70.48 (union)Hardy: $62.59 (union)Harrison: $71.49 (union)Jackson: $43.27 (survey)Jefferson: $62.59 (union)Kanawha: $62.45 (union)Lewis: $43.27 (survey)Lincoln: $47.75 (union)Logan: $43.27 (survey)McDowell: $43.27 (survey)Marion: $71.49 (union)Marshall: $70.48 (union)Mason: $47.75 (union)Mercer: $66.44 (union)Mineral: $62.59 (union)Mingo: $43.27 (survey)Monongalia: $71.49 (union)Monroe: $43.27 (survey)Morgan: $62.59 (union)Nicholas: $66.44 (union)Ohio: $70.48 (union)Pendleton: $43.27 (survey)Pleasants: $69.76 (union)Pocahontas: $43.27 (survey)Preston: $71.49 (union)Putnam: $62.45 (union)Raleigh: $66.44 (union)Randolph: $43.27 (survey)Ritchie: $69.76 (union)Roane: $43.27 (survey)Summers: $43.27 (survey)Taylor: $71.49 (union)Tucker: $43.27 (survey)Tyler: $69.76 (union)Upshur: $43.27 (survey)Wayne: $47.75 (union)Webster: $43.27 (survey)Wetzel: $71.49 (union)Wirt: $69.76 (union)Wood: $69.76 (union)Wyoming: $43.27 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$47.75$62.59$69.90survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrMonongalia (Morgantown): market median $29.62, prevailing (union) $71.49, gap +$41.87Monongalia (Morgantown)+$41.87Wirt (Parkersburg): market median $28.63, prevailing (union) $69.76, gap +$41.13Wirt (Parkersburg)+$41.13Marshall (Wheeling): market median $32.20, prevailing (union) $70.48, gap +$38.28Marshall (Wheeling)+$38.28Brooke (Weirton): market median $33.08, prevailing (union) $70.48, gap +$37.40Brooke (Weirton)+$37.40Fayette (Beckley): market median $30.32, prevailing (union) $66.44, gap +$36.12Fayette (Beckley)+$36.12Hampshire (Winchester): market median $28.35, prevailing (union) $62.59, gap +$34.24Hampshire (Winchester)+$34.24Berkeley (Hagerstown): market median $29.96, prevailing (union) $62.59, gap +$32.63Berkeley (Hagerstown)+$32.63Putnam (Huntington): market median $30.59, prevailing (union) $62.45, gap +$31.86Putnam (Huntington)+$31.86Boone (Charleston): market median $31.17, prevailing (union) $62.45, gap +$31.28Boone (Charleston)+$31.28Jefferson (Washington DC): market median $36.50, prevailing (union) $62.59, gap +$26.09Jefferson (Washington DC)+$26.09
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in West Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
DoddridgeUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260005
HarrisonUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260011
MarionUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260015
MonongaliaUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260042
PrestonUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260046
TaylorUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260027
WetzelUnion ELEC0596-006 2025-06-01$43.77$27.72$71.49WV20260032
BrookeUnion ELEC0141-010 2025-09-01$39.25$31.23$70.48WV20260050
HancockUnion ELEC0141-010 2025-09-01$39.25$31.23$70.48WV20260050
MarshallUnion ELEC0141-010 2025-09-01$39.25$31.23$70.48WV20260040
OhioUnion ELEC0141-010 2025-09-01$39.25$31.23$70.48WV20260044
PleasantsUnion ELEC0968-008 2025-06-01$39.01$30.75$69.76WV20260045
RitchieUnion ELEC0968-008 2025-06-01$39.01$30.75$69.76WV20260025
TylerUnion ELEC0968-008 2025-06-01$39.01$30.75$69.76WV20260029
WirtUnion ELEC0968-008 2025-06-01$39.01$30.75$69.76WV20260051

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

Is construction work growing in West Virginia?

35.2kConstruction jobsWest Virginia, 2026-09
-5.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k30k40k50k60k1990199520002005201020152020202535kSep 2026
Construction employment in West 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 38 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 14,371 in 2015 to 15,870 in 2025, +10.4%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Jackson County750$100,979$1,942
Cabell County20548$100,129$1,926
Marion County11153$86,211$1,658
Kanawha County56412$85,607$1,646
Monongalia County38365$81,791$1,573
Nicholas County743$79,994$1,538
Ohio County12206$75,500$1,452
Randolph County732$65,492$1,259
Hampshire County515$65,336$1,256
Berkeley County26112$64,901$1,248
Raleigh County2267$55,168$1,061
Fayette County1366$54,186$1,042

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in West Virginia

More on West Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in West Virginia?

The median electrician in West Virginia earned $31.16 an hour ($64,810 a year) in May 2025, 3% above the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $23.37–$40.35; the top 10% earn more than $45.74.

Where does West Virginia rank for electrician pay?

West Virginia ranks 26th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $31.16 an hour, and 20th after adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.5, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in West Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 36 counties, with a typical package of $66.44 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in West Virginia?

BLS counted 4,290 electricians in West Virginia in May 2025, 6.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.25; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in West Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in West Virginia went from 4,370 in 2015 to 4,290 in 2025, -1.8%, and -0.2% since 2019. West Virginia's labor market agency projects +6.2% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 4,590 to 4,870 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in West Virginia?

West Virginia projects about 430 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, West 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.