Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Wisconsin

Median $36.80 an hour for 14,310 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.80/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$76,540/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.55 – $48.9310th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,310Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Electrician pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWisconsin: 10th $21.55 · 25th $26.84 · median $36.80 · 75th $45.09 · 90th $48.93Wisconsin$36.80$21.55$48.93United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 13th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 7th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.11). 14,310 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.55 – $26.84$44,830 – $55,820roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$26.84 – $45.09$55,820 – $93,780the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$45.09 – $48.93$93,780 – $101,770the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrDuluth: $39.76Duluth$39.76Racine: $39.67Racine$39.67Janesville: $39.51Janesville$39.51Minneapolis: $39.37Minneapolis$39.37Sheboygan: $37.92Sheboygan$37.92La Crosse: $37.87La Crosse$37.87Wausau: $37.83Wausau$37.83Madison: $37.71Madison$37.71Milwaukee: $37.41Milwaukee$37.41Green Bay: $37.15Green Bay$37.15Oshkosh: $37.06Oshkosh$37.06Fond du Lac: $37.05Fond du Lac$37.05
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Duluth$22.62$39.76$44.77$52.896808% above
Racine$21.88$39.67$41.32$51.363508% above
Janesville$21.76$39.51$42.17$49.565607% above
Minneapolis$23.54$39.37$37.57$59.258,8107% above
Sheboygan$19.39$37.92$40.34$49.133703% above
La Crosse$22.02$37.87$41.25$52.343203% above
Wausau$19.97$37.83$40.81$41.734803% above
Madison$21.66$37.71$38.76$49.451,7602% above
Milwaukee$21.72$37.41$38.61$49.934,4902% above
Green Bay$22.03$37.15$39.90$46.829101% above
Oshkosh$22.04$37.06$39.89$47.518101% above
Fond du Lac$21.78$37.05$40.45$56.061701% above
Eau Claire$21.37$36.24$39.05$44.543502% below
Kenosha$19.06$36.04$35.65$47.231202% below
Appleton$21.45$32.13$34.77$46.7081013% below

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

Electrician wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.80Wisconsin$30.38United States
Median hourly wage for electricians, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$22.89$44.23$19.1314,950
2000$22.46$41.99$19.2914,470
2001$21.90$39.81$19.6014,510
2002$22.14$39.62$19.9013,250
2003$21.66$37.90$20.0412,840
2004$22.14$37.73$20.3313,490
2005$23.33$38.46$20.5713,550
2006$23.52$37.56$20.9713,510
2007$24.04$37.33$21.5312,440
2008$25.13$37.58$22.3212,680
2009$24.91$37.38$22.6811,760
2010$25.32$37.38$23.209,610
2011$25.33$36.25$23.719,250
2012$25.60$35.90$23.969,070
2013$26.30$36.35$24.2810,430
2014$26.95$36.65$24.5710,740
2015$27.96$37.98$24.9410,570
2016$28.03$37.60$25.3510,430
2017$28.61$37.58$26.0111,000
2018$29.63$37.99$26.5311,790
2019$29.54$37.20$27.0112,170
2020$30.88$38.41$27.3611,640
2021$30.09$35.75$28.8710,990
2022$33.82$37.20$28.9611,060
2023$35.89$37.92$29.6111,630
2024$36.10$37.05$29.9812,630
2025$36.80$36.80$30.3814,310

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Wisconsin changed by -3.1% over the last ten years of data and by -1.1% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Wisconsin?

+17.6%Jobs since 201912,170 then, 14,310 in 2025
+35.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 36th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Wisconsin has changed by -4.3%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +17.6%.

Electricians in Wisconsin vs United States, 1999 = 100WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120140200020052010201520202025124United States96Wisconsin
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Wisconsin vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWisconsin jobsWisconsin indexUS index
199914,950100100
200014,47097105
200114,51097102
200213,2508997
200312,8408695
200413,4909095
200513,5509199
200613,51090101
200712,44083102
200812,68085103
200911,7607995
20109,6106484
20119,2506284
20129,0706185
201310,4307089
201410,7407293
201510,5707197
201610,4307099
201711,00074103
201811,79079107
201912,17081112
202011,64078107
202110,99074106
202211,06074113
202311,63078116
202412,63084121
202514,31096124

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 Wisconsin

+15.1%Projected growth in Wisconsin2024–2034, state agency
1,470Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
13,790Jobs in 202415,870 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Wisconsin's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +15.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 13,790 to 15,870, with about 1,470 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 14,310 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for electricians in Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 72 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $70.47 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $36.80.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $70.47 (union)Ashland: $70.47 (union)Barron: $70.47 (union)Bayfield: $70.47 (union)Brown: $65.93 (union)Buffalo: $70.47 (union)Burnett: $70.47 (union)Calumet: $70.47 (union)Chippewa: $69.50 (union)Clark: $70.47 (union)Columbia: $70.47 (union)Crawford: $70.47 (union)Dane: $74.46 (union)Dodge: $70.47 (union)Door: $70.47 (union)Douglas: $80.80 (union)Dunn: $70.47 (union)Eau Claire: $69.50 (union)Florence: $70.47 (union)Fond du Lac: $70.47 (union)Forest: $70.47 (union)Grant: $70.47 (union)Green: $70.47 (union)Green Lake: $70.47 (union)Iowa: $70.47 (union)Iron: $70.47 (union)Jackson: $70.47 (union)Jefferson: $70.47 (union)Juneau: $70.47 (union)Kenosha: $78.41 (union)Kewaunee: $70.47 (union)La Crosse: $69.50 (union)Lafayette: $70.47 (union)Langlade: $70.47 (union)Lincoln: $70.47 (union)Manitowoc: $70.47 (union)Marathon: $63.09 (union)Marinette: $70.47 (union)Marquette: $70.47 (union)Menominee: $70.47 (union)Milwaukee: $79.12 (union)Monroe: $70.47 (union)Oconto: $70.47 (union)Oneida: $70.47 (union)Outagamie: $70.47 (union)Ozaukee: $79.12 (union)Pepin: $70.47 (union)Pierce: $69.50 (union)Polk: $70.47 (union)Portage: $70.47 (union)Price: $70.47 (union)Racine: $67.24 (union)Richland: $70.47 (union)Rock: $67.24 (union)Rusk: $70.47 (union)St. Croix: $69.50 (union)Sauk: $70.47 (union)Sawyer: $70.47 (union)Shawano: $70.47 (union)Sheboygan: $70.47 (union)Taylor: $70.47 (union)Trempealeau: $70.47 (union)Vernon: $70.47 (union)Vilas: $70.47 (union)Walworth: $70.47 (union)Washburn: $70.47 (union)Washington: $79.12 (union)Waukesha: $79.12 (union)Waupaca: $70.47 (union)Waushara: $70.47 (union)Winnebago: $70.47 (union)Wood: $70.47 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$70.47
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$100/hrKenosha (Kenosha): market median $36.04, prevailing (union) $78.41, gap +$42.37Kenosha (Kenosha)+$42.37Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $37.41, prevailing (union) $79.12, gap +$41.71Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$41.71Douglas (Duluth): market median $39.76, prevailing (union) $80.80, gap +$41.04Douglas (Duluth)+$41.04Calumet (Appleton): market median $32.13, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$38.34Calumet (Appleton)+$38.34Dane (Madison): market median $37.71, prevailing (union) $74.46, gap +$36.75Dane (Madison)+$36.75Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac): market median $37.05, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$33.42Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac)+$33.42Winnebago (Oshkosh): market median $37.06, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$33.41Winnebago (Oshkosh)+$33.41Kewaunee (Green Bay): market median $37.15, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$33.32Kewaunee (Green Bay)+$33.32Chippewa (Eau Claire): market median $36.24, prevailing (union) $69.50, gap +$33.26Chippewa (Eau Claire)+$33.26Vernon (La Crosse): market median $37.87, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$32.60Vernon (La Crosse)+$32.60Sheboygan (Sheboygan): market median $37.92, prevailing (union) $70.47, gap +$32.55Sheboygan (Sheboygan)+$32.55Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $39.37, prevailing (union) $69.50, gap +$30.13Pierce (Minneapolis)+$30.13Rock (Janesville): market median $39.51, prevailing (union) $67.24, gap +$27.73Rock (Janesville)+$27.73Racine (Racine): market median $39.67, prevailing (union) $67.24, gap +$27.57Racine (Racine)+$27.57Marathon (Wausau): market median $37.83, prevailing (union) $63.09, gap +$25.26Marathon (Wausau)+$25.26
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
DouglasUnion ELEC0242-001 2025-06-01$47.46$33.34$80.80WI20260007
MilwaukeeUnion ELEC0494-001 2025-06-01$50.86$28.26$79.12WI20260001
OzaukeeUnion ELEC0494-001 2025-06-01$50.86$28.26$79.12WI20260001
WashingtonUnion ELEC0494-001 2025-06-01$50.86$28.26$79.12WI20260001
WaukeshaUnion ELEC0494-001 2025-06-01$50.86$28.26$79.12WI20260001
KenoshaUnion ELEC0127-001 2025-06-01$50.01$28.40$78.41WI20260004
DaneUnion ELEC0159-002 2024-05-26$48.55$25.91$74.46WI20260005
AdamsUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
AshlandUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
BarronUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
BayfieldUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
BuffaloUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
BurnettUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011
CalumetUnion ELEC0494-012 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260016
ClarkUnion ELEC0494-010 2025-06-01$45.20$25.27$70.47WI20260011

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

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

160.1kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (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 65 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,193 in 2015 to 92,281 in 2025, +37.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Winnebago County471,192$110,044$2,116
Racine County38597$96,795$1,861
Brown County661,262$94,661$1,820
Dane County1422,365$94,413$1,816
Marathon County40603$92,563$1,780
Waukesha County1684,204$92,404$1,777
Sheboygan County40649$91,077$1,751
Milwaukee County1201,584$86,189$1,657
Outagamie County761,321$82,768$1,592
St. Croix County34432$80,346$1,545
Jefferson County23149$80,180$1,542
La Crosse County34372$77,302$1,487

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

More on Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Wisconsin?

The median electrician in Wisconsin earned $36.80 an hour ($76,540 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $26.84–$45.09; the top 10% earn more than $48.93.

Where does Wisconsin rank for electrician pay?

Wisconsin ranks 13th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $36.80 an hour, and 7th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 72 counties, with a typical package of $70.47 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 14,310 electricians in Wisconsin in May 2025, 4.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Wisconsin?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Wisconsin went from 10,570 in 2015 to 14,310 in 2025, +35.4%, and +17.6% since 2019. Wisconsin's labor market agency projects +15.1% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 13,790 to 15,870 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin projects about 1,470 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, Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.