Business Tips
Electrician pay varies widely by state, experience, and type of work. This guide breaks down 2026 electrician salaries, hourly rates, highest-paying states, cost of living, and the factors that can help electricians earn more.
How much do electricians make in your city or state? An electrician salary database, shared with ServiceTitan by Payscale.com, projects electrician salaries by state and city. The data suggests steady median salary increases nationally for electrical workers:
Part of the Business Tips section in the Electrical Business Blog.
Entry-level: 3.59% increase
Intermediate: 3.24% increase
Senior: 3.15% increase
Electrician salaries depend on experience, location, specialization, licensing, and the type of employer. National figures provide a useful starting point, but local wages can vary significantly.
The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data puts the median electrician wage at $63,190 per year, or about $30.38 per hour, based on May 2025 data. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,640, while the highest 10% earned more than $108,510.
That means experienced electricians can earn well above the national median, especially in higher-paying markets or specialized fields.
For electricians planning their careers, salary is only part of the picture. Local living costs, overtime opportunities, union wages, licensing requirements, benefits, and demand for specific skills can all change the real value of a job.
Experience is one of the biggest factors affecting electrician pay.
Apprentices and electricians with less than two years of experience generally earn less while they build practical skills. Pay can increase as apprentices complete training, gain experience, and take on more complex work.
Electricians with two to four years of experience typically have more independence and can handle a wider range of residential and commercial work. Their earning potential often increases with additional certifications and licensing.
Electricians with four or more years of experience can take on more complex installations, troubleshooting, supervision, and specialized projects. Senior electricians may also have opportunities to move into foreman, estimator, project manager, or contractor roles.
The salary range for electricians is influenced by several factors:
Location: States and metropolitan areas have different wage levels and labor demand.
Experience: More experience usually means greater responsibility and higher earning potential.
Licensing: Advanced licenses can qualify electricians for more complex and higher-paying work.
Specialization: Industrial, commercial, high-voltage, controls, and other specialties can command higher pay.
Union membership: Union electricians may receive negotiated wages and stronger benefits packages.
Overtime: Emergency calls, construction deadlines, and maintenance work can increase annual earnings.
Employer: Utilities, manufacturers, contractors, and government employers can offer different compensation levels.
Self-employment: Licensed contractors can potentially earn more by owning a business, although they also take on operating costs and business risk.
Knowing what affects your pay can help you make smarter career decisions. You may earn more by gaining a new license, moving into a specialized field, taking on leadership responsibilities, or choosing a market with stronger demand. The important thing is to look beyond the headline salary and consider where your skills can create the most value.
California, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York appear among the highest-paying states in the salary data used in this guide.
However, the highest salary does not always mean the best financial opportunity. Housing, transportation, taxes, insurance, and other living costs can significantly affect take-home purchasing power.
For example, a higher salary in an expensive metro area may provide less purchasing power than a lower salary in a more affordable market. Electricians comparing job offers should therefore look at both salary and cost of living before making a decision.
Annual salary is useful for comparing jobs, but hourly pay can provide a clearer picture of what an electrician actually earns.
For example, a $60,000 annual salary works out to roughly $28.85 per hour when calculated across 2,080 working hours. Overtime, bonuses, paid time off, and benefits can change the actual value of a compensation package.
Electricians should also check whether a quoted hourly rate represents base pay, total compensation, or a contractor's billable rate. These numbers are not interchangeable.
Not all electrical jobs have the same earning potential. Electricians who develop specialized skills may have access to higher-paying opportunities.
Some areas worth considering include:
Industrial electrical work
Commercial electrical systems
High-voltage systems
Electrical controls and automation
Data center electrical work
Power generation and utilities
Renewable energy installations
Electrical inspection and testing
Project supervision
Electrical estimating
The right specialty depends on local demand, training requirements, and the electrician's long-term career goals.
The outlook remains strong. The BLS projects electrician employment to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3% projected growth for all occupations. It also projects about 72,700 openings per year over that period.
Demand is supported by construction, infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy projects, and growing electricity needs. The BLS also notes that rising demand for data centers and AI technologies is expected to contribute to increased electricity demand and infrastructure investment.
For new entrants, this creates opportunities to build a career without following the traditional four-year college path. Most electricians enter the trade through an apprenticeship, although some begin with technical school training.
Electricians who want to increase their earnings have several paths available.
Get licensed.
Higher-level licenses can open the door to more complex work and greater responsibility.
Build a specialty.
Skills in industrial systems, controls, high voltage, data centers, or renewable energy can help you stand out.
Gain experience.
Experience makes it easier to handle complex jobs, supervise others, and move into higher-paying positions.
Learn business skills.
Electricians who eventually become contractors need more than technical knowledge. Estimating, sales, scheduling, hiring, and customer service can directly affect business income.
Take on leadership roles.
Moving from technician to foreman, supervisor, estimator, or project manager can provide another path to higher compensation.
Compare total compensation.
A job offering slightly lower base pay may still be better if it includes strong health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, overtime, and other benefits.
The following table breaks down average annual salaries across experience levels for electrical workers across all 50 states:
State | Entry (<2 years) | Intermediate (2–4 years) | Senior (4–7 years) |
Alabama | $57,000 | $66,900 | $72,100 |
Alaska | $62,300 | $73,100 | $78,800 |
Arizona | $59,200 | $69,500 | $74,800 |
Arkansas | $56,000 | $65,700 | $70,800 |
California | $66,300 | $77,800 | $83,800 |
Colorado | $61,300 | $71,900 | $77,500 |
Connecticut | $63,200 | $74,200 | $80,000 |
Delaware | $61,200 | $71,900 | $77,400 |
Florida | $58,300 | $68,400 | $73,700 |
Georgia | $59,400 | $69,700 | $75,100 |
Hawaii | $62,800 | $73,700 | $79,400 |
Idaho | $57,400 | $67,400 | $72,600 |
Illinois | $61,800 | $72,500 | $78,200 |
Indiana | $58,200 | $68,200 | $73,500 |
Iowa | $57,200 | $67,100 | $72,300 |
Kansas | $58,100 | $68,200 | $73,500 |
Kentucky | $57,200 | $67,100 | $72,300 |
Louisiana | $58,400 | $68,600 | $73,900 |
Maine | $58,800 | $69,000 | $74,300 |
Maryland | $62,100 | $72,900 | $78,600 |
Massachusetts | $64,300 | $75,500 | $81,300 |
Michigan | $59,500 | $69,900 | $75,300 |
Minnesota | $60,900 | $71,500 | $77,000 |
Mississippi | $55,400 | $65,100 | $70,100 |
Missouri | $58,600 | $68,700 | $74,000 |
Montana | $56,900 | $66,700 | $71,900 |
National Average | $60,600 | $71,100 | $76,600 |
Nebraska | $57,600 | $67,600 | $72,900 |
Nevada | $59,300 | $69,600 | $75,000 |
New Hampshire | $61,600 | $72,300 | $77,900 |
New Jersey | $65,200 | $76,500 | $82,500 |
New Mexico | $58,700 | $68,900 | $74,200 |
New York | $63,700 | $74,800 | $80,600 |
North Carolina | $59,200 | $69,500 | $74,900 |
North Dakota | $57,500 | $67,400 | $72,600 |
Ohio | $58,400 | $68,500 | $73,800 |
Oklahoma | $57,300 | $67,200 | $72,400 |
Oregon | $61,500 | $72,200 | $77,800 |
Pennsylvania | $60,300 | $70,800 | $76,300 |
Rhode Island | $60,900 | $71,500 | $77,000 |
South Carolina | $57,300 | $67,200 | $72,500 |
South Dakota | $56,000 | $65,800 | $70,900 |
Tennessee | $57,800 | $67,900 | $73,100 |
Texas | $60,300 | $70,800 | $76,300 |
Utah | $59,000 | $69,200 | $74,600 |
Vermont | $57,300 | $67,300 | $72,500 |
Virginia | $61,300 | $71,900 | $77,500 |
Washington | $64,900 | $76,200 | $82,100 |
West Virginia | $55,000 | $64,600 | $69,600 |
Wisconsin | $59,000 | $69,200 | $74,600 |
Wyoming | $55,000 | $65,100 | $70,100 |
Source: Payscale.com
The numbers show that electrician pay can vary significantly depending on where you work and how much experience you have. But salary is only one part of the picture. For electricians who want to earn more, the next step is understanding which skills, services, and career moves can increase their earning potential.
Nationally, data highlights key benchmarks for trade professionals across experience brackets:
Entry-Level (<2 years): Median annual base salary is $60,600 ($29.13 per hour).
Intermediate (2–4 years): National median rises to $71,100 ($34.18 per hour).
Senior Level (4–7 years): National median reaches $76,600 ($36.83 per hour).
Percentile | Annual Base Salary | Equivalent Hourly Wage |
10th Percentile | $44,700 | $21.49 / hr |
50th Percentile (Median) | $60,600 | $29.13 / hr |
90th Percentile | $83,900 | $40.34 / hr |
As demand continues to grow for highly qualified electricians to support residential and commercial infrastructure, industry salaries continue to rise.
"Qualified, good tradespeople are incredibly difficult to find. Everybody and their brother wants electricians."
— Richard Flournoy, President of A-Total Plumbing
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the electrical trade industry will add 84,300 new jobs through 2033.
While top-paying metro areas offer substantial base pay, cost-of-living adjustments significantly alter real purchasing power:
Top 5 States | Annual | Hourly | Bottom 5 States | Annual | Hourly |
California | $77,800 | $37.40 | West Virginia | $64,600 | $31.06 |
New Jersey | $76,500 | $36.78 | Wyoming | $65,100 | $31.30 |
Washington | $76,200 | $36.63 | Mississippi | $65,100 | $31.30 |
Massachusetts | $75,500 | $36.30 | Arkansas | $65,700 | $31.59 |
New York | $74,800 | $35.96 | South Dakota | $65,800 | $31.63 |
San Francisco, CA: $71,900 ($34.57/hr)
New York City, NY: $67,800 ($32.60/hr)
Newark, NJ: $67,000 ($32.21/hr)
Seattle, WA: High regional allocation
Bridgeport, CT: High regional allocation
San Francisco offers the highest entry-level median salary at $71,900, but carries a cost-of-living score 145.5% higher than the national average. According to Bankrate's Cost of Living metrics, an electrician would need to earn $107,336 in San Francisco to match the purchasing power of an entry-level technician earning $53,700 in Charleston, West Virginia.
Electricians enjoy higher starting wages compared to peer trade sectors:
Experience Tier | HVAC Technicians | Electricians | Plumbers |
Entry Level (<2 yrs) | $54,100 ($26.01/hr) | $60,600 ($29.13/hr) | $53,900 ($25.91/hr) |
Intermediate (2–4 yrs) | $65,700 ($31.59/hr) | $71,100 ($34.18/hr) | $70,000 ($33.65/hr) |
Senior Level (4–7 yrs) | $77,200 ($37.12/hr) | $76,600 ($36.83/hr) | $75,800 ($36.34/hr) |
Attracting and retaining licensed electricians requires more than competitive base wages:
Company Culture: Maintain clear safety standards, recognize high performance, and eliminate toxic work environments to lower turnover.
Comprehensive Benefits: Provide health, dental, and vision coverages alongside matching 401(k) retirement options and paid time off (PTO).
Technical & Sales Training: Train technical staff to consult on additional service options (such as panel upgrades or surge protection) to boost ticket sizes and commission incentives.
Performance Bonuses: Structure incentives around safety milestones, customer satisfaction scores, and project completion efficiency.
Electrician salaries give you a useful benchmark, but building a successful electrical career or business takes more than knowing the average pay. The right skills, strong customer relationships, efficient operations, and a clear growth plan can have a much bigger impact on long-term earnings. If you're ready to turn those opportunities into real business growth, the next step is putting the right systems in place.
Run the numbers before you update your price book or field software.
Invoices, estimates, and flat-rate pricing sheets for electrical contractors.
Browse Electrical templatesCross-trade guides on hiring, marketing, and operations for every home services business.
View all guidesState licensing requirements, exams, and renewal rules for electrical contractors.
View statesAI receptionist built for Electrical — answers calls, books jobs, and follows up on leads 24/7.
See Larry for ElectricalDiscover 8 practical systems for managing a multi-branch electrical business, including standardized pricing, shared data, cross-branch scheduling, branch KPIs, and repeatable expansion processes.
Learn 10 electrical safety tips for protecting customers and electricians, from PPE and proper tools to training, job preparation, and safer field operations.
We will run your numbers on the call and tell you if the maths does not work for a shop your size. That happens, and it is a cheaper conversation than finding out three months in.
Get a demo