Electricians in the United States earn a median salary of $62,350 per year as of May 2024, roughly 26% above the median wage across all US occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the median is just the starting point. Your actual pay as an electrician depends on your license level, specialization, employer type, state, and whether you work union or non-union.
An apprentice in Alabama and a master electrician running commercial projects in Illinois are both “electricians”, and their incomes may differ by $60,000 or more. This guide breaks down every variable so you know exactly what to expect at each stage of your career, and what the highest-leverage moves are to increase your earnings.
Electrician Salary in the US: Quick Facts
| Median annual salary | $62,350 per year, BLS May 2024 |
| Median hourly rate | $29.98 per hour, BLS May 2024 |
| Bottom 10% (entry-level) | Less than $39,430 per year |
| Top 10% (experienced/master) | More than $106,030 per year |
| Total US electrician jobs (2024) | 818,700 |
| Projected job growth (2024–2034) | 9%, much faster than average |
Table of Contents
Electrician Median Salary in the US
The national median annual wage for electricians was $62,350 in May 2024, according to the BLS. That figure represents the midpoint; half of all electricians in the country earned more, and half earned less. But the full pay spectrum tells a more interesting story.
The lowest 10% of earners, typically first and second-year apprentices, brought in less than $39,430. The top 10%, experienced master electricians, industrial specialists, and those in high-union-density markets, earned more than $106,030.
That is a $66,000+ range within a single occupation, which means the choices you make about licensing, specialization, and location have an enormous impact on where you land.
On an hourly basis, the median works out to approximately $29.98 per hour, nearly $10 more per hour than the average across all US construction and extraction occupations.
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
| 10th (entry-level) | $39,430 | ~$18.96 |
| 25th | ~$51,000 | ~$24.52 |
| 50th (median) | $62,350 | $29.98 |
| 75th | ~$80,000 | ~$38.46 |
| 90th (top earners) | $106,030 | ~$50.98 |
Electrician Salary by Experience Level
Pay in the electrical trade moves in clear steps tied to license level. The jump from apprentice to journeyman is significant. The jump from journeyman to master, especially for those who move into commercial or industrial work, can be equally dramatic.
Apprentice pay (Years 1–4)
Apprentices earn while they learn, but their pay is intentionally scaled below journeyman rates. Most apprenticeship programs, including IBEW and IEC, set starting wages at 40–50% of the local journeyman rate, with increases at each training milestone.
In practical terms, first-year apprentices typically earn between $18 and $22 per hour, or roughly $37,000 to $45,000 per year. By the final year of a five-year apprenticeship, wages are typically at 80–90% of journeyman pay.
Journeyman pay
A journeyman electrician, licensed after completing the apprenticeship and passing the state exam, earns significantly more. Industry data places journeyman pay in a range of $50,000 to $70,000 annually, with high-cost-of-living markets and union contracts pushing experienced journeymen well above that.
Master electrician pay
Master electricians sit at the top of the licensing structure. They take on the highest-stakes work, pulling permits, supervising journeymen, and running electrical contracting businesses. Their earnings align with the BLS’s top quartile, frequently landing between $80,000 and $106,030+. Master electricians who own and operate their own businesses can earn well beyond the $106,030 ceiling reflected in employee wage data.
| License Level | Approximate Annual Pay | Notes |
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $37,000 – $42,000 | ~40–50% of journeyman rate |
| Apprentice (Year 4–5) | $48,000 – $58,000 | ~80–90% of journeyman rate |
| Journeyman (entry) | $50,000 – $65,000 | Varies by state and union status |
| Journeyman (experienced) | $65,000 – $85,000 | 3–7 years post-license |
| Master Electrician | $80,000 – $106,030+ | BLS 90th percentile: $106,030 |
Electrician Salary by Industry and Employer Type
Where you work matters as much as how long you have been working. BLS tracks electrician wages across industries, and the gaps are substantial. Electricians in local government and utility construction consistently out-earn those in residential building contracting, often by $15,000–$20,000 per year.
| Industry / Employer Type | Mean Annual Wage (BLS) |
| Local government (excl. schools/hospitals) | $77,080 |
| Utility system construction | $71,660 |
| Nonresidential building construction | $69,980 |
| Building equipment contractors | $66,980 |
| Employment services (temp/contract) | $57,490 |
The practical takeaway: an electrician doing the same licensed work earns more in a government or utility role than in residential contracting. Industrial and commercial settings also tend to pay above the residential average, particularly for electricians maintaining high-voltage systems, automated controls, or mission-critical infrastructure.
Electrician Salary by State
Geography is one of the most powerful salary variables in this trade. The five highest-paying states for electricians all have active union presence, large construction markets, or both.
| State | Mean Annual Wage | Key Driver |
| Oregon | ~$97,320 | Portland metro growth; tech sector expansion |
| Washington | ~$96,530 | Seattle tech and data center build-out |
| Illinois | ~$96,360 | Chicago metro construction; strong IBEW contracts |
| Hawaii | ~$83,200 | High cost of living; limited worker supply |
| Massachusetts | ~$82,120 | Boston metro demand; strong union density |
| District of Columbia | ~$81,950 | Federal and government construction |
| New York | ~$77,460 | NYC commercial construction; union rates |
At the lower end of the pay scale, states like Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina report mean wages closer to $46,000–$48,000. Lower wages in these states are typically tied to lower costs of living, weaker union density, and less large-scale commercial construction activity.
A note on cost-of-living adjusted pay: When wages are adjusted for what your dollar actually buys, the rankings shift.
Union vs. Non-Union Electrician Pay
This is one of the most consequential financial decisions in the electrical trade. The reality is that union membership, primarily through the IBEW, typically produces higher base wages, but the full compensation picture includes benefits that make the gap even wider than the hourly rate suggests.
Base wage: Union journeyman electricians in most IBEW locals earn between $60,000 and $100,000+ annually, depending on the local contract. Non-union journeymen doing similar work in the same market typically earn less, though in some high-growth non-union shops the gap narrows.
Total compensation: The real union advantage shows up in benefits. IBEW members typically receive employer-funded health insurance, a defined-benefit pension, an annuity fund, and paid vacation, on top of their base wages. When the dollar value of these benefits is included, total union compensation routinely exceeds the base wage figure by 20–40%.
Trade-offs: Union work generally requires going through the IBEW apprenticeship program, which is competitive in many markets. Non-union work offers more flexibility; you can work for any employer, move between companies more freely, and in some regions, access projects that union contractors do not bid on. In right-to-work states across the South and parts of the Mountain West, non-union shops dominate the market.
| Factor | Union (IBEW) | Non-Union |
| Base hourly rate | Collectively bargained, typically higher | Market rate varies by employer |
| Health insurance | Employer-funded (union trust) | Varies, often employee-paid |
| Pension/retirement | Defined-benefit pension + annuity | 401(k) if offered, varies |
| Apprenticeship | Structured, free, nationally recognized | Trade school or employer-based |
| Flexibility | Work for signatory contractors only | Work for any employer |
| Availability | Strongest in the Northeast, the Midwest, and the West Coast | Dominant in South and rural markets |
Electrician Salary vs. Related Trades
If you are deciding between trade careers, salary is one factor worth comparing. Electricians sit near the top of the skilled trades pay scale.
| Trade | Median Annual Salary (BLS 2024) | Projected Growth (2024–2034) |
| Electrician | $62,350 | 9% |
| Plumber | $62,350 | 5% |
| HVAC Technician | $57,300 | 9% |
| Carpenter | $59,310 | 5% |
| Roofer | $50,970 | 6% |
| Painter | $48,660 | 4% |
Electricians and plumbers are essentially tied at the median, but electricians have a stronger growth projection and a higher ceiling at the 90th percentile. The combination of strong median pay, fast projected growth, and a high upside for specialization makes the electrical trade one of the most financially compelling options in the skilled trades.
How to Increase Your Electrician Salary
The median is not your ceiling; it is your floor once you are licensed. Here are the highest-leverage moves to push your income above it, ranked roughly by impact.
1. Get your master electrician license
The single biggest pay jump in the electrical trade comes when you move from journeyman to master. It opens access to permit-pulling work, supervisory roles, and eventually your own contracting business. The additional one to two years of experience and exam preparation is the highest-ROI investment most journeymen can make.
2. Specialize in high-demand sectors
Industrial, utility, and data center electrical work pays significantly more than general residential contracting. Solar PV installation and EV charging infrastructure installation are both growing rapidly and command a pay premium due to skills scarcity. Electricians with NABCEP solar credentials or EV installation training are in high demand and short supply in most markets.
3. Join a union (where available)
If you are in a market where the IBEW has active locals and consistent work, union membership typically raises your total compensation, base wages plus benefits, well above what most non-union shops offer. The built-in pension and employer-funded healthcare add significant value beyond the hourly rate.
4. Relocate to a higher-paying market
Moving from a low-wage state to Illinois, Oregon, or Washington can add $15,000–$25,000+ to your annual income for the same work. This is a meaningful consideration for electricians early in their careers who do not yet have deep community or business roots.
5. Add certifications
OSHA 30, NABCEP PV Installation Professional, and NICET certification all signal specialized expertise and are frequently tied to higher pay in commercial and industrial environments. Many employers cover the cost of these credentials; ask before paying out of pocket.
Job Outlook for Electricians in 2026
The salary picture for electricians is strong now, and the projections suggest it will remain that way. The BLS projects 9% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, generating an estimated 81,000 job openings per year over the decade. That growth rate is three times faster than the national average across all occupations.
Four structural drivers are sustaining demand and keeping wages elevated:
- Clean energy build-out: Solar installations, wind farms, and battery storage facilities all require licensed electricians. Federal infrastructure investment is accelerating project timelines across all 50 states.
- EV charging rollout: Public and commercial EV charging networks are expanding rapidly, and electricians with Level 2 and DC fast charger installation skills are in short supply.
- Data center and tech infrastructure: The explosion in AI and cloud computing infrastructure is driving commercial electrical demand in markets like Northern Virginia, the Pacific Northwest, and Texas.
- Workforce retirement gap: Roughly 10,000 electricians retire or leave the trade each year while only around 7,000 new entrants complete training, a structural gap that is keeping wages elevated and is unlikely to close in the near term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make per hour?
The median hourly rate for electricians in the US was $29.98 per hour as of May 2024, according to the BLS. Entry-level apprentices typically start around $18–$22 per hour. Experienced journeymen in union markets can exceed $40–$50 per hour, and master electricians running commercial projects or their own businesses may earn more.
What is the highest-paying electrician specialty?
Industrial electricians, particularly those working in manufacturing, power generation, utilities, and data centers, consistently earn above the national median. BLS data shows that electricians in local government and utility construction report mean wages of $71,000–$80,000+, significantly above the $62,350 national median.
Do union electricians make more money than non-union electricians?
In most markets, yes, especially when total compensation is considered. Union electricians typically earn higher base wages through collectively bargained contracts, plus employer-funded health insurance, defined-benefit pensions, and annuity contributions.
Does the electrician’s salary increase much with experience?
Significantly. The spread from the bottom 10% ($39,430) to the top 10% ($106,030+) of electrician earners is more than $66,000 per year, a range wider than in many professional occupations. The biggest single jump comes when you pass your journeyman exam after completing your apprenticeship.
The Bottom Line on Electrician Pay
At $62,350 per year nationally, and well above $80,000 in the top-paying states and specializations, electricians earn competitive wages without a college degree, and the job market is growing at three times the national average. The key variables that separate an electrician earning $45,000 from one earning $95,000 are license level, specialization, employer type, geography, and union membership. All of those are within your control.
Ready to start building toward those higher pay levels? Read our full guide on how to become an electrician in the US for a step-by-step walkthrough of apprenticeship programs, licensing requirements, and the fastest paths to journeyman status.