Average Electrician Salary
Electrician salaries average $58,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median hourly pay is $28 per hour. Expected wages vary depending on your level of experience, the city and state you work in, the industry you specialize in and the demand for electricians in your area.
| Electrician Pay Scale | ||
|---|---|---|
| Skill Level | Hourly | Yearly |
| Apprentice (starting) | $10-$20 | $20,000-$40,000 |
| Journeyman | $20-$30 | $40,000-$55,000 |
| Master | $30-$45+ | $55,000-$90,000+ |
How Much Do Electricians Make an Hour?
Overall, electricians make $10 to $45 per hour, though the rate could be much lower or higher depending on the area and demand. Apprentices make $10 to $20 per hour on average. journeymen make $20 to $30 per hour, and masters can make $30 to $45 or more per hour.
How Much Do Electricians Make a Year?
Annually, electricians make anywhere from $20,000 to more than $90,000. Their average annual income is about $54,000. Apprentices can make between $20,000 and $40,000, while journeymen can make $40,000 to $55,000. Masters can make $55,000 to $90,000 or more.
Electrician Wage
When broken into percentiles, electricians are making:
$32,000 per year
$40,000 per year
$54,000 per year
$71,000 per year
$93,000 per year
Electricians in Puerto Rico are in the 10th percentile at less than $30,000 per year. Hawaiian electrical pros are in the 75th percentile at $78,000 per year. Electricians in the San Francisco area and in San Rafael, Calif. get up to the 90th percentile at $90,000 to $93,000.
Commercial vs. Residential Electrician Salaries
Commercial construction electricians may make the same as those in residential. Government electrical work pays more, with an average of $32 per hour. In utility system construction, it’s $30 per hour. In the natural gas industry, workers average $47 per hour—almost $97,000 per year.
Electrician Salary by State
The states with the highest pay for electricians are Hawaii, Washington DC, Alaska, New York and Illinois. The states or territories with the lowest pay for electricians are Puerto Rico, Guam, South Carolina, North Carolina and Arkansas.
| Best & Worst States for Electricians | ||
|---|---|---|
| States/Districts | Hourly | Yearly |
| Hawaii | $37.50 | $77,990 |
| Washington DC | $37.18 | $77,330 |
| Alaska | $37.10 | $77,180 |
| New York | $36.77 | $76,480 |
| Illinois | $35.58 | $74,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $13.67 | $28,440 |
| Guam | $18.25 | $37,970 |
| South Carolina | $21.10 | $43,890 |
| North Carolina | $21.14 | $43,970 |
| Arkansas | $21.17 | $44,030 |
Within states themselves there can be significant discrepancies. Metropolitan electricians tend to make more than those in nonmetropolitan areas.
Pay Rate Differences Between Metropolitan & Nonmetropolitan Areas in 2017
| More Rural City/Area | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Rome, GA | $18.14 |
| Northern Valley Region, CA | $23.51 |
| East Central, IL | $26.43 |
| More Urban City/Area | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $23.80 |
| San Rafael, CA | $44.65 |
| Chicago, IL | $38.07 |
Job Market Competition
California has the most electricians of all states with over 63,000. Texas comes in second with over 60,000, followed by New York with nearly 42,000. Most are concentrated in metropolitan areas. For example, the North Valley region of California has 50 electricians versus nearly 20,000 in the Los Angeles area.
States with the fewest electricians include Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana. However, that doesn’t mean that these aren’t good states for employment. The ratio of electricians to the working population may still be high and favorable.
Job Market Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that the demand for electricians will increase by 9 percent by 2026 – adding over 60,000 electricians to the industry. States hiring more than they did in 2017 include California, Florida and Colorado.
However, some areas plan to hire fewer electricians than they did in 2017. These include Puerto Rico, Alaska and Maine.
| New Electrician Job Openings from 2017 to 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|
| States Hiring More | New Jobs by 2019 | New Jobs by 2026 |
| California | 5,500 | 8,900 |
| Florida | 3,850 | 7,810 |
| Colorado | 1,680 | 7,160 |
| States Hiring Fewer | New Jobs by 2019 | New Jobs by 2026 |
| Puerto Rico | -120 | -90 |
| Alaska | -70 | 40 |
| Maine | 0 | -110 |
Electrician Apprenticeships
For 2016, Site Selection Group analyzed all apprenticeship programs in the country and found the states with the most active apprenticeships per million people in the labor force. Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Missouri and Connecticut have between 3,000 and over 4,000 active apprenticeships per million.
The same states are in the top five for completed apprenticeships. According to statistics from Indeed, electrician apprentices in these states make the high end of average, $15 to $20 per hour.
References:
- https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes472111.htm#(3)
- https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Electrician/Hourly_Rate
- https://www1.salary.com/Electrician-III-Salary.html
- https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/electrician/salary
- https://work.chron.com/much-first-year-electrician-apprentice-paid-7629.html
- 2018 National Electrical Estimator* (Craftsman Library)
- Estimating Electrical Construction (revised)* (Craftsman Library)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm
- https://collegegrad.com/careers/electricians
- http://www.electricianapprenticehq.com/apprentice-electrician-wages/
- https://work.chron.com/differences-between-journeyman-master-electrician-2158.html
- https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/electrician-jobs.asp
- https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/electrician/
- https://info.siteselectiongroup.com/blog/top-states-for-apprenticeships
- https://education.costhelper.com/electrician-school.html
- http://www.myelectriccareer.com/electrician-school/cost
- https://careertrend.com/about-4703302-cost-become-electrician.html
- https://www.electriciancareersguide.com/electrician-apprentice-vs-electrician-school-which-is-the-right-choice-for-you/
- https://electricalcareernow.com/becoming-an-electrician/california-license-requirements
- https://howtostartanllc.com/business-ideas/electrician
- https://www.paysa.com/salaries/owner-electrician–t
- https://www.electricianmentor.com/electrician-salary/
- https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Electrical-Contracting-Company/salaries
- https://www.indeed.com/salaries/Apprentice-Electrician-Salaries-at-Ibew
- https://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=1833
- http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/ShortTerm
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