Electricians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Mean (average) | $71,490 | $34.37 |
| 90th percentile | $108,510 | $52.17 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Electricians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,690 | $37,640 | $78,230 | 10,900 | 1.06 |
| Alaska | $89,440 | $58,420 | $123,200 | 1,870 | 1.18 |
| Arizona | $61,060 | $45,540 | $89,600 | 21,140 | 1.34 |
| Arkansas | $49,070 | $34,910 | $74,460 | 7,500 | 1.18 |
| California | $76,160 | $46,800 | $140,340 | 73,310 | 0.83 |
| Colorado | $62,230 | $45,520 | $94,160 | 17,010 | 1.22 |
| Connecticut | $77,540 | $47,680 | $104,280 | 7,710 | 0.93 |
| Delaware | $63,700 | $38,280 | $105,340 | 2,260 | 0.96 |
| District of Columbia | $78,970 | $51,950 | $125,790 | 2,440 | 0.71 |
| Florida | $57,250 | $38,190 | $77,180 | 49,700 | 1.03 |
| Georgia | $58,320 | $37,180 | $84,000 | 21,650 | 0.91 |
| Guam | $43,020 | $39,570 | $54,040 | 890 | 2.75 |
| Hawaii | $96,460 | $45,730 | $124,590 | 3,070 | 1.01 |
| Idaho | $63,000 | $38,830 | $95,470 | 5,690 | 1.36 |
| Illinois | $99,560 | $49,240 | $123,660 | 23,120 | 0.78 |
| Indiana | $68,490 | $43,190 | $99,310 | 19,020 | 1.22 |
| Iowa | $60,860 | $39,770 | $89,480 | 10,310 | 1.36 |
| Kansas | $65,860 | $42,660 | $96,830 | 6,350 | 0.91 |
| Kentucky | $59,720 | $37,110 | $85,260 | 11,030 | 1.13 |
| Louisiana | $61,540 | $38,750 | $81,810 | 10,550 | 1.12 |
| Maine | $75,380 | $54,180 | $115,720 | 3,780 | 1.21 |
| Maryland | $73,490 | $46,450 | $118,370 | 13,690 | 1.02 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $46,990 | $128,210 | 17,810 | 1.01 |
| Michigan | $76,270 | $42,980 | $103,120 | 23,530 | 1.1 |
| Minnesota | $78,160 | $47,480 | $118,820 | 14,350 | 1 |
| Mississippi | $60,860 | $38,200 | $76,540 | 6,610 | 1.17 |
| Missouri | $65,410 | $43,860 | $104,060 | 12,780 | 0.89 |
| Montana | $76,760 | $49,130 | $89,510 | 2,750 | 1.1 |
| Nebraska | $60,820 | $40,400 | $94,040 | 6,440 | 1.29 |
| Nevada | $73,570 | $46,110 | $121,200 | 8,350 | 1.11 |
| New Hampshire | $62,840 | $43,190 | $91,850 | 3,330 | 1 |
| New Jersey | $77,250 | $48,570 | $130,860 | 13,520 | 0.65 |
| New Mexico | $58,390 | $36,650 | $86,830 | 5,020 | 1.18 |
| New York | $78,750 | $45,740 | $131,640 | 40,130 | 0.85 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | $40,130 | $75,060 | 21,640 | 0.9 |
| North Dakota | $65,710 | $46,440 | $101,020 | 3,570 | 1.71 |
| Ohio | $64,700 | $40,750 | $99,280 | 28,950 | 1.07 |
| Oklahoma | $61,010 | $37,900 | $92,740 | 8,500 | 1.02 |
| Oregon | $101,310 | $59,550 | $131,530 | 10,590 | 1.11 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,600 | $45,600 | $122,620 | 22,730 | 0.77 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,440 | $27,840 | $58,870 | 1,740 | 0.38 |
| Rhode Island | $74,090 | $42,990 | $102,840 | 2,420 | 0.99 |
| South Carolina | $58,740 | $44,330 | $77,800 | 8,010 | 0.71 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $44,320 | $80,060 | 2,980 | 1.34 |
| Tennessee | $61,090 | $39,600 | $92,160 | 17,070 | 1.07 |
| Texas | $58,570 | $37,920 | $80,300 | 76,770 | 1.12 |
| Utah | $62,000 | $39,940 | $89,110 | 11,450 | 1.36 |
| Vermont | $63,430 | $47,470 | $132,080 | 1,270 | 0.86 |
| Virgin Islands | $51,790 | $36,470 | $78,950 | 140 | 0.87 |
| Virginia | $62,900 | $40,780 | $105,720 | 23,630 | 1.18 |
| Washington | $95,220 | $52,170 | $133,950 | 19,380 | 1.12 |
| West Virginia | $64,810 | $43,620 | $95,140 | 4,290 | 1.25 |
| Wisconsin | $76,540 | $44,830 | $101,770 | 14,310 | 1 |
| Wyoming | $76,120 | $48,240 | $104,000 | 2,960 | 2.16 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for electricians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 72,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for electricians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Electrician CIP 46.0302
Licenses and certifications
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
- Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
- Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- AVEVA InTouch HMI
- Construction Master Pro
- Craftsman CD Estimator
- Database software
- Electrosoft FlashWorks
- Elite Software E-Coord
- Elite Software Inpoint
- Elite Software Outpoint
Transferable skills for career changers: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Installation, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.
Common job titles: Control Electrician, Electrical Journey Person, Electrical Troubleshooter, Electrician, Housing Maintenance Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Inside Wireman, Maintenance Electrician, Paper Mill Electrician, Wireman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do electricians make?
The national median annual wage for electricians was $63,190 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $108,510. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do electricians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is electricians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of electricians to change +9.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 72,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay electricians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($101,310), Illinois ($99,560), Hawaii ($96,460). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.