Electrician salary by percentile
Half of all electricians earn more than $63,190 and half earn less; the middle half are paid between $49,430 and $83,940 a year.[onet_elec][oews] BLS publishes five points of the pay distribution, and the table adds the hourly rate and what a single filer keeps after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.[irs][ssa]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,640 | $20.50 | $36,441 |
| 25th | $49,430 | $23.76 | $41,897 |
| Median (50th) | $63,190 | $30.38 | $52,953 |
| 75th | $83,940 | $40.36 | $67,882 |
| 90th | $108,510 | $52.17 | $85,167 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
A $100,000 base salary sits around the 85th percentile nationally. BLS counted 757,220 electricians on payrolls in May 2025.[oews_api] BLS projects electrician jobs to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, three times the 3% average for all occupations, with about 72,700 openings a year.[ooh_elec] These are wage and salary workers only: electrical contractors who own their business are not in the survey, so the top of the real earnings range is higher than the 90th percentile shown here.[oews_faq]
Journeyman electrician salary and apprentice pay
BLS does not split electricians by license level, so the closest public figure for a journeyman electrician salary is the middle of the distribution: $49,430 to $83,940, with $63,190 at the median.[onet_elec] Apprentices and new workers cluster near the 10th percentile ($42,640), and master electricians, foremen and estimators near the 75th and 90th. Electricians’ helpers, a separate BLS occupation, earn a median of $42,670 ($20.51).[onet_helpE]
Registered apprentices are paid on a written schedule that rises as they gain skill; federal rules require that progressive wage schedule in every registered program.[ecfr295] Model your own steps with the apprentice pay calculator on the electrician apprenticeship page, and see the hour requirements on how long it takes to become an electrician.
Apprentice pay by trade
A registered apprenticeship pays $108,534 to $224,552 while you train, depending on the trade, on an example ladder from 50% to 90% of the BLS national median rate.[ecfr295][oews] Length drives most of the gap: welder programs run 3 years, plumbing and HVAC/R programs 5, and none in the listings charges tuition.[s_cb7467][s_cb389o][s_cb167] The last column is what Washington’s outcome data shows: most apprentices who start do not finish.
| Trade | Length | Hours | Earned while training | Pay given up* | Finish rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welder[s_cb7467] | 3 years | 6,000 | $108,534 | $46,514 | not reported |
| Lineman[s_cb3922o] | 4 years | 7,000 | $224,552 | $96,237 | 32% |
| Electrician (inside wireman)[s_cb4185o] | 4 years | 8,000 | $170,127 | $72,912 | 28% |
| HVAC/R mechanic[s_cb167] | 5 years | 10,000 | $205,322 | $87,995 | not reported |
| Plumber[s_cb389o] | 5 years | 10,000 | $214,712 | $92,019 | 13% |
*Against working the same hours at the full journeyworker rate. Your program’s written schedule sets the real steps; each linked page has the apprentice pay calculator, with yearly or 6-month raises.
Union electrician pay and overtime
Union electrician pay is set by each local’s contract, which also covers pension, health and training contributions that BLS wage figures leave out; no government source publishes a single national union scale, so we do not print one.[oews_faq] What the survey does show is the straight-time rate. Overtime is paid on top: federal law requires time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.[flsa] Plant and utility electricians are paid differently again; see industrial electrician salary for pay in 30 employer industries.
| Schedule | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h, no overtime | $1,215 | $63,190 | $52,953 |
| 40 h + 5 h overtime | $1,443 | $75,038 | $61,619 |
| 40 h + 10 h overtime | $1,671 | $86,886 | $69,954 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax and FICA, before state tax. Overtime math: regular hours at the rate, extra hours at 1.5×.
How much do electricians make in each state?
Oregon pays electricians the most, with a median of $101,310, followed by Illinois ($99,560) and Hawaii ($96,460); Arkansas pays the least at $49,070.[onet_elec] The top state pays $52,240 more than the bottom one, a bigger gap than most moves between trades.
| State | Median | Hourly | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Oregon | $101,310 | $48.71 | $131,530 | 10,590 |
| 2. Illinois | $99,560 | $47.87 | $123,660 | 23,120 |
| 3. Hawaii | $96,460 | $46.38 | $124,590 | 3,070 |
| 4. Washington | $95,220 | $45.78 | $133,950 | 19,380 |
| 5. Alaska | $89,440 | $43.00 | $123,200 | 1,870 |
| 6. Massachusetts | $79,420 | $38.18 | $128,210 | 17,810 |
| 7. District of Columbia | $78,970 | $37.97 | $125,790 | 2,440 |
| 8. New York | $78,750 | $37.86 | $131,640 | 40,130 |
| 9. Minnesota | $78,160 | $37.58 | $118,820 | 14,350 |
| 10. Connecticut | $77,540 | $37.28 | $104,280 | 7,710 |
| 11. New Jersey | $77,250 | $37.14 | $130,860 | 13,520 |
| 12. Montana | $76,760 | $36.90 | $89,510 | 2,750 |
| 13. Wisconsin | $76,540 | $36.80 | $101,770 | 14,310 |
| 14. Michigan | $76,270 | $36.67 | $103,120 | 23,530 |
| 15. California | $76,160 | $36.62 | $140,340 | 73,310 |
| 16. Wyoming | $76,120 | $36.60 | $104,000 | 2,960 |
| 17. Maine | $75,380 | $36.24 | $115,720 | 3,780 |
| 18. Rhode Island | $74,090 | $35.62 | $102,840 | 2,420 |
| 19. Nevada | $73,570 | $35.37 | $121,200 | 8,350 |
| 20. Maryland | $73,490 | $35.33 | $118,370 | 13,690 |
| 21. Indiana | $68,490 | $32.93 | $99,310 | 19,020 |
| 22. Pennsylvania | $67,600 | $32.50 | $122,620 | 22,730 |
| 23. Kansas | $65,860 | $31.66 | $96,830 | 6,350 |
| 24. North Dakota | $65,710 | $31.59 | $101,020 | 3,570 |
| 25. Missouri | $65,410 | $31.45 | $104,060 | 12,780 |
| 26. West Virginia | $64,810 | $31.16 | $95,140 | 4,290 |
| 27. Ohio | $64,700 | $31.11 | $99,280 | 28,950 |
| 28. Delaware | $63,700 | $30.63 | $105,340 | 2,260 |
| 29. Vermont | $63,430 | $30.50 | $132,080 | 1,270 |
| 30. Idaho | $63,000 | $30.29 | $95,470 | 5,690 |
| 31. Virginia | $62,900 | $30.24 | $105,720 | 23,630 |
| 32. New Hampshire | $62,840 | $30.21 | $91,850 | 3,330 |
| 33. Colorado | $62,230 | $29.92 | $94,160 | 17,010 |
| 34. Utah | $62,000 | $29.81 | $89,110 | 11,450 |
| 35. Louisiana | $61,540 | $29.59 | $81,810 | 10,550 |
| 36. South Dakota | $61,390 | $29.51 | $80,060 | 2,980 |
| 37. Tennessee | $61,090 | $29.37 | $92,160 | 17,070 |
| 38. Arizona | $61,060 | $29.36 | $89,600 | 21,140 |
| 39. Oklahoma | $61,010 | $29.33 | $92,740 | 8,500 |
| 40. Iowa | $60,860 | $29.26 | $89,480 | 10,310 |
| 41. Mississippi | $60,860 | $29.26 | $76,540 | 6,610 |
| 42. Nebraska | $60,820 | $29.24 | $94,040 | 6,440 |
| 43. Kentucky | $59,720 | $28.71 | $85,260 | 11,030 |
| 44. South Carolina | $58,740 | $28.24 | $77,800 | 8,010 |
| 45. Texas | $58,570 | $28.16 | $80,300 | 76,770 |
| 46. New Mexico | $58,390 | $28.07 | $86,830 | 5,020 |
| 47. Georgia | $58,320 | $28.04 | $84,000 | 21,650 |
| 48. Florida | $57,250 | $27.52 | $77,180 | 49,700 |
| 49. North Carolina | $56,800 | $27.31 | $75,060 | 21,640 |
| 50. Alabama | $55,690 | $26.77 | $78,230 | 10,900 |
| 51. Arkansas | $49,070 | $23.59 | $74,460 | 7,500 |
Jobs: BLS OEWS employment estimate, May 2025. Pick a state in the calculator to load its metro areas.
Highest-paying metro areas for electricians
The best-paying metro area for electricians is Kankakee, IL, at a median of $105,500.[onet_elec]
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kankakee, IL | $105,500 | $50.72 | $111,490 |
| 2. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,090 | $50.52 | $134,380 |
| 3. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $104,510 | $50.25 | $156,620 |
| 4. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,350 | $49.21 | $124,070 |
| 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,780 | $48.93 | $151,290 |
| 6. Champaign-Urbana, IL | $100,320 | $48.23 | $105,710 |
| 7. Urban Honolulu, HI | $100,270 | $48.21 | $124,040 |
| 8. Albany, OR | $100,230 | $48.19 | $123,500 |
| 9. Corvallis, OR | $99,880 | $48.02 | $115,240 |
| 10. Kennewick-Richland, WA | $99,850 | $48.00 | $125,380 |
| 11. Bend, OR | $99,200 | $47.69 | $123,270 |
| 12. Salem, OR | $98,850 | $47.52 | $129,010 |
Trade salaries compared
Among the eight trades on this site, electrical power-line installers and repairers have the highest median pay ($95,320) and automotive service technicians and mechanics the lowest ($50,620).[oews] The chart shows each trade’s full range, not just the median.
| Trade | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lineman (power-line installer) | $95,320 | $45.83 | $51,470 | $128,690 | 131,070 |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 | $44,150 | $108,420 | 465,840 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 | $42,640 | $108,510 | 757,220 |
| Diesel mechanic | $61,770 | $29.70 | $44,530 | $88,740 | 289,960 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 | $29.33 | $40,050 | $95,210 | 409,670 |
| CDL truck driver | $58,640 | $28.19 | $40,140 | $79,380 | 2,062,040 |
| Welder | $53,750 | $25.84 | $39,240 | $77,530 | 416,210 |
| Auto mechanic | $50,620 | $24.34 | $34,660 | $81,790 | 704,640 |
Compare two trades
BLS May 2025 dataEvery published percentile side by side, nationally or in one state.
United States · BLS May 2025
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn $610 more at the median (1.0%).
| Percentile | Electrician | Plumber | A − B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,640 | $44,150 | −$1,510 |
| 25th | $49,430 | $50,190 | −$760 |
| Median | $63,190 | $63,800 | −$610 |
| 75th | $83,940 | $85,110 | −$1,170 |
| 90th | $108,510 | $108,420 | +$90 |
| Take-home at median* | $52,953 | $53,443 | −$490 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal tax and FICA, no state tax.
Planning figure, not a pay offer. Two trades side by side from the BLS May 2025 employer survey; overtime, per diem and income from running your own shop are left out.
Detailed pages: welder salary, plumber salary, HVAC technician salary, lineman salary, diesel mechanic salary, auto mechanic salary, truck driver salary, carpenter salary and elevator mechanic salary. Top of the scale: master electrician salary and all 30 highest paying trades; getting started: how to become an electrician. Training costs: electrician school cost, welding school cost, HVAC school cost and CDL cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is the electrician salary in Florida?
$57,250 a year at the median (BLS, May 2025), $5,940 below the national median and 48th of 51 states. Florida has no state income tax on wages, and counties license journeyman electricians.
How much do electricians make an hour?
$30.38 at the national median (BLS, May 2025). The 10th percentile is $20.50 and the 90th is $52.17. Overtime is paid at 1.5× after 40 hours a week.
What is the average journeyman electrician salary?
BLS does not report license levels separately; the middle half of electricians earn $49,430 to $83,940 and the median is $63,190, which is the best public proxy for journeyman pay.
What state pays electricians the most?
Oregon, with a median of $101,310, then Illinois and Hawaii. Arkansas pays the least at $49,070.
How much does an electrician make a month?
About $5,266 before tax at the national median, or roughly $4,413 after federal tax and FICA for a single filer with no state tax.
Do union electricians make more?
Union pay depends on the local contract and includes benefit contributions that BLS wage data leaves out, so there is no official national union rate to compare. Ask the local for its current inside wireman scale.
Sources
- Local Wages: 47-2111.00 Electricians (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians (4- or 5-year apprenticeship; projections 2025–35)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- Local Wages: 47-3013.00 Helpers, electricians (state and metro percentiles)
- 29 CFR 29.5, Standards of apprenticeship (2,000-hour minimum term; 144 hours related instruction recommended; progressive wage schedule)
- Overtime Pay (Fair Labor Standards Act: time and one-half after 40 hours in a workweek)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)
- Fabrication Welder apprenticeship, Northwest Machinists Apprenticeship Committee (3 years, 6,000 hours)
- Construction Lineman apprenticeship, Northwest Line Construction Industry JATC: completion rate 32%, employment rate 97%, median earnings $78 an hour ($198,000 a year); 91% of graduates in construction
- Inside Wireman apprenticeship, Columbia Basin Electrical Training Alliance: completion rate 28%, employment rate 97%, median earnings $58 an hour
- HVAC/Refrigeration Mechanic apprenticeship, Seattle Area Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVAC/Refrigeration committee (5 years, 10,000 hours)
- Plumber apprenticeship, Plumber CITC of Washington: completion rate 13%, employment rate 92%, median earnings $53 an hour
- Florida Statutes s. 489.5335, Journeyman electrical licenses (counties and municipalities; apprenticeship or 12,000 hours and exam)