BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics — May 2024
Electrician Salary by State
Average annual wages, hourly rates, and salary ranges for electricians across all 50 states.
$60,894
National Average
$87,430
Highest (Washington D.C.)
$43,080
Lowest (Mississippi)
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Electricians
All 50 States — Salary Table
Source: BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 47-2111 Electricians)
What Affects Electrician Pay?
- 1.License level — Master electricians earn significantly more than journeymen. In most states the gap is $10,000–$25,000 annually.
- 2.Union vs. non-union — IBEW union electricians typically earn 20–30% more than non-union counterparts in the same market.
- 3.Metro area — San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Chicago metro areas pay 25–45% above their state's average.
- 4.Specialty work — Industrial, commercial, and high-voltage work pays more than residential service work.
- 5.Years of experience — Entry-level journeymen typically start near the 10th percentile; top earners with 10+ years often exceed the 90th percentile.
Job Outlook for Electricians
The BLS projects electrician employment to grow 11% from 2023 to 2033 — much faster than the average for all occupations. The primary drivers are the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, data center construction, solar and wind energy installations, and the ongoing retrofitting of commercial buildings for energy efficiency.
About 73,500 openings for electricians are projected each year over the decade, resulting from both growth and replacement of workers who retire or leave the occupation.
States with the largest projected growth include Texas, Florida, California, and the Mountain West states, driven by population growth and large-scale infrastructure investment.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electricians, 2024–25 edition.
How to Maximize Your Electrician Salary
Get Licensed
A journeyman or master license increases your earning potential immediately. Licensed electricians earn 15–30% more than unlicensed helpers.
Upgrade to Master
The master license unlocks contractor-level work, supervision roles, and the ability to pull permits — all of which command higher rates.
Pursue Specialty Certifications
Arc flash, solar PV (NABCEP), fire alarm, or low-voltage certifications add significant value in commercial and industrial markets.
Target High-Demand Markets
Data centers, EV charging infrastructure, and utility-scale solar are the highest-growth sectors for electrician employment through 2033.
All salary figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program, May 2024 survey (SOC 47-2111, Electricians). Entry-level = 10th percentile wage; Experienced = 90th percentile wage. State averages represent mean annual wages for wage and salary workers; self-employed electricians are not included.