Electricians’ Salaries in the US: Pay and Purchasing Power by State

Electricians help keep homes, businesses, and infrastructure powered. For people considering the trade, pay is part of the picture—and it varies by location.

Median hourly earnings show what Electricians earn in each state. Cost-of-living-adjusted earnings add another perspective: how far those wages may go once differences in local prices are taken into account.

The state rankings show why a paycheck alone does not tell the whole story. A higher median hourly wage can look different after local costs are considered, while a lower nominal wage may go further in a less expensive state.

How have electricians’ wages changed over time?

Median hourly wages for Electricians rose steadily from 2005 through 2020. But as inflation accelerated around 2021, wage growth began to lag behind rising prices. Pay continued to increase in dollar terms, but it did not keep pace with the cost of living.

Employment has recovered from the pandemic dip

Employment for Electricians in the US has increased since 2011. The chart shows a slight dip during the pandemic, followed by a recovery in job growth.

The skills and employers behind the work

The skills employers advertise for Electricians combine troubleshooting, communication, operations, and problem solving with technical knowledge. Electrical systems, electrical wiring, and blueprinting are among the specialized skills that appear in job postings.

Job postings also show which companies are hiring. Over the past year, Aerotek, Cargill, and Amteck were among the top employers posting jobs for Electricians across the US.

A closer look at the skilled trades

Electricians’ wages, employment trends, and in-demand skills offer a view into how one occupation is changing. Lightcast’s research report, Defining the Skilled Trades: A Data-Driven Blueprint for the Future, provides a broader look at the occupations in this group and the workforce trends affecting them.