Electricians are very important in the building and maintenance of homes and buildings. They make people’s lives easier by installing access to electricity to provide power to lighting systems and appliances. Without them, a building simply will not function and a house would be unlivable.
Electricians work both indoors and outdoors and their jobs take them to residential homes and work sites. Some have their own businesses while others work in a company or a team. They either have full-time jobs or work by appointment basis where they get to work at any time of the day and any time of the week.
Electricians need to have a high school diploma, study in a technical school, and have an apprenticeship where they get to learn most of their skills.
Most states require electricians to have a license to be able to work.
To learn more, visit our “How to Become an Electrician” page.
Electrician Salary
But, how much do electricians make? The annual average electrician salary is , which is equivalent to $26.53 per hour of work. The lower 10% of earners have an annual salary of $32,940 or lower and the upper 10% has an annual salary of $94,620 or higher.
An electrician starting salary is about 30-50% lower than that of the average electrician’s salary. Income increases with experience and wealth of skill. Experienced electricians are often commissioned by contractors for large jobs in the construction of buildings, and therefore, earn more than the average.
Salaries or income also depend on the hours of work done. Those who are self-employed ask for hourly rates or a fixed fee, while those who work in companies have a stable income.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alaska | 7.01 | $37.88 | $78,800 |
 | Illinois | 3.93 | $33.62 | $69,940 |
 | New York | 4.18 | $33.57 | $69,820 |
 | Oregon | 4.72 | $33.02 | $68,690 |
 | New Jersey | 3.24 | $32.49 | $67,570 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Industries | – | $40.96 | $85,190 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 0.63 | $40.91 | $82,130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | – | $39.29 | $81,720 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 0.37 | $37.64 | $78,290 |
| Lessors of Real Estate | 0.09 | $36.80 | $76,550 |
Electrician Job Description
What do electricians do? Electricians install and maintain electrical power for homes, businesses, and factory facilities. They are either self-employed or work in a company. Their jobs take them to residential homes, commercial spaces, and work sites.
Among the duties of an electrician are:
- Reading blueprints and technical diagrams
- Installing and maintaining wiring and electrical systems
- Inspecting electrical components
- Identifying, diagnosing, and troubleshooting electrical problems
- Repairing or replacing wiring, equipment, and other electrical fixtures
Electricians also need to keep up with updated state and local building regulations based on the National Electric Code to adhere to the law.
They use a number of equipment that are either used manually or power-operated. Among these tools are screwdrivers, drills, saws, wire strippers, and troubleshooting tools such as ammeters, cable testers, voltmeters, and thermal scanners.
8% of all electricians in the United States are self-employed. They mostly work in residential and commercial facilities where they diagnose and troubleshoot electrical problems. They also install new systems such as outlets and other means of access to electricity.
65% are employed in the wiring installation industry, as well as working as electrical contractors. Those who work in manufacturing facilities tend to have the most stable jobs.
Electricians have higher work-related injuries and illnesses than the national average, which means they are frequently exposing themselves to danger at work. To protect themselves from the common potential injuries such as electrical shocks, faults, cuts, and burns, they must wear protective clothing, safety gloves, protection for their ears when they work in factories, as well as the proper head gear when working at construction sites.
Among the qualities an aspiring electrician must have to succeed in the business are: critical thinking skills, since a large chunk of their duties involve figuring out problems in the systems and looking for solutions; good color vision, so they can easily identify wires; and good customer service skills. Electricians often come face to face with their actual clients, especially those who are self-employed, so good interpersonal and customer service skills are a must to succeed in the business.
Electrician Job Outlook
There is a projected 9% increase in employment for electricians from 2016 to 2026. A total of 59,600 jobs are projected to be created, making the demand for electricians higher than the national average.
As more and more buildings are built, the need for electricians will also grow. Maintenance needs of systems are also seen to grow along with the increase of modernization.
An emerging field in the industry is in the installation and maintenance of alternative power generation. Households and commercial establishments will need the services of an electrician to connect solar and wind power to their lighting systems and appliances.
Electrician Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 4.885 | $21.36 | $44,430 |
| Alaska | 7.015 | $37.88 | $78,800 |
 | Arizona | 5.174 | $22.09 | $45,940 |
 | Arkansas | 4.311 | $20.74 | $43,150 |
 | California | 3.297 | $30.95 | $64,370 |
 | Colorado | 5.861 | $23.19 | $48,240 |
 | Connecticut | 3.693 | $27.20 | $56,580 |
 | Delaware | 4.904 | $25.46 | $52,950 |
 | Florida | 3.945 | $20.18 | $41,970 |
 | Georgia | 4.04 | $21.84 | $45,420 |
 | Hawaii | 4.867 | $30.94 | $64,360 |
 | Idaho | 4.873 | $21.93 | $45,620 |
| Illinois | 3.933 | $33.62 | $69,940 |
 | Indiana | 5.499 | $28.13 | $58,500 |
 | Iowa | 4.932 | $24.77 | $51,520 |
 | Kansas | 4.058 | $24.19 | $50,320 |
 | Kentucky | 4.153 | $23.59 | $49,070 |
 | Louisiana | 6.454 | $22.72 | $47,260 |
 | Maine | 3.76 | $22.61 | $47,040 |
 | Maryland | 4.679 | $26.73 | $55,590 |
 | Massachusetts | 4.306 | $30.22 | $62,850 |
 | Michigan | 4.324 | $28.62 | $59,520 |
 | Minnesota | 3.809 | $27.80 | $57,830 |
 | Mississippi | 5.579 | $21.33 | $44,360 |
 | Missouri | 3.785 | $27.55 | $57,300 |
 | Montana | 5.376 | $29.18 | $60,700 |
 | Nebraska | 4.684 | $21.05 | $43,790 |
 | Nevada | 3.925 | $27.44 | $57,070 |
 | New Hampshire | 3.459 | $23.10 | $48,050 |
| New Jersey | 3.239 | $32.49 | $67,570 |
 | New Mexico | 4.418 | $23.03 | $47,890 |
| New York | 4.178 | $33.57 | $69,820 |
 | North Carolina | 3.468 | $19.50 | $40,550 |
 | North Dakota | 9.443 | $27.09 | $56,350 |
 | Ohio | 4.121 | $24.70 | $51,370 |
 | Oklahoma | 3.805 | $22.84 | $47,510 |
| Oregon | 4.718 | $33.02 | $68,690 |
 | Pennsylvania | 3.911 | $27.46 | $57,120 |
 | Rhode Island | 4.341 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
 | South Carolina | 3.651 | $20.11 | $41,820 |
 | South Dakota | 4.336 | $21.28 | $44,270 |
 | Tennessee | 3.433 | $22.45 | $46,710 |
 | Texas | 4.492 | $21.70 | $45,130 |
 | Utah | 5.163 | $22.84 | $47,520 |
 | Vermont | 3.688 | $21.63 | $45,000 |
 | Virginia | 4.591 | $23.01 | $47,850 |
 | Washington | 4.451 | $31.54 | $65,590 |
 | West Virginia | 6.72 | $25.57 | $53,190 |
 | Wisconsin | 3.937 | $26.58 | $55,280 |
 | Wyoming | 9.211 | $27.48 | $57,160 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco / San Mateo / Redwood City, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 2.48 | $41.67 | $86,670 |
| Anchorage, AK | 6.43 | $37.67 | $78,350 |
| Oakland / Fremont / Hayward, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 3.98 | $36.68 | $76,300 |
| Rockford, IL | 4.73 | $36.58 | $76,080 |
| New York / White Plains / Wayne, – NY/NJ – Metropolitan Division | 4.38 | $36.31 | $75,530 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railbelt – Southwest Alaska – nonmetropolitan area | 9.66 | $39.37 | $81,890 |
| Southeast Alaska – nonmetropolitan area | 4.98 | $36.67 | $76,270 |
| Eastern Montana – nonmetropolitan area | 15.06 | $36.57 | $76,060 |
| North Coast Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 1.86 | $35.19 | $73,190 |
| Northeast Minnesota – nonmetropolitan area | 3.42 | $32.14 | $66,850 |
