The electrical profession has tremendous earning power, with this directly related to the vital work electricians perform.
In fact, Anthony Carnevale, the director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce said that the “average electrician makes $5,000 a year more than the average college graduate.”
And he’s not wrong about that.
According to the May 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, electricians can earn an average of $60,040 annually.
Not to mention that the demand for electricians is expected to increase by 7% from 2020 to 2030.
Let’s take a closer look at the reason behind this demand and the salary information of electricians.
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Why Electricians Have Become In Demand
Fact: We constantly use electricity in our day-to-day lives.
As such, we need professional electricians to install, repair, and maintain the electrical systems we have at home and at work.
Furthermore, the rise in new construction and home renovation has continually pushed the demand for electricians.
Also, the growing interest in alternative power generation, like wind and solar power, will require more electricians to work on its installation in homes and buildings.
Lastly, more electricians are needed to replace those who have retired or shifted to different careers.
How Much Salary Electricians Earn
The high demand for electricians consequently increases the salaries they receive annually year-by-year.
Below lists the details of the salary information of electricians.
National Average Annual Salary
As of May 2021, each percentile will receive the following average annual salary per the BLS:
- 10th Percentile – $37,020
- 25th Percentile – $46,900
- 50th Percentile – $60,040
- 75th Percentile – $77,350
- 90th Percentile – $99,800
State-by-State Average Annual Salary
Here are the latest average annual salaries electricians earn by state:
Average Electrician Salary by State
| State | Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,040 |
| Alaska | $78,070 |
| Arizona | $48,200 |
| Arkansas | $46,180 |
| California | $71,140 |
| Colorado | $59,380 |
| Connecticut | $62,210 |
| Delaware | $47,990 |
| Florida | $47,750 |
| Georgia | $49,490 |
| Hawaii | $78,600 |
| Idaho | $48,420 |
| Illinois | $88,900 |
| Indiana | $62,260 |
| Iowa | $59,430 |
| Kansas | $49,670 |
| Kentucky | $48,450 |
| Louisiana | $50,100 |
| Maine | $58,980 |
| Maryland | $60,250 |
| Massachusetts | $75,990 |
| Michigan | $61,930 |
| Minnesota | $64,120 |
| Mississippi | $48,940 |
| Missouri | $60,210 |
| Montana | $61,170 |
| Nebraska | $48,370 |
| Nevada | $61,630 |
| New Hampshire | $59,820 |
| New Jersey | $72,600 |
| New Mexico | $49,820 |
| New York | $76,960 |
| North Carolina | $47,310 |
| North Dakota | $44,594 |
| Ohio | $59,380 |
| Oklahoma | $52,250 |
| Oregon | $47,759 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,630 |
| Rhode Island | $60,760 |
| South Carolina | $47,590 |
| South Dakota | $48,370 |
| Tennessee | $48,500 |
| Texas | $48,590 |
| Utah | $50,580 |
| Vermont | $48,160 |
| Virginia | $57,850 |
| Washington | $76,710 |
| West Virginia | $59,800 |
| Wisconsin | $62,590 |
| Wyoming | $61,260 |
Top Paying Industries
BLS reported the following industries that pay the highest salaries as of May 2021:
- Natural gas distribution – $104,920
- Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events – $101,740
- Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers – $95,260
- Monetary authorities – Central Bank – $94,710
- Scheduled air transportation – $92,550
Top Paying States
BLS reported the following states that pay the highest salaries as of May 2021:
- Illinois – $83,140
- New York – $81,700
- Oregon – $81,200
- Alaska – $79,980
- New Jersey – $79,940
Top Paying Metropolitan Areas
BLS reported the following metropolitans that pay the highest salaries as of May 2021:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $93,900
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – $91,090
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI – $86,600
- Trenton, NJ – $86,350
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA – $85,070
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA – $84,790
- Syracuse, NY – $84,740
- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA – $84,400
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA – $83,310
- Fairbanks, AK – $81,930
Top Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas
BLS reported the following nonmetropolitan areas that pay the highest salaries as of May 2021:
- Alaska nonmetropolitan area – $82,200
- Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area – $76,740
- Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area – $76,490
- Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area – $75,700
- Hawaii/Kauai nonmetropolitan area – $74,350
How Much Salary Apprentice/Helper Electricians Earn
Professional electricians at times need the assistance of apprentice and helper electricians with electrical work.
So although they’re not as skilled, apprentices and helpers can also receive salaries.
Here’s their salary information as of May 2021 according to the BLS.
National Average Annual Salary
- 10th Percentile – $27,680
- 25th Percentile – $29,630
- 50th Percentile – $36,360
- 75th Percentile – $39,350
- 90th Percentile – $47,790
Top Paying Industries
- Local government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS designation) – $54,530
- Support activities for mining – $45,650
- Ship and boat building – $44,570
- Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution – $43,960
- Merchant wholesalers, durable goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) – $43,020
Top Paying States
- Connecticut – $49,410
- District of Columbia – $46,520
- Washington – $45,420
- New York – $45,230
- Massachusetts – $45,030
Top Paying Metropolitan Areas
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – $53,560
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $50,530
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA – $48,690
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH – $46,320
- Springfield, MA-CT – $46,170
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA – $45,620
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA – $44,180
- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO – $44,120
- Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA – $43,400
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI – $43,330
Top Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas
- Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area – $46,790
- Hawaii/Kauai nonmetropolitan area – $45,450
- Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area – $41,850
- Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area – $40,430
- Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area – $39,800
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