$Who Earns What

How much does a electrician make?

US Electricians

Answer: A typical electrician in the United States makes $63,190 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$63,190

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 757,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$42,640
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$63,190
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$108,510
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

48 of 100
not many

Electrician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Electrician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$42,640$63,190$108,510about 757,000
States where electricians earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Oregon$101,310about 11,000
Illinois$99,560about 23,000
Hawaii$96,460about 3,000
Washington$95,220about 19,000
Alaska$89,440about 2,000

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., electricians’ pay can depend on experience, licenses, specialized skills, location, and the kind of employer. Apprentices earn less while learning, and overtime or evening and weekend shifts can change earnings.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$63,190
Oregon$101,310
Illinois$99,560
Hawaii$96,460
Washington$95,220
Alaska$89,440
North Carolina$56,800
Alabama$55,690
Arkansas$49,070

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a electrician do?

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems. Excludes “Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers” (49-2098).

What's a typical day like?

They study blueprints, then install, maintain, or repair wiring, lights, and electrical equipment. They check that the work follows building and safety codes.

How to get this job

Finish high school or earn a GED, then start an electrician apprenticeship, often around age 18; most last 4–5 years and combine paid job training with classes. Afterward, pass any required state or local licensing exam.

Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

Did you know?

In the U.S., electrician apprentices typically get paid for about 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year while they learn.

What about Japan?

Nearly the same job
US
Electrician (typical)
$63,190
Electrician (average)
$41,874

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.

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Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY