How much do electricians make in Texas in 2026?
Texas electricians earn a median $58,760/yr ($28.25/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025, about 7.0% below the national median, but Texas has no state income tax so take-home often comes out ahead. Houston leads the state at $64,820, lifted by petrochemical and industrial demand, followed by Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin. Pay rises with TDLR license level: a licensed journeyman earns well above the apprentice-to-master blend this median reflects. → Full electrician career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $58,760 blends every experience level, apprentice through master. For pay by license level alone, see Verified Placement Data below.
- Texas electricians earn a median $58,760/yr ($28.25/hr), about 7.0% below the national median.
- The statewide range runs $34,200 (P10) to $95,200 (P90); pay rises with TDLR license level.
- Houston leads at $64,820, driven by petrochemical and industrial demand; Dallas and Austin follow.
- Texas has no state income tax, so take-home often beats higher-gross offers in taxed states.
Texas Electrician Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
GlobalCybers Verified Placement Data · last verified July 2026
How does BLS compare to what Texas electricians actually get placed at?
BLS OEWS is the most reliable public salary source, but it lags real market pay by 1–2 years — and it doesn't break out TDLR license level. Pick a level to see how published pay compares to actual verified placements made through GlobalCybers' Texas electrician network.
All verified medians: GlobalCybers Texas electrician placements, trailing 12 months, updated July 2026. Tap a level below for the full gap breakdown.
Where the gap comes from — Journeyman Electrician
Data time lag +2.0% — OEWS publishes ~10 months late on a 3-yr sample; TX electrician wages grew 3–4%/yr since.
OT and shift pay excluded by OES +1.8% — Ship Channel turnaround overtime and shift differentials aren't in the BLS wage.
New-hire (switcher) premium +1.2% — BLS averages incumbents; JWs switching employers in a tight market command more.
Verified-candidate selection +2.5% — TDLR-licensed, OSHA-screened electricians in our network sit in the upper half of the distribution.
This role runs meaningfully above BLS, a licensed trade in a tight Texas market. GlobalCybers shows the real placement number alongside the published one so you can see exactly where each dollar of the gap comes from.
Company names withheld per employer confidentiality agreements. Roles shown are a representative sample, not an exhaustive list.
Methodology & Sources
How the "verified placement" numbers are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2111, Texas statewide estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Verified (GlobalCybers): The median base wage of candidates GlobalCybers placed into Texas electrician roles, by TDLR license level, over the trailing 12 months. Every placement requires a confirmed TDLRlicense record and a signed offer letter before it's counted — no self-reported or unverified salary data is included.
Sample sizes are modest (n=5–34 depending on license level) because this reflects our own placement volume, not a market-wide survey — treat it as a directional, real-world data point alongside BLS, not a replacement for it.
Texas Markets
Which Texas city pays electricians the most in 2026?
BLS MSA medians for Texas's largest electrician markets — local industrial demand matters more than city size alone.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Houston leads the state at $64,820.
Getting Licensed
How to become a licensed electrician in Texas, step by step
- 1Register as an Apprentice
Register with TDLR as an electrical apprentice and begin logging supervised hours under a licensed journeyman or master.
- 2Complete required hours and coursework
Accumulate the required on-the-job hours plus classroom coursework toward journeyman eligibility.
- 3Pass the TDLR Journeyman exam
Apply to TDLR and pass the Texas journeyman electrician exam to work independently and pull permits.
- 4Advance to Master Electrician
Log additional experience as a journeyman, then sit for the TDLR master electrician exam for the highest license tier.
TDLR License Levels
How much more does a TDLR licence earn you in Texas?
Texas licenses issued by TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation). Each level's median pay in Texas markets.
TDLR License ROI: Upgrading from Apprentice to Journeyman in Texas adds a median $20,200/yr. Exam cost: ~$150 + study materials. Full return in under 4 months. GlobalCybers pays your exam fees after placement →
Career Progression
How does electrician pay grow with years of experience in Texas?
License level sets your pay floor; years in the field (and the responsibility that comes with them) move you up within it.
GlobalCybers analysis of TX placements by years in trade, cross-referenced against BLS OEWS experience-tier estimates. Ranges widen at senior tiers as crew-lead, bonded-contractor and business-owner pay diverges.
Texas Sectors
Which Texas sector pays electricians the most?
Texas's unique petrochemical and energy sector creates premium rates unavailable in most other states.
State vs National
How does Texas electrician pay compare to the national median?
No state income tax, a Texas JW at $58,760 takes home roughly $4,100 more/yr than a comparable Illinois JW at the same gross salary.
Petrochemical premium, Houston Ship Channel turnaround work pays $55–$70/hr, unavailable in most US markets.
Job volume, strong projected growth and more openings per licensed electrician than most states.
No strong IBEW presence in most Texas markets, union JW rates in Chicago ($56.95/hr) and Portland ($51/hr) far exceed non-union Texas commercial rates.
Residential oversupply in San Antonio and El Paso keeps base wages below $50K for non-industrial workers.
No employer-paid pension common in non-union market, total compensation gap vs union states widens when benefits are included.
By Employer Type
Does union vs. non-union or employer type change electrician pay in Texas?
Texas is a right-to-work state with light union presence, but pay still varies meaningfully by who signs the paycheck.
Beyond Base Pay
What's a Texas electrician's total compensation, not just base wage?
BLS and verified-placement medians above are base wage only. Total comp for a TX electrician typically adds the following on top.
FAQ
Texas Electrician Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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