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BLS MSA DATA · 22,640 WORKERS · IBEW LOCAL 716 · NO STATE INCOME TAX

Electrician Salary in Houston, TX 2026,
$64,820 Median | BLS + Market Data

City-level BLS MSA pay data plus real market rates from the Ship Channel petrochemical corridor, sector breakdown, IBEW Local 716 scale, TDLR license levels, and take-home with no state income tax.

Updated July 2026 · BLS OEWS May 2025

Compiled by GlobalCybers Labor Market Research · Reviewed by Marcus Webb, Licensed Master Electrician & Southwest Staffing Director · See methodology & sources →

Houston Median
$64,820
$31.16/hr BLS
P75
$84,900
$40.82/hr
Sector Peak
$130K+
Petrochem turnaround
BLS Workers
22,640
Largest TX MSA
vs TX Median
+$6,060
+10.3% above TX
Direct Answer

How much do electricians make in Houston, TX in 2026?

Houston electricians earn a BLS MSA median of $64,820/yr ($31.16/hr), about 10% above the Texas statewide median and above the national figure, driven by the Ship Channel petrochemical corridor. Refinery and turnaround work pays $38–$58/hr with per-diem, and peak earners clear $130K on shutdowns. GlobalCybers-verified journeyman placements in Houston run about $71,000, above the published BLS median. → Full electrician career guide, career path, TDLR licence, and Houston job placement →

Key takeaways
  • Houston electricians earn a median $64,820/yr ($31.16/hr), about 10% above the Texas median and above the national figure.
  • Ship Channel petrochemical & industrial work pays the most, with peak earnings above $130K on turnarounds and per-diem.
  • GlobalCybers-verified journeyman placements in Houston run about $71,000, above the published BLS median.
  • Texas has no state income tax, so Houston take-home outpaces higher-gross coastal metros.

Houston Electrician Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025

Electrician salary distribution in Houston, TX: 10th percentile $34,900, 25th percentile $48,600, median $64,820, 75th percentile $84,900, 90th percentile $112,000 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025).Electrician annual pay percentiles · Houston, TX10th to 90th percentile of annual base wage$34,900P10$48,600P25$64,820Median$84,900P75$112,000P90Entry levelTop earners
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

GlobalCybers Verified Placement Data · last verified July 2026

How does BLS compare to what Houston electricians actually get placed at?

BLS OEWS is sampled 1–2 years back from today, 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' Houston electrician network.

TDLR License LevelBLS Median (published)GlobalCybers Verified Median (live)Gap vs BLSPlacements (n, 12 mo)
Apprentice Electrician$43,500$45,700+5.1%7
Journeyman Electrician$64,820$71,000+9.5%16
Master Electrician$91,000$100,100+10.0%6
Residential Wireman$49,500$51,700+4.4%4

All verified medians: GlobalCybers Houston electrician placements, trailing 12 months, updated July 2026. Tap a level below for the full gap breakdown.

BLS MSA median (published)
$64,820
May 2025 · Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land
Verified placement median (live)
$71,000
+9.5% vs BLS
n = 16 placements · last 12 months

Where the gap comes from — Journeyman Electrician

+2.0%
+3.5%
+1.0%

Data time lag +2.0% — OEWS publishes ~10 months late on a 3-yr sample; Houston wages grew fastest in the Ship Channel corridor since.

Turnaround OT & shift pay excluded by OES +3.5% — Petrochemical turnaround premiums ($70+/hr) are the single largest driver of Houston's gap, and aren't in the base BLS wage.

New-hire (switcher) premium +1.0% — BLS averages incumbents; JWs switching into EPC/petrochem contracts in a tight market command more.

Verified-candidate selection +3.0% — TDLR-licensed, petrochem-screened electricians in our Houston network skew toward EPC and turnaround work over residential.

Houston runs the widest verified gap of any TX city, the Ship Channel's turnaround-driven overtime culture simply isn't captured in a base annual BLS wage.

Methodology & Sources

Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2111, Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land MSA. Verified (GlobalCybers): median base wage of TDLR-license-confirmed, signed-offer Houston placements over the trailing 12 months (n=16) — a directional real-world data point, not a market-wide survey. Employer names mentioned on this page (e.g. in sector or FAQ copy) are illustrative examples of who hires in each market, not a claim of partnership. Full statewide methodology → · Full site methodology & data sources →

Full Data

How much do electricians make in Houston TX in 2026?

MetricValueSource
BLS MSA Median (Annual)$64,820BLS OEWS May 2025
BLS Median Hourly$31.16/hrBLS OEWS May 2025
P10 (Bottom 10%)$34,900/yr · $16.78/hrBLS OEWS
P25$48,600/yr · $23.37/hrBLS OEWS
P75$84,900/yr · $40.82/hrBLS OEWS
P90 (Top 10%)$112,000/yr · $53.85/hrBLS OEWS
vs Texas Median+$6,060 (+10.3%)vs $58,760 TX
vs National Median+$1,630 (+2.6%)vs $63,190 US
Non-Union JW Market Rate$28–$42/hr (commercial)Market intelligence, Jun 2026
Petrochem JW Rate$38–$58/hr · turnaround $70+Market intelligence, 2026
Texas State Income Tax$0, No state income taxTexas Tax Code
Licensing AuthorityTDLR (Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation)State board

Reading this page's sources: BLS OEWS is the official published wage, sampled 1–2 years back. GlobalCybers Verified (see below) is the highest-confidence figure — real, TDLR-confirmed, signed-offer placements. Market intelligence rows are directional signals from recruiter conversations and industry sources, not independently verified — treat them as a range, not a benchmark.

Houston Sectors

Which Houston sector pays electricians the most?

Houston-specific sectors. Ship Channel petrochemical work is the highest-paying electrical trade market in the continental US outside union West Coast markets.

SectorMSA MedianNotes
Petrochemical / Ship Channel$78,400Refineries and chemical plants; turnaround and instrumentation work with per-diem.
Industrial / Data Center$72,100Large-scale industrial and hyperscale data-center construction east of the city.
Commercial$63,900Offices, medical center, and commercial build-outs across the metro.
Residential$52,300Suburban residential builders in the fast-growing outer counties.

Who's Hiring

How does employer type affect Houston electrician pay?

How employer type affects total compensation, base rate, benefits value, and estimated total comp.

Employer TypeBase RateBenefits ValueEst. Total Comp
Petrochem EPC Contractor
e.g. Fluor, Bechtel, Wood Group
$38–$58/hr$8,000–$14,000/yr$90K–$135K
Non-Union Commercial EC
Mid-size local contractors
$28–$40/hr$6,000–$10,000/yr$65K–$93K
IBEW Local 716 (Houston)
Union journeyman scale
$42–$52/hr$18,000–$24,000/yr$105K–$132K
Service / Maintenance (In-house)
Facility, hospitals, plants
$26–$36/hr$10,000–$16,000/yr$64K–$90K
Residential EC
New build & service
$22–$32/hr$4,000–$8,000/yr$50K–$75K

Employer names are illustrative examples of companies operating in this sector, not an exhaustive list or a claim of partnership with GlobalCybers.

Real Take-Home

What is the actual take-home pay for a Houston electrician?

Two real Houston scenarios, non-union commercial JW vs. IBEW Local 716 union JW. Texas's zero state income tax shown clearly.

Non-Union Journeyman · Houston TX · Commercial
Gross: $68,400/yr · Single · No state income tax
Net Annual
$54,312
Gross Annual Salary $68,400
Federal Income Tax (22% bracket, ~15.3% effective)−$10,465
Social Security (6.2%)−$4,241
Medicare (1.45%)−$992
Texas State Income Tax $0, No state tax
Union Dues $0, Non-union
Estimated Net Take-Home
$54,312/yr
≈ $4,526/month · $31.16/hr gross

Estimates only. Pre-tax deductions (401k, health premium) reduce taxable income further. Consult a tax professional.

🧾Calculate your Texas take-home payRun your Houston offer through full TX take-home math →📈Salary CalculatorCompare Houston to other TX cities by role & license level →

Maximize Houston Pay

How do Houston electricians earn above the BLS median?

1

Get on the Ship Channel

Petrochemical EPC and turnaround work pays $38–$58/hr base, double typical residential rates. Refinery shutdowns at Lyondell, Shell, and Chevron Phillips pay overtime premiums that push annual earnings to $110,000–$130,000+. NCCER or API welding certs give you priority hire on shutdown crews.

2

Get Your TDLR Master License

Houston Master Electricians earn a median $86,000–$115,000. The Master exam costs ~$150 via TDLR, return on investment in under 3 months at Houston rates. GlobalCybers covers TDLR exam and renewal fees after placement in the Houston market.

3

Join IBEW Local 716

Local 716 journeyman scale reaches $42–$52/hr with employer-paid health, annuity, and pension worth $18,000–$24,000/yr in total benefits. Total compensation package: $105,000–$132,000. Dispatch through the hall gives access to the best commercial and industrial projects in the market.

4

Move from Residential to Data Centers

Houston's data center build-out in Katy, Sugar Land, and northwest Houston is paying $32–$46/hr for journeymen with critical-facility experience. The switch from residential ($22–$32/hr) adds $20,000–$30,000/yr with similar hours and no turnaround schedules.

FAQ

Houston Electrician Salary, Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in Houston?

Houston electricians earn a BLS MSA median of $64,820/yr ($31.16/hr), about 10% above the Texas statewide median. The metro range runs from roughly $34,900 (P10) to $112,000 (P90). Ship Channel petrochemical work sits at the top, with peak earners above $130K on turnarounds.

Why do Houston electricians earn more than the Texas average?

The Houston Ship Channel concentrates refineries, chemical plants and industrial construction that pay premium rates ($38–$58/hr) for turnaround and instrumentation work, plus per-diem on shutdowns. That industrial demand lifts the Houston metro median about 10% above the statewide figure.

What do Ship Channel petrochemical electricians make in Houston?

Petrochemical and refinery electricians in Houston average about $78,400/yr, the highest of any local sector, and turnaround/shutdown work pays $38–$58/hr with per-diem, pushing peak annual earnings above $130,000 for electricians who chase turnarounds.

What is the IBEW rate for electricians in Houston?

Houston is served by IBEW Local 716. Union journeyman scale plus fringe benefits typically runs above the open-shop median, and commercial and industrial union work adds overtime and per-diem. Check Local 716 for the current negotiated wage-and-benefit package.

How do I become a licensed electrician in Houston?

Texas licenses are issued statewide by TDLR, so a Houston electrician follows the same path: register as an apprentice, log supervised hours, pass the TDLR journeyman exam, then advance to master. The license is portable across Texas cities.

How does Houston pay compare to Dallas and Austin?

Houston leads Texas metros at $64,820, ahead of Dallas–Fort Worth (~$61,950) and Austin (~$59,840), because of the concentration of petrochemical and industrial work along the Ship Channel. Austin has strong data-center demand but a smaller heavy-industrial base.

Do Houston electrician wages include overtime and per-diem?

The BLS medians are base pay. Ship Channel turnarounds and data-center builds commonly add 10–20 overtime hours at 1.5× plus per-diem, so total annual earnings for a busy Houston journeyman routinely run well above the $64,820 base median.

Is a Houston electrician offer worth more after taxes?

Often, yes. Texas has no state income tax, so a Houston electrician keeps more of the same gross than in a taxed metro. Combined with a lower cost of living than coastal cities, Houston take-home is competitive with much higher headline offers elsewhere.

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Houston at a Glance
BLS MSA median$64,820
Median hourly$31.16
Range (P10–P90)$34,900–$112,000
Top-paying sectorPetrochemical · $78,400
vs Texas10% above
State income tax0%
Houston Placement · Free

Ship Channel, EPC & Commercial

We benchmark your profile against live Houston market rates and connect you to petrochem EPC, IBEW 716 signatory, and commercial contractors.

✓TDLR license fees covered
✓Salary negotiation included
✓Not required to apply for multiple jobs
Set Career Intent →
Data Sources
BLS MSAHouston–Woodlands
ReleaseOEWS May 2025
SOC47-2111
Workers tracked22,640
Market dataMarket intelligence (recruiter-sourced, non-BLS)
State tax0% (None)
Verified placementsn=16, trailing 12mo
Reviewed byM. Webb, Master Electrician
Verify on BLS.gov →Full methodology →
$64,820
Houston BLS median · 2026
$130K+
Ship Channel peak annual
22,640
BLS tracked workers in MSA
$0
Texas state income tax

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