Pay by license level
Electrician Salary by Career Level — 2026
The BLS national median includes all license levels mixed together. Here is how pay breaks down by credential — a major factor most salary guides ignore.
Apprentice
$40K–$55K
$19–$26/hr · Year 1–4
Working under supervision toward 8,000-hour requirement
Pay increases every 6–12 months per apprenticeship agreement
IBEW unions start apprentices at ~40–45% of journeyman scale
Average starting rate: $16–$20/hr for Year 1 apprentices in Texas and Southeast
Year 4 apprentice in Illinois or Chicago area: $28–$34/hr
Journeyman
$62K–$95K
$30–$46/hr · Licensed
BLS median $69,189 covers apprentice + journeyman mix; true JW median is higher
Non-union residential/light commercial: $30–$38/hr nationally
Union commercial/industrial (IBEW): $36–$54/hr depending on local
Chicago IBEW Local 134 journeyman: ~$52/hr base + benefits (2025–2026 agreement)
Portland/Seattle IBEW: $42–$50/hr plus benefits package
Master Electrician
$82K–$118K
$39–$57/hr · Permit-pulling
BLS OEWS 2025 median for master electricians: approx. $94K/year nationally
Can pull permits, supervise journeymen, qualify electrical contractor business
Demand for Master Electricians has outpaced supply in most markets since 2022
Texas Master Electrician with Contractor license: $90K–$120K+ employed
NYC Master Electrician licensed through DOB: $105K–$145K+ in commercial
Foreman / Superintendent
$95K–$135K
$46–$65/hr · Management
Electrical Foreman leads a crew of 4–12 journeymen on commercial/industrial sites
Electrical Superintendent oversees multiple foremen across a large project
OSHA 30 Construction card is effectively always required at this level
Data center and petrochemical projects pay $55–$70/hr for Electrical Superintendents
GlobalCybers placements: $92K–$128K in Texas, $108K–$145K in Chicago/NYC
Salary by state
Electrician Salary by State — BLS OEWS 2025
All salary figures from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release, SOC 47-2111. Annual wages calculated at 2,080 hours/year. P25 = 25th percentile, P75 = 75th percentile.
StateMedian/yrP25/yrP75/yrRankPay bar
Showing 17 of 51 states. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
Salary by metro area
Top-Paying Cities for Electricians — BLS OEWS 2025
BLS OEWS tracks 70 US metros for electrician wages. These are the highest-paying markets. COL-adjusted median accounts for local cost of living.
City / MetroMedian/yrCOL-AdjustedJobsState
COL-adjusted data: Construction Coverage analysis of BLS OEWS + BEA Regional Price Parities. Chicago's adjusted median ($95,387) is the highest in the country.
Certifications & salary impact
How Certifications Change What Electricians Earn
Certifications and license upgrades directly unlock higher-paying roles. Here's how each credential shifts the salary range based on GlobalCybers placement data and BLS occupational wage differentials.
Credential / UpgradeWithout itWith itSalary impact
Journeyman License (JW Card)
$40K–$55K (apprentice)
$62K–$95K
+$22K–$40K/yr
Master Electrician License
$62K–$82K (JW)
$82K–$118K
+$18K–$36K/yr
OSHA 30 Construction
$62K–$80K (JW level)
Foreman: $92K–$128K
+$28K–$48K/yr (role access)
LEED AP (Green Building)
$70K–$90K
$84K–$108K
+$12K–$18K/yr
Solar PV / NABCEP
$55K–$78K
$70K–$102K
+$14K–$24K/yr
Low Voltage Specialty
$55K–$78K
$68K–$95K
+$10K–$17K/yr
Impact figures based on BLS wage differentials by occupational tier and GlobalCybers placement data 2024–2026. Actual increases depend on market and employer.
How electricians compare
Electrician Pay vs Related Skilled Trades — 2025
All figures from BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians (SOC 47-2111) consistently outperform most allied trades at the median level, and significantly outperform at the 75th percentile in union markets.
Trade / RoleMedian/yrP10/yrP90/yr
Electrician (SOC 47-2111)
$69,189
$39,430
$106,030
Plumber (SOC 47-2152)
$65,780
$37,890
$108,920
HVAC Mechanic (SOC 49-9021)
$59,140
$36,010
$98,620
Sheet Metal Worker (SOC 47-2211)
$58,120
$36,200
$103,450
Pipefitter (SOC 47-2152)
$68,200
$38,400
$112,800
Ironworker (SOC 47-2171)
$61,360
$35,870
$104,480
Carpenter (SOC 47-2031)
$59,310
$35,180
$98,400
Roofer (SOC 47-2181)
$50,970
$32,100
$84,540
Take-home pay estimate
What an Electrician Actually Takes Home — 2026
Gross salary and take-home pay are different. Here are realistic net pay estimates for a single filer with standard deduction and no other income, using 2026 IRS tax brackets.
Journeyman · National Median
$69,189 gross
~$53,100 take-home (TX/FL — no state tax)
Federal income tax (~18%)-$12,454
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)-$5,293
Standard deduction benefit-$14,600
No state income tax (TX, FL, WA, NV)$0
Estimated annual take-home~$53,100
Chicago IBEW Journeyman
$108,160 gross
~$74,800 take-home (IL state tax 4.95%)
Federal income tax (~22% bracket)-$23,795
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$8,274
Illinois state income tax (4.95%)-$5,354
Union dues (est. ~1.5% of wage)-$1,622
Estimated annual take-home~$69,115
Health insurance, dental, 401(k) contributions, and other pre-tax deductions will further reduce taxable income. Benefits packages from union jobs often add $15,000–$25,000+ in non-cash value annually. Use IRS withholding estimator at irs.gov for a precise calculation.
How to earn more
5 Ways to Increase Your Electrician Pay in 2026
1
Get your Master Electrician license
The single highest-impact credential move. Median pay jumps $18K–$36K/year vs Journeyman in the same market. In Texas: $30 application + $78 exam = $108 total investment that adds ~$20K/year to your income. GlobalCybers pays this fee for registered candidates.
2
Move to a higher-paying state or market
Moving from Arkansas ($46,180) to Illinois ($88,900) is a $42,720/year pay increase for the same work. Even within Texas, Houston ($59,180) outpays San Antonio ($57,010). COL-adjusted, Chicago Journeymen earn more than anywhere else in the country.
3
Specialize in high-demand sectors
Data center electricians, EV charging infrastructure, and solar PV installation are three of the fastest-growing electrical specialties — all paying 15–30% above standard commercial electrical rates. Petrochemical and refinery electrical work in Texas pays foreman rates to experienced Journeymen.
4
Join a union or move to commercial/industrial work
IBEW union rates are typically 30–60% above non-union rates for the same license level. Chicago IBEW Local 134 journeyman rate in 2025–2026: ~$52/hr base. Portland IBEW Local 48: ~$46/hr. Union contracts also include health insurance, pension, and annuity — adding $15K–$25K+ in total compensation.
5
Use a salary-benchmarking recruiter before accepting your next offer
Most electricians accept the first offer without knowing the market range. GlobalCybers provides a salary benchmarking report before submitting your profile to any employer — so you negotiate from data, not guesswork. Register as a candidate and our team sends you the current market rate for your license level, metro, and industry before you speak to a single employer.
Frequently asked questions
Electrician Salary FAQs
How much do electricians make per hour in 2026?
The national median hourly wage for electricians is $33/hr ($69,189/year) per BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Licensed Journeyman Electricians in union markets typically earn $36–$54/hr. The top 10% nationally earn above $51/hr ($106,030/year). Chicago IBEW journeymen earned approximately $52/hr under the 2025–2026 agreement. Houston non-union JW rates typically run $28–$38/hr.
Which city pays electricians the most?
Portland, OR has the highest nominal BLS median at $105,090/year. Chicago has the highest cost-of-living adjusted median at approximately $95,387/year, making it the best-paying market in real purchasing power terms. Seattle ($101,780), Detroit ($81,990), and Minneapolis ($81,890) round out the top five.
How does Texas electrician pay compare to the national median?
Texas electricians earn a BLS median of $55,890/year ($27.46/hr) — approximately $13,300 below the national median. This reflects Texas's lower cost of living and lower unionization rate. Houston leads Texas cities at approximately $59,180/year. However, Texas Master Electricians and Electrical Foremen in petrochemical and energy sector work often earn above the national median.
Does GlobalCybers negotiate salary for electricians?
Yes. GlobalCybers provides a salary benchmarking report to every registered candidate before submitting their profile to any employer. This shows you the current market rate for your license level, industry sector, and metro area. Our recruiters negotiate on your behalf using this data.
What is the electrician job outlook for 2026–2034?
The BLS projects electrician employment to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations (4%). About 81,000 new electrician job openings are projected annually over the decade, combining new positions and replacement of retirees.