Texas electrician pay by city, license level, and industry sector. BLS OEWS May 2025 data. Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio breakdowns — plus how TDLR licensing and sector choice affect your actual earnings.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · Texas State Data · SOC 47-2111 · Updated annually
Texas median
$55,890
per year · $27.46/hr
vs national median
-$13,299
National: $69,189/yr
Top 10% in TX
$76,170
per year · $36.62/hr
TX job growth
+13%
Through 2030 BLS projection
How much do electricians make in Texas in 2026? The BLS median annual wage for electricians in Texas is $55,890 per year ($27.46/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data, SOC 47-2111. Texas ranks approximately #36 nationally — below the national median of $69,189, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and lower unionization rate. Houston leads Texas cities at $59,180/year. Texas electricians in commercial, industrial, and petrochemical sectors — especially those holding a TDLR Master Electrician license — frequently earn $80,000–$115,000/year, well above the state median.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · Texas state data · SOC 47-2111 · City data: BLS OEWS metro areas + ZipRecruiter + BuildForce 2026⚠️ Always verify current rates with employers and BLS
Full wage distribution
Texas Electrician Pay Distribution — 2025
Where you fall in this range depends primarily on your license level, years of experience, and which sector (residential vs commercial vs industrial vs petrochemical) you work in.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, Texas state data, SOC 47-2111. P25 = 25th percentile (75% earn more than this), P75 = 75th percentile (25% earn more). Top earners (Master Electricians, Electrical Superintendents in petrochemical) often exceed P90 due to premiums not fully captured in BLS data.
Pay by Texas city
Texas Electrician Salary by City — 2026
BLS OEWS metro area data for Texas metros. Non-BLS city figures use ZipRecruiter, BuildForce, and TradeCareerPath 2026 data sourced from active Texas job postings.
Petrochemical premium: Corpus Christi, Beaumont/Port Arthur, and the Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa) pay above the Houston median due to energy sector industrial electrical demand, shutdown/turnaround premiums, and site hazard pay.
Pay by TDLR license level
Texas Electrician Pay by License Level
The TDLR license level is the single biggest predictor of pay in Texas. The market range below reflects non-union Texas employment, excluding contractor revenue.
License LevelTypical rangeMedianKey note
Apprentice$33K–$52K/yr ($16–$25/hr)$41K
Pay increases per apprenticeship agreement. Hours before TDLR registration don't count — register day one.
Residential Wireman$38K–$58K/yr ($18–$28/hr)$48K
Licensed for residential work only. Common in home construction markets (DFW, Austin). Cannot work commercial.
Journeyman (JW)$50K–$80K/yr ($24–$38/hr)$62K
The main working credential. Can work commercial and industrial. Cannot pull permits independently. Most common TDLR level among employed electricians.
Master Electrician$78K–$115K/yr ($38–$55/hr)$92K
Can pull permits and qualify electrical contractor businesses. High demand — shortage of licensed Texas Masters relative to JW population. $45 TDLR application fee.
Electrical Foreman$85K–$128K/yr ($41–$62/hr)$102K
Typically requires TDLR Master or JW + Master supervising. OSHA 30 Construction always required. Petrochemical/industrial projects in Houston, Beaumont, Corpus pay highest.
TDLR cost vs. salary impact: Getting your Texas Master license costs $45 (application) + PSI exam fee. Based on median pay data, the salary jump from Journeyman to Master in Texas adds approximately $25,000–$30,000/year. That is a 40:1 return on the $108 cost in year one alone. GlobalCybers pays this fee for registered candidates.
Pay by industry sector
Texas Electrician Pay by Sector — Which Industry Pays Most
Same TDLR license, very different pay depending on which industry sector you work in. Texas's unique energy industry creates major pay premiums for Journeymen and Masters in the right sector.
State median (all sectors, SOC 47-2111)$55,890Baseline
Residential Construction / Service$42K–$60K-7 to -25%
Texas vs national comparison
Why Texas Pays Below the National Median — and Where It Doesn't
Why Texas is below the national median
→Lower cost of living than northeast/west coast markets means employers pay less to attract comparable talent
→Lower unionization rate — IBEW presence is smaller in Texas vs Illinois, Oregon, Washington
→High supply of electricians from large apprenticeship programs in Houston, DFW, San Antonio
→Large residential construction market (lower-paying) mixed into the BLS state median
Where Texas pays at or above national median
✓Petrochemical shutdown/turnaround work in the Houston Ship Channel: $38–$58/hr + overtime
✓Data center electrical (North Dallas/Las Colinas corridor): $36–$54/hr
✓Master Electricians statewide: $39–$55/hr employed, significantly more as contractor
✓No state income tax gives Texas electricians +5–10% effective take-home vs California, New York, Oregon
The BLS median of $55,890 is a market-wide average across all sectors and license levels. A licensed TDLR Master Electrician working in petrochemical or data center construction in Houston or Dallas earns $80,000–$115,000 — above the Illinois median despite the lower state average. The sector and license level matter far more than the state median.
Frequently asked questions
Texas Electrician Salary FAQs
What is the average electrician salary in Texas per hour?+
The BLS OEWS May 2025 median hourly wage for electricians in Texas is $27.46/hr ($55,890/year annually at 2,080 hours). Houston leads Texas cities at approximately $28.45/hr. Electricians in petrochemical and industrial sectors, as well as licensed Master Electricians, typically earn $35–$55/hr. BuildForce 2026 data shows Journeyman Electricians in Houston averaging $28.33/hr in active job market data.
How does the Texas Master Electrician license affect pay?+
Significantly. Median pay for TDLR Master Electricians is approximately $92,000/year — about $36,000 above the Texas Journeyman median. The Master license allows permit-pulling and qualifies an electrical contractor business, opening the door to independent contracting earnings. The TDLR Master application costs $45 plus the PSI exam fee. GlobalCybers pays this cost for registered candidates.
Does Texas have no state income tax — does that help?+
Yes. Texas has no state income tax. A Texas electrician earning $59,180/year keeps approximately $2,950–$5,900 more annually compared to a counterpart in California, Oregon, or New York at the same gross salary. This makes Texas's effective pay more competitive than the nominal salary gap with high-tax states suggests.
Which Texas electrician jobs pay the most in 2026?+
Electrical Superintendent and Electrical Foreman roles in petrochemical/refinery construction in the Houston Ship Channel, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi pay $95,000–$128,000/year for experienced TDLR Master holders. Data center electrical work in North Dallas pays $85,000–$108,000. Wind and solar project electrical in West Texas pays $65,000–$96,000 with significant overtime opportunities.
Does GlobalCybers place electricians in Texas?+
Yes. Texas — particularly Houston, Dallas, Austin, and the Permian Basin — is one of GlobalCybers's primary placement markets. We place licensed Journeyman and Master Electricians in full-time, direct-hire roles across commercial construction, petrochemical, data center, and energy sectors. All TDLR licenses are verified before shortlist. We also cover TDLR renewal fees and Master Electrician application costs for registered candidates.