The Best-Paying U.S. Cities for Electricians

Note: This is the most recent release of our Best-Paying U.S. Cities for Electricians study. To see data from previous years, please visit the Full Results section below.

Electricians are becoming increasingly important to the U.S. economy as electricity demand accelerates and the country expands its energy infrastructure.

Electricians can enter the field without four-year degrees and can instead opt for a less expensive trade school education or an apprenticeship that allows them to earn while they hone their skills. Demand for electricians’ services is already strong, but the field also has bright prospects given recent technology and policy shifts.

The U.S. is experiencing a rapid surge in electricity demand, driven in large part by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and energy-intensive data centers. This increase in consumption is placing new strain on an aging power grid that was not built for such high and fluctuating loads. To keep up, utilities and governments are racing to modernize grid infrastructure and integrate more renewable energy sources like solar and wind. These sweeping changes—both in the technologies we use and how we power them—are expected to significantly expand the need for skilled electricians to install, maintain, and upgrade electrical systems across the country.

However, as the nation increasingly embraces electrification, a crucial challenge has emerged: the existing workforce of electricians may not be sufficient to meet the rising demand.

Projected Job Growth for Electricians: A Leader Among the Trades

The BLS projects that electrician jobs will grow 3X faster than the U.S. average

Data: 10-Year Projected Employment Growth for Electricians Compared to Other Occupations

Occupation	Projected Employment Growth (2024–2034)
Electricians	+9.5%
Roofers	+5.9%
All Construction Trades	+5.2%
Plumbers	+4.5%
Carpenters	+4.5%
Painters	+3.8%
All U.S. Workers	+3.1%

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for electricians are projected to grow at a pace that’s three times faster than the national average in the coming decade. Electrician employment is expected to rise by 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, far exceeding the 3.1% growth rate projected for all U.S. jobs.

Electricians are also set to outpace their peers in related construction trades. While the overall construction trades sector is anticipated to grow by 5.2% by 2034, roofers are projected to see slightly higher gains of 5.9%, while carpenters (+4.5%), plumbers (+4.5%), and painters (+3.8%) are expected to experience slower growth. Despite muted projections for some of these popular construction occupations, they are still above the national average for all U.S. workers, an indication of the continued demand for skilled trades workers.

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Electrical work carries unique business risks

Electricians routinely work in environments where a small mistake can trigger costly damage or liability. Many jurisdictions and commercial clients require active coverage before permitting electrical work. Our electrician insurance guide breaks down the policies most electricians rely on to stay compliant and protected.

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How Much Do Electricians Make Per Year?

Electricians earn a median $62,350 per year, or $30 per hour, which is 26% more than the typical American worker

Data: Electrician Pay Compared to Other Occupations

Occupation	Median Annual Wage for Full-Time Workers
Plumbers	$62,970
Electricians	$62,350
Carpenters	$59,310
All Construction Trades	$58,360
Roofers	$50,970
All U.S. Workers	$49,500
Painters	$48,660

In large part due to strong demand, electricians are well compensated compared to other skilled trade workers and to those with similar levels of required training. In 2024, the median annual wage for electricians was $62,350, approximately 26% higher than the median wage of $49,500 across all U.S. occupations.

Even within the skilled trades, electricians stand out for their pay. On average, electricians earn about 6.8% more than the broader group of construction trades workers. While plumbers have a similar median salary as electricians, other trades such as roofers and painters earn significantly less, with median wages of $50,970 and $48,660, respectively. Carpenters fall somewhere in between, with a median wage of $59,310.

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Electrical tools are expensive to replace—and easy targets for theft

From meters to cordless gear, electricians depend on equipment that’s costly and often stored in vehicles or onsite. Tools and equipment insurance helps cover sudden losses so your business isn’t set back by stolen or damaged gear.

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Cost-of-Living-Adjusted Pay: Real Electrician Wages by State

Illinois, Oregon, and Washington offer the best compensation for electricians—all over $88K per year

Data: Regional Differences in Median Electrician Salary

State	Median Annual Wage for Electricians (Adjusted)
Illinois	$97,476
Oregon	$92,933
Washington	$88,917
Minnesota	$82,740
Wyoming	$80,849
Wisconsin	$80,658
Alaska	$80,480
Missouri	$77,320
Michigan	$77,168
Hawaii	$76,605
Montana	$76,437
Massachusetts	$75,870
North Dakota	$74,312
Connecticut	$74,058
New York	$71,971
West Virginia	$71,125
Indiana	$71,032
Iowa	$70,837
Maine	$69,848
Ohio	$69,228
Rhode Island	$69,183
Kansas	$68,727
Oklahoma	$68,018
California	$67,987
Louisiana	$67,451
New Jersey	$67,127
Pennsylvania	$67,077
Nevada	$66,973
South Dakota	$66,462
Nebraska	$66,411
Idaho	$66,360
Kentucky	$65,758
Mississippi	$65,642
Utah	$64,662
Tennessee	$63,979
Delaware	$63,444
Maryland	$63,146
New Mexico	$62,941
South Carolina	$62,526
Vermont	$61,748
Colorado	$61,244
Virginia	$61,152
Georgia	$60,869
New Hampshire	$58,845
Arizona	$58,830
Texas	$58,575
Alabama	$58,264
North Carolina	$57,436
Arkansas	$57,128
Florida	$51,328

Location plays a key role in the earning potential for electricians, with Midwestern and Western states offering some of the highest wages when adjusted for cost of living. Illinois leads the nation at an adjusted median annual wage of $97,476, followed by Oregon at $92,933 and Washington at $88,917. In the Midwest, lower living costs help boost the relative value of wages in states like Wisconsin ($80,658), Missouri ($77,320), and Michigan ($77,168). In contrast, electricians in Oregon and Washington benefit from higher nominal wages that more than offset the region’s higher costs, keeping their adjusted earnings strong.

Alaska ($80,480) and Hawaii ($76,605) are two more examples of high-cost Western states that offer strong wages to electricians even after accounting for the cost of living. Despite being the third most expensive state in the country, Hawaii ranks tenth nationwide for adjusted electrician pay. In general, Western states benefit from relatively high unionization rates, which help drive up nominal wages. Alaska, in particular, also sees strong demand for skilled electricians due to its sizable oil and gas industry.

In contrast, Southern states generally pay lower wages to electricians—and to construction workers overall—reflecting weaker unions and economies less dependent on industries that require skilled electrical work. Seven of the 10 lowest-paying states for electricians are in the South.

The same factors are at play at the metro level, and accordingly, locations in Florida and Texas are overrepresented among the lowest-paying metropolitan areas for electricians, even when factoring in the states’ relatively lower living costs compared to other large states like California. On the other hand, locations in Illinois—like Chicago, Decatur, and Champaign—stand out as offering some of the best compensation for the nation’s electricians.

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Accurate takeoffs are critical for competitive electrical bids

Electricians estimate labor and materials from dense plan sets, where small quantity errors can wipe out a project’s profit. Electrical takeoff tools—like Countfire, built specifically for electrical estimating—help automate counts and measurements so bids stay precise and consistent.

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Below is a complete breakdown of cost-of-living-adjusted electrician pay for more than 370 metropolitan areas (grouped by size) and all 50 states. The analysis was conducted by researchers at Construction Coverage, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. For more information, refer to the methodology section.

The Top-Paying Cities for Electricians

The Top-Paying States for Electricians

*Median annual wage for electricians (adjusted)

Full Results

Methodology

To determine the best-paying metros for electricians, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ 2023 Regional Price Parities. The researchers ranked metropolitan areas according to the cost-of-living-adjusted median annual wage for electricians. In the event of a tie, the location with the larger unadjusted median annual wage for electricians was ranked higher.

Only metropolitan areas with available data were included in the analysis. Additionally, metro areas were grouped into the following cohorts based on population size:

• Small metros: under 350,000
• Midsize metros: 350,000–999,999
• Large metros: 1,000,000 or more

References

1. U.S. Department of Energy (December 20, 2024). DOE Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers. https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers.
2. Groom, Nichola and Valcovici, Valerie (January 11, 2023). Insight: Biden’s climate agenda has a problem: Not enough workers. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bidens-climate-agenda-has-problem-not-enough-workers-2023-01-11/.
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/.
4. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023). Regional Price Parities. https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area.