Electrician Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 11,274 US job postings by 3,654 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for electricians: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 11,274 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for electricians in US job postings is $36.23 an hour (2,827 postings from 1,077 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $30.00 to $41.51 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $35.13 an hour (255 postings).
- The skills that most set electrician postings apart are troubleshooting, electrical systems, electrical experience.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 3 years of experience.
Electrician job postings in the US, October 2026
- $36.23/hr
- Median advertised pay (2,827 postings)
- $30.00–$41.51
- Middle 50% of postings
- $35.13/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 11,274
- US job postings from 3,654 employers
How much does an electrician make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $36.23 an hour, from 2,827 US job postings by 1,077 employers that state pay. That is about $77,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 2,827 US electrician job postings: median $77,000 a year ($36.23 an hour), middle half $63,000 to $89,000.
- Median: $77,000 ($36.23/hr)
- 25th percentile: $63,000
- 75th percentile: $89,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $20K–$30K | 0.1% |
| $30K–$40K | 1.2% |
| $40K–$50K | 4.8% |
| $50K–$60K | 11.3% |
| $60K–$70K | 18.2% |
| $70K–$80K | 21.5% |
| $80K–$90K | 18.3% |
| $90K–$100K | 9.4% |
| $100K–$110K | 5.7% |
| $110K–$120K | 4.0% |
| $120K–$130K | 1.2% |
| $130K–$140K | 0.8% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.4% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.5% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.4% |
| $170K–$180K | 1.2% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $36.23 | $30.00–$41.51 | 1,964 | Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Industrial Electrician |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $85,000 | $65K–$105K | 531 | Electrician, Licensed Electrician, Journeyman Electrician |
| All pay postings, annualised | $77,000 | $63K–$89K | 2,827 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Electricians (47-2111) at $63,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for an electrician?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $35.13 an hour (255 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $35.13/hr | 255 |
| 2-4 years | $37.06/hr | 1,121 |
| 5+ years | $37.30/hr | 488 |
Highest-paying electrician jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | $40.00/hr | 351 | 166 |
| Industrial Electrician | $36.85/hr | 276 | 133 |
| Electrician (general) | $36.00/hr | 893 | 442 |
| Electrical Apprentice | $30.50/hr | 273 | 134 |
Electrician pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $40.10/hr | $35.50–$48.00 | 168 | 6.3% |
| Texas | $38.23/hr | $29.50–$45.00 | 174 | 14.2% |
| Virginia | $36.06/hr | $30.01–$43.44 | 137 | 3.8% |
| New York | $35.48/hr | $28.92–$40.42 | 122 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | $35.40/hr | $30.00–$41.50 | 104 | 2.8% |
Skills employers ask for in electrician job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 26% |
| Troubleshooting | 18% |
| Problem-solving | 15% |
| Work independently | 14% |
| Attention to detail | 9% |
| Customer service | 8% |
| Electrical systems | 6% |
| Organizational skills | 6% |
| Interpersonal skills | 6% |
| Excel | 6% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set electricians apart
- Troubleshooting9.6× as often as in all postings · 18%
- Electrical systems18.8× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Plcs26.9× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a electrician job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does an electrician do?
Employers post these jobs as Journeyman Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Maintenance Electrician, Electrical Technician, Licensed Electrician and other titles. The largest specializations are Journeyman Electrician (14%), Electrical Supervisor (11%), Electrical Apprentice (11%), Maintenance Electrician (6%), Industrial Electrician (6%), Instrument Technician (4%).
The closest official occupation is Electricians (47-2111.00). Its most important tasks:
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be an electrician?
Among 4,547 postings that state a minimum, the median is 3 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 13% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 4,547 US electrician job postings: median 3 years, and 13% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | under 1% |
| 1 yr | 12% |
| 2 yrs | 23% |
| 3-4 yrs | 35% |
| 5-7 yrs | 25% |
| 8-9 yrs | 2% |
| 10+ yrs | 2% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 99% of the 1,154 postings that state working hours.
Other names for an electrician: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Electrician | 1,257 (34.4%) |
| Journeyman Electrician | 403 (11.0%) |
| Industrial Electrician | 271 (7.4%) |
| Maintenance Electrician | 196 (5.4%) |
| Electrical Technician | 153 (4.2%) |
| Licensed Electrician | 123 (3.4%) |
| Electrical Foreman | 116 (3.2%) |
| Master Electrician | 114 (3.1%) |
| Electrical Apprentice | 94 (2.6%) |
| Residential Electrician | 86 (2.4%) |
| Electrical Maintenance Technician | 83 (2.3%) |
| Electrical Superintendent | 79 (2.2%) |
| Apprentice Electrician | 68 (1.9%) |
| Electrical Service Technician | 65 (1.8%) |
| Electrical Supervisor | 63 (1.7%) |
| Electrical Journeyman | 58 (1.6%) |
| Lead Electrician | 55 (1.5%) |
| Commercial Electrician | 54 (1.5%) |
| Electrician II | 52 (1.4%) |
| Electrician I | 50 (1.4%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Electrician job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 999 | 403 | – | 3 years | work independently, communication, troubleshooting |
Electrician vs Electrical Technician
| Electrician | Electrical Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 2,459 | 221 |
| Employers | 1,257 | 153 |
| Median advertised pay | $35.22/hr | – |
| Median experience asked | 3 years | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Electrician compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $36.23/hr | 3 years | 11,274 | – |
| Field Service Technician | $30.30/hr | 2 years | 16,764 | 18 |
| Engineering Technician | $31.50/hr | 2 years | 5,127 | 15 |
| HVAC Technician | $33.50/hr | 3 years | 11,503 | 16 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $35.18/hr | 3 years | 2,617 | 15 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Field Service Technician | 18 | $30.30/hr |
| Engineering Technician | 15 | $31.50/hr |
| HVAC Technician | 16 | $33.50/hr |
| Aircraft Mechanic | 15 | $35.18/hr |
| Automation Engineer | 12 | $112K |
| Manufacturing Technician | 16 | $25.00/hr |
Applying for electrician jobs?
- Electrician resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find electrician jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrician make an hour?
What is the starting salary for an electrician?
What are the highest-paying electrician jobs?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 20 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.