Electrician Salary by State 2024

There are a lot of people who are interested in going to trade school, and one of the most popular options is to become an electrician. In general, the average salary of an electrician in the United States is $60,040 according to 2021 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now, this is an average. That means that there are plenty of people who make less than this amount of money, and there are lots of people who make more than this amount of money. There are a number of factors that will play a role in how much money someone makes as an electrician, and one of the most important factors is where someone lives.

Examples of Electrician Salaries By State

The average salary of an electrician can vary depending on where someone is located. For example, someone who lives in an area with a higher cost of living is likely to make more money than someone who lives in an area with a lower cost of living. As an example, the average salary for an electrician who starts a job in California is $71,140 while the average salary in Arkansas is $46,180. It is much more expensive to live in California than in Arkansas, so this difference makes sense.

The highest annual average salaries for electricians can be found in Illinois ($88,900), Oregon ($80,160), the District of Columbia ($80,160), Hawaii ($78,600), Alaska ($78,070), New York ($76,960), Washington ($76,710), and Massachusetts ($75,990).

The majority of states have an average annual salary for electricians between $48,000 and $70,000. The only states with salaries below this range are Delaware ($47,990), Florida ($47,750), South Carolina ($47,590), North Carolina ($47,310), Alabama ($47,040), and Arkansas ($46,180).

Does Experience Matter for the Salary of an Electrician?

In addition to the location, the experience will also play a role. Someone who has more experience as an electrician is likely to make significantly more money than someone who does not have any experience. For example, in New Jersey, the starting salary of a brand-new electrician in New Jersey is approximately $72,600 per year. Then, once that electrician gets a few years of experience, he or she should expect to make closer to $90,000 per year as an electrician. Experience definitely matters when it comes to the pay of an electrician.

How Can Electricians Make More Money?

There are a few ways that electricians can make more money. Even though experience matters, it can be helpful to go back to school to get additional certifications to work on different types of components. There are lots of different types of electrical systems, and if an electrician can get different types of certifications, they are qualified to handle a wide variety of jobs. This could make them more attractive to potential employers, and it could help them demand a higher salary. Electricians who are willing to stay in the field for a long time can qualify for significant pay raises.