The electrical trade has been acknowledged as a rewarding trade in the United States of America for the longest time. As of 2025, electricians continue to be in high demand, and their salaries reflect how essential their roles are in different industries. However, the salaries of electricians are dependent on many factors, including experience, geographic location, and specific sector of employment. An electrician in the United States earns $50,000 to $70,000 on average every year, which equates to about $20 to $40 per hour.
Salary Variation based on Experience Level.
Experience plays an important role in how much you can earn as an electrician in the United States. They play a significant role in your earnings. Which means that the more experience you gather, the higher your pay is.
- For entry-level electricians (0-2 years), the average salary is $58,500 per annum or $28.18 per hour.
- For intermediate or Mid-level electricians (2 to 4 years), the average salary increases to $68,600 per year or $32.98 per hour.
- For senior-level electricians (4-6 years), the average salary increases up to $74,000 yearly or $35.58 per hour.
The above figures show that as electricians get better and gain more expertise at their craft, their salary and compensation increase accordingly.
Impact of Union Membership on Salary Earnings.
Being affiliated with a union in the United States can also influence the salary and benefits of an electrician. For instance, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) provides structured wage scales and comprehensive benefits for its members. IBEW Local 48 in Portland, Oregon, reported the following for January 2025.
- Gross wages for Commercial Industrial Journey-Level Electrician: $63.50 per hour.
- Fringe benefits (paid by the employer): $31.18 per hour.
- Total wage package: $91.81 per hour.
The above highlights the financial advantages of becoming a member of unions, and this includes higher wages and additional benefits.
Salary Variation based on Geographic Influence.
Location plays an important role in determining the salary of an electrician. Certain states in the United States pay higher wages due to factors like cost of living, higher demand for labor, economic conditions of the region, and so on.
For instance,
Arkansas offers $54,000 per annum for entry-level electricians, $63,000 for Intermediate electricians, and $68,000 for senior-level electricians.
Oklahoma offers $55,000 per annum for entry-level electricians, $65,100 for Intermediate electricians, and $70,100 for senior-level electricians.
Tennessee offers $56,000 for entry-level electricians, $65,700 for Intermediate electricians, and $70,800 for senior-level electricians.
However, states like California. Massachusetts and Washington pay entry-level electricians up to $63,000 and senior-level electricians up to $80,000.
Influence of Specialization on Salary Earnings.
The industry an electrician works is another determinant of how much he would be paid in the United States. Electricians can choose to work in different areas of specialization, and these areas of specialization often command higher salaries due to the expertise required.
For instance, an industrial electrician earns an average of $70,000 to $90,000, which is more than what a residential electrician would earn.
Additional allowances.
There are quite many allowances and benefits that electricians receive beyond their salaries. These benefits improve the whole compensation package, and they include:
- Health insurance Plans include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care.
- Paid Time Off: This includes vacations, sick leave, and holidays.
- Overtime Pay: This is additional compensation for extra hours worked beyond standard work hours.
- Retirement plans.
It is reported that electricians earn an average of $9,438 yearly from overtime pay. This goes a long way in boosting their income.
