Power runs through everything. So do you.
Residential, commercial, industrial — the grid doesn't run itself. This guide breaks down real pay by experience level and what actually moves the number.
Electrical
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this trade under "electricians" — that category posted a median annual wage of $62,350 as of May 2024, the most recent OEWS data available. The BLS also projects employment growth of 9% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than average, with about 81,000 openings projected each year.
Entry level ($18–24/hr) is where most people start in this trade — typically through a formal apprenticeship, trade school program, or on-the-job training under a journeyman.
Journeyman ($32–46/hr) is where independent, unsupervised work authority kicks in — the point where most of the trade's workforce sits.
Master / top end ($48–65+/hr) covers senior specialists and crew leads — the people called in when the job is too complex or too urgent for anyone else.
The jump from apprentice to journeyman is the single largest raise in the trade. Master status adds supervisory and permit authority that commands even more.
Data center, solar, and high-voltage industrial work consistently command premium rates over standard residential wiring.
In union-dense metros, negotiated scale plus benefits typically beats open-shop pay for the same hours.
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states runs nearly 2:1 — location is one of the strongest single levers on electrician pay.
“6 AM on the truck, pulling permits by 7, and by noon you've solved three problems nobody else in the building could touch.”
— A day in the life, Electrical
Two-way street. Workers get matched to real openings. Employers get first look at qualified electrical talent before we go public with the board.
Jobs In Electrical is one of 13 trade-specific sites in the Careers In Trades network.