Electrician Salary

There are a number of benefits to becoming a qualified electrician including career security, rewarding work, active lifestyle, and of course the high potential salary. One of the most common questions that people interested in becoming an electrician ask is “how much is the average electrician salary?” Unfortunately this is not a very simple question. There are a number of different levels or qualifications and certifications that will affect an electricians salary. In addition to varying levels of certification things like an electricians geographical location and the economic status of said are will also affect potential salary.

What Is the Average Electrician Salary?

Apprentice Electrician Salary

Apprentice Electricians are a trade persons first step to becoming a fully fledged electrician. Over the course of their 3-5 year apprenticeship, these trainees will progress through a number of pay-steps as they become more experienced. As they gain more mastery and and trusted with more complex tasks their compensation will increase in turn. A first-year apprentice typically starts around $17–$20 per hour (roughly $35,000–$41,000 per year) and earns a raise at each stage of the apprenticeship. By their final year, many apprentices reach $26–$30 per hour (about $54,000–$62,000 per year) as they approach full journeyman scale. Actual pay depends heavily on region, union vs. non-union status, and local cost of living.

• Apprentice Electrician Salary: about $35,000/year – $62,000/year

Journeyman Electrician Salary

Journeyman Electricians are trades people who have completed their apprenticeship and passed their certification which allows them to work as qualified electricians. The average salary for a journeyman electrician is subject to a number of different factors including location, experience, specialization, additional certifications, and competition. In the United States the median wage for electricians is about $63,190 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025), and most journeymen earn in the $60,000–$75,000 range. Journeymen who specialize, take on overtime, or work in high-paying states like Washington, New York, or Massachusetts can earn $85,000–$100,000 or more.

• Journeyman Electrician Salary: about $62,000/year – $100,000/year

Master Electrician Salary

Master electricians are trades people who have reached the highest standard level of certification available to electricians. They are often in charge of supervising and training apprentice and journeyman electricians and their salary reflects this higher level of responsibility. Master electricians earn about $80,000 per year on average, typically ranging from $60,000 to $112,000 depending on state, specialty, and experience. Top earners in high-paying states can make $120,000 or more.  Many master electricians also choose to branch off and start their own companies which increases their potential salary exponentially.

• Master Electrician Salary: about $80,000/year – $120,000+/year

Sources & method: National wage figures (median, 10th and 90th percentile) come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Electricians, SOC 47-2111, May 2025 release — the most recent available. The apprentice, journeyman, and master ranges shown above are our own estimates, derived from that percentile data together with current union and market pay scales; they are not separate BLS categories. We refresh these figures whenever BLS publishes a new release.

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