Electrician
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
Also called: Control Electrician · Electrical Journey Person · Electrical Troubleshooter · Electrician · Housing Maintenance Electrician · Industrial Electrician · Inside Wireman · Maintenance Electrician
O*NET-SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians)
Electrician salary
Wages for electricians across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $30.38.
Electrician pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $46,800 | $76,160 | $140,340 |
| Texas | $37,920 | $58,570 | $80,300 |
| Florida | $38,190 | $57,250 | $77,180 |
| New York | $45,740 | $78,750 | $131,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,600 | $67,600 | $122,620 |
| Illinois | $49,240 | $99,560 | $123,660 |
| Ohio | $40,750 | $64,700 | $99,280 |
| Georgia | $37,180 | $58,320 | $84,000 |
| North Carolina | $40,130 | $56,800 | $75,060 |
| Michigan | $42,980 | $76,270 | $103,120 |
Electrician job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 821,000 jobs in 2025 to 896,900 in 2035 (9% change).
- About 72,700 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings).
How to become an electrician
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma8.4%
- High school diploma or equivalent37.8%
- Some college, no degree29.1%
- Associate's degree15.4%
- Bachelor's degree7.5%
- Master's degree1.4%
- Doctoral or professional degree.3%
Related training programs
- Electrician
What does an electrician do?
Common 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.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
- Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
- Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
- Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
- Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
Most important skills
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Electrician certifications
8 of 30 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program · Specialty
- International Association of Electrical Inspectors · Specialty
- ESCO Group · Core
- Greenlee · Core
- Greenlee · Core
- National Center for Construction Education and Research · Core
- International Association of Electrical Inspectors · Core
- International Association of Lighting Management Companies · Core
See all 30certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Electrician jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more skilled trades & maintenance jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Skilled Trades & Maintenance jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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More skilled trades & maintenance careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Electricians. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.