Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Apprenticeship
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Electricians work in a field that combines hands-on activity with technical problem solving and steady demand. Nationally, there are 819,000 electricians, indicating a sizable workforce and a well-established career path. The occupation offers a national median annual salary of $62,350, with some states and metro areas reporting higher median wages. Projected employment growth of 9.5% and about 81,000 annual openings suggest continuing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers. Success in this field draws on physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and strong problem solving and decision making. Being detail oriented, comfortable with mathematics, and able to think critically are also important. Leadership and project management skills can help electricians advance or take on more responsibility. For people considering alternatives, related paths include lighting technicians, manufactured building and mobile home installers, millwrights, explosives workers and blasters, and service unit operators in oil and gas.
The national median annual salary for electricians is $62,350, but earnings vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows the highest median salary at $95,220, followed by Massachusetts at $79,420 and New York at $78,750. California’s median stands at $76,160, while Colorado is closer to the national median at $62,230. At the metro level, pay can be even higher: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $92,830, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $91,030. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $79,020, with Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $79,910 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $75,930. These differences show that regional choices can significantly influence earning potential for electricians, especially in certain states and large metro areas.
Electricians benefit from a sizable employment base and solid projected growth. National employment stands at 819,000, indicating many existing roles across the country. Projected employment growth of 9.5% points to an expanding field rather than a shrinking one. In addition, an estimated 81,000 annual openings highlight ongoing churn and new opportunities, which can be important for career starters, career changers, and experienced electricians looking to move or advance. The same 9.5% projected growth rate appears in several top states and metro areas, suggesting consistent expectations across many regions. The combination of large current employment, a clear growth projection, and a significant number of yearly openings supports the idea that people entering training or considering a transition into this trade can anticipate a continuing market for their skills, rather than a short-lived or volatile demand pattern.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for electricians, with notable differences across states and metro areas. Among states, California leads in employment with 73,310 electricians and a median salary of $76,160, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. Washington stands out for pay, at a median of $95,220, with 19,380 employed and an opportunity score of 56.29. Massachusetts and New York both show relatively high median salaries—$79,420 and $78,750—along with opportunity scores above 65. Colorado, with 17,010 employed and a median salary of $62,230, offers a somewhat different profile closer to the national median pay. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA posts the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and a median salary of $91,030. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely with a 77.27 opportunity score and median salary of $79,020. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each combining sizable employment with competitive pay.
The typical education requirement for electricians is a high school diploma or equivalent. This means the career is accessible without needing a college degree, while still demanding a solid foundation in core skills. Mathematics ability is important, supporting accurate measurements and calculations. Physical strength and stamina, along with fine motor skills, are central to handling tools and materials effectively. Mechanical skills help with understanding equipment and systems. The work also relies on problem solving and decision making, as well as critical and analytical thinking, to address issues as they arise. Being detail oriented supports accuracy and safety. Project management and leadership skills can be valuable for coordinating tasks or supervising others as responsibilities grow. Creativity and innovation round out the skill profile, giving electricians the ability to approach challenges in new ways. Together, these skills align with the training and on-the-job learning that typically build on a high school education.
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