Electrician Salary · Updated May 2026

Electrician salary in California

The median electrician salary in California is $76,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — 21% above the national median of $63,190. Most electricians in California earn between $46,800 and $140,340, and the state ranks #15 of 51 for electrician pay.

Median

$76,160

Entry (10th)

$46,800

Top (90th)

$140,340

State rank

#15/51

Annual wages, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

California vs. the national average

PercentileCaliforniaNational
10th percentile (entry)$46,800$42,640
Median (50th)$76,160$63,190
90th percentile (top)$140,340$108,510

For context, the highest-paying state for electricians is Oregon ($101,310 median) and the lowest is Arkansas ($49,070).

Licensing & taxes for electricians

Most states require a journeyman and/or master electrician license earned through documented experience hours and an exam. A handful — including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Arizona, and Nevada — have no statewide license and defer to local jurisdictions (where a city or county license is usually still required). About a third of states offer reciprocity, often through regional compacts.

Whether you charge sales tax on your labor depends on the state and the type of job. Several states tax services by default, and many distinguish a real-property improvement (often not taxed to the customer) from a repair of tangible property (often taxed). This isn't tax advice — confirm with your state revenue department.

For the full state-by-state licensing, reciprocity, and sales-tax breakdown, see the electrician salary & licensing guide.

Electrician pay in California: FAQ

How much does an electrician make in California?
The median electrician salary in California is $76,160 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — 21% above the national median of $63,190. Most electricians in the state earn between $46,800 and $140,340.
What is the starting salary for electricians in California?
Entry-level electricians in California — the bottom 10% — earn around $46,800 a year. Pay rises with licensing, experience, and specialization.
What do the top electricians earn in California?
The highest-paid 10% of electricians in California make about $140,340 or more per year — typically licensed masters, specialists, or business owners.
Does California pay electricians well?
California ranks #15 of 51 states and D.C. for electrician pay, making it one of the higher-paying states for the trade. Its median of $76,160 is 21% above the U.S. median of $63,190.

Other trades in California

Plumber salary in California $72,830 HVAC Technician salary in California $72,560 Carpenter salary in California $75,920 Roofer salary in California $63,600 Painter salary in California $59,020

Compare electricians pay in every state

Oregon $101,310 Illinois $99,560 Hawaii $96,460 Washington $95,220 Alaska $89,440 Massachusetts $79,420 District of Columbia $78,970 New York $78,750 Minnesota $78,160 Connecticut $77,540 New Jersey $77,250 Montana $76,760 Wisconsin $76,540 Michigan $76,270 Wyoming $76,120 Maine $75,380 Rhode Island $74,090 Nevada $73,570 Maryland $73,490 Indiana $68,490 Pennsylvania $67,600 Kansas $65,860 North Dakota $65,710 Missouri $65,410 West Virginia $64,810 Ohio $64,700 Delaware $63,700 Vermont $63,430 Idaho $63,000 Virginia $62,900 New Hampshire $62,840 Colorado $62,230 Utah $62,000 Louisiana $61,540 South Dakota $61,390 Tennessee $61,090 Arizona $61,060 Oklahoma $61,010 Iowa $60,860 Mississippi $60,860 Nebraska $60,820 Kentucky $59,720 South Carolina $58,740 Texas $58,570 New Mexico $58,390 Georgia $58,320 Florida $57,250 North Carolina $56,800 Alabama $55,690 Arkansas $49,070

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS OEWS, May 2025, via the BLS public API (SOC 47-2111). Wages are annual and vary by experience, licensing, certification, and local demand. See all electricians by state or trade salaries by state.