- Find your current state and a state you are considering.
- Compare the same BLS vintage, then check the metro estimate for the area where you would commute.
- Put the pay difference beside housing, overtime, benefits, apprenticeship access, and licensing rules before deciding.
This table ranks the 50 states by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median annual wage estimate for electricians, occupation code 47-2111. The numbers are from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates. A median is the middle reported wage: half of covered workers earned more and half earned less.
Electrician median pay by state
| Rank | State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $97,320 |
| 2 | Washington | $96,530 |
| 3 | Illinois | $96,360 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $83,200 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $82,120 |
| 6 | Alaska | $81,860 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $81,430 |
| 8 | New York | $77,460 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $76,790 |
| 10 | California | $76,540 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $75,090 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $73,450 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $73,090 |
| 14 | Michigan | $72,680 |
| 15 | Missouri | $70,950 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $70,160 |
| 17 | Montana | $68,980 |
| 18 | Maine | $67,820 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $65,820 |
| 20 | Maryland | $65,650 |
| 21 | Indiana | $65,480 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $65,400 |
| 23 | Nevada | $64,950 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $63,850 |
| 25 | Ohio | $63,560 |
| 26 | Delaware | $62,970 |
| 27 | Iowa | $62,880 |
| 28 | Colorado | $62,090 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $61,990 |
| 30 | Kansas | $61,830 |
| 31 | Virginia | $61,610 |
| 32 | Utah | $61,430 |
| 33 | Idaho | $60,670 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $60,050 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $60,020 |
| 36 | Vermont | $59,670 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $59,590 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $59,490 |
| 39 | Arizona | $59,480 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $59,190 |
| 41 | Georgia | $58,860 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $58,550 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $58,260 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $57,300 |
| 45 | Texas | $56,920 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $56,890 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $54,070 |
| 48 | Florida | $53,100 |
| 49 | Alabama | $52,420 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $49,420 |
What the table does and does not show
These are annual wage estimates for employees, not apprentice starting rates, a contractor's business income, or a particular employer's offer. They are statewide figures, so they can hide major differences between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. They also do not make states directly comparable after housing, taxes, commuting, overtime, benefits, and local licensing conditions.
The ranking is useful as a first screen, not a verdict. If a move is realistic, use the BLS area data for the labor market where you would actually work and compare it with the rules that govern entry and advancement in that place. Our guide to reading electrician BLS data explains why those distinctions matter.
Why median pay is the right number for this comparison
The median places the listed wage in the middle of the distribution for the occupation and geography. It avoids treating a small number of unusually high wages as typical. It still cannot tell you where you would start: experience level, specialty, work schedule, employer, collective-bargaining coverage, and local demand can all affect pay.
Sources and review notes
Primary references checked September 30, 2026. The table uses BLS OEWS May 2024 state median annual wage estimates for electricians (47-2111).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2024 OEWS estimates for Electricians (47-2111)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics methodology
See the editorial policy and corrections log. Report a conflicting primary source through the contact page.