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Electrician salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$76,160median pay per year in California, or $36.62 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,28025th percentile
  3. $76,160median
  4. $103,00075th percentile
  5. $140,340top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $63,190[3]

The median pay for electricians in California was $76,160 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $12,970 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
73,310[4]
Rank by median pay
15 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+20.5%[6]

How much do electricians make in California?

Half of the electricians in California earned more than $76,160 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $36.62 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $85,860 a year[7]. California had the 15th highest median annual wage for electricians among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5].

Across the US, the median for electricians was $63,190 a year[3]. California's median was 20.5% higher[6]. It was also $17,920 higher than the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of electricians in California earned less than $46,800 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $140,340[2]. By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $92,830[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, one of the metros with the most electrician jobs, had a median of $91,030[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most electrician jobs, with a median of $73,810[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. Self-employed electricians and business owners are left out[12]. Bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits such as health insurance are not part of the wage figures[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for electricians in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$76,160[1]$63,190[3]
Median per hour$36.62[1]$30.38[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$46,800[2]$42,640[13]
Top 10% earn more than$140,340[2]$108,510[13]
Jobs73,310[4]757,220[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for electricians, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$73,81020,610
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$92,8309,060
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$76,1608,060
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$72,7907,880
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$74,8306,340
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$91,0305,480
Fresno, CA$71,7101,980
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$75,8601,410

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for electricians in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$101,31010,590
Nevada$73,5708,350
Arizona$61,06021,140

Median pay for electricians in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for electricians are projected to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an electrician make in California?
The median pay for electricians in California was $76,160 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $85,860 a year[7].
How much does an electrician make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $36.62[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22.50 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $67.47[2][17].
Which city in California pays electricians the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median annual wage for electricians among California metro areas with a published median, at $92,830[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was next among the biggest metros listed, at $91,030[11].
Is California a good state for electricians?
California had the 15th highest median annual wage for electricians among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $76,160 was $12,970 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an electrician in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical path starts with a high school diploma or equivalent and no related work experience, followed by an apprenticeship[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electricians in California was $76,160 per year and $36.62 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electricians in California: 10th percentile $46,800, 25th percentile $59,280, 75th percentile $103,000, 90th percentile $140,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electricians in the US as a whole was $63,190 per year and $30.38 per hour, with about 757,220 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 73,310 people worked as Electricians in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 15th highest median annual wage for Electricians out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Electricians in California ($76,160) was $12,970 (20.5%) higher than the US median ($63,190). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Electricians in California was $85,860 per year and $41.28 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Electricians in California was $17,920 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Electricians, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $92,830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electricians in the US: 10th percentile $42,640, 25th percentile $49,430, 75th percentile $83,940, 90th percentile $108,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Electricians in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $101,310; Nevada $73,570; Arizona $61,060. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Electricians is projected to grow 9.2% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 72,700 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Electricians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Electricians in California: 10th percentile $22.50, 25th percentile $28.50, 75th percentile $49.52, 90th percentile $67.47. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.