Projected to grow +9.5% through 2034, Electrician is expanding faster than most occupations. Median pay is $63,190, and early movers in a growing field often advance faster.
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 known as:
Electrician earn $63,190 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,430 and $83,940. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
The mean wage for this occupation is $71,490, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Electrician roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects +9.5% employment change for Electrician through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 81,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Faster than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Electrician professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $63,190 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 73,420 | $76,540 | +21.1% |
| 2 | Texas | 71,880 | $56,920 | -9.9% |
| 3 | Florida | 47,980 | $53,100 | -16.0% |
| 4 | New York | 40,380 | $77,460 | +22.6% |
| 5 | Ohio | 27,150 | $63,560 | +0.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Electrician positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 29,904 | — | 635 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TX | 88 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| 2 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA | 86 | $1,164 | $30,364 |
| 3 | South Florida State College Avon Park, FL | 86 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| 4 | Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA | 86 | $1,115 | $34,487 |
| 5 | Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit, MS | 85 | $2,525 | $33,227 |
| 6 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL | 85 | $1,808 | $38,129 |
Once you've sized up Electrician, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Electrician pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
The data on Electrician shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
The careers that list a high school diploma as the only entry credential top out at $122,610, and just three of the 72 reach six figures. Here is the full ranking.
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
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