Due to the fluctuating demand for electricians from state to state, the salary scale can vary greatly from area to area. More populated areas will offer higher pay scales while remote areas do not have as great a need. Those planning to become an electrician will need to look at the supply and demand in areas nearby. Obviously, if a person lives near an Amish community, there will not be demand. Therefore, salary scales will be much lower.
Many electricians are unionized. Being part of a union can greatly increase a person’s salary scale, but union dues will also eat up a portion of one’s paycheck. It can be worthwhile to check union dues rates in areas in which an electrician is thinking of working. In Vermont, monthly union dues average three times a worker’s hourly wage. If a person is making $20 per hour, their monthly union dues are then $60 a month.
Wages for an electrician will vary greatly depending on completed coursework, as well as the level an electrician has reached. For this study, wages listed cover the fields of Electrician Apprentice, Journeyman, Master Electrician, Airline Electrician, and Maintenance Electrician. The wage grids listed below contain average salaries in more populated areas. These are base salaries and do not included bonuses or overtime.
Airline Electrician (Specializes in airline maintenance and repair.):
Alaska: $46,000 per year.
California: $44,700 per year.
Florida: $39,600 per year.
Hawaii: $43,600 per year.
Illinois: $42,700 per year.
Kansas: $39,400 per year.
Maine: $38,300 per year.
New York: $46,800 per year.
North Dakota: $36,500 per year.
Texas: $40,400 per year.
Virginia: $39,200 per year.
Electrician Apprentice/Electrician I (Holding no license. Just starting an apprenticeship.):
Alaska: $45,000 per year.
California: $43,800 per year.
Florida: $38,800 per year.
Hawaii: $42,800 per year.
Illinois: $41,800 per year.
Kansas: $38,600 per year.
Maine: $37,600 per year.
New York: $45,900 per year.
North Dakota: $35,800 per year.
Texas: $39,600 per year.
Virginia: $38,400 per year.
Licensed Journeyman (Holding a journeyman license. Currently working under a Master Electrician’s supervision.):
Alaska: $51,300 per year.
California: $49,900 per year.
Florida: $44,200 per year.
Hawaii: $48,700 peryear.
Illinois: $47,600 per year.
Kansas: $44,000 per year.
Maine: $42,800 per year.
New York: $52,200 per year.
North Dakota: $40,800 per year.
Texas: $45,000 per year.
Virginia: $43,800 per year.
Maintenance Electrician (Specializes in production machinery repairs and maintenance.):
Alaska: $35,700 per year.
California: $34,800 per year.
Florida: $30,800 per year.
Hawaii: $33,900 per year.
Illinois: $33,200 per year.
Kansas: $30,700 per year.
Maine: $29,800 per year.
New York: $28,400 per year.
North Dakota: $40,800 per year.
Texas: $31,400 per year.
Virginia: $30,500 per year.
Master Electrician: (Fully licensed with a Master Electrician license.)
Alaska: $58,600 per year.
California: $57,100 per year.
Florida: $50,500 per year.
Hawaii: $55,700 per year.
Illinois: $54,500 per year.
Kansas: $50,300 per year.
Maine: $48,900 per year.
New York: $59,700 per year.
North Dakota: $46,600 per year.
Texas: $51,500 per year.
Virginia: $50,000 per year.
What is surprising is that wages vary dramatically. While one might think Alaska would offer the lowest yearly salary, the net pay in that state is actually much higher. A person considering becoming an electrician will want to do a thorough search for wages in their area. If relocation is a possibility, it can pay to move to an area where wages match the cost of living.
