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Electrician Salary in California: Pay by City
Electricians in California earned a median $36.62 an hour, or $76,160 a year, in May 2025.[1] The middle half earned $28.50 to $49.52 an hour, and the top tenth earned $67.47 or more. That is 21% above the US median of $30.38.[2]
- 10th
- $22.50
- 25th
- $28.50
- Median
- $36.62
- 75th
- $49.52
- 90th
- $67.47
- 10th
- $46,800
- 25th
- $59,280
- Median
- $76,160
- 75th
- $103,000
- 90th
- $140,340
Which California cities pay electricians the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has the highest median of the 10 metro areas below, $44.63 an hour; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura has the lowest, $31.17.[1]
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$44.63 · 9,060
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$43.77 · 5,480
- Stockton-Lodi$36.74 · 1,180
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$36.62 · 8,060
- Bakersfield-Delano$36.47 · 1,410
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$35.98 · 6,340
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$35.49 · 20,610
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$35.00 · 7,880
- Fresno$34.48 · 1,980
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$31.17 · 1,160
The 10 largest of 25 metro areas with electrician data, by employment.
Do electricians make $100,000 a year in California?
Between 25% and half do. $100,000 falls between the median ($76,160) and the 75th percentile ($103,000).[1]
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| 25th | $28.50 | $59,280 |
| Median | $36.62 | $76,160 |
| 75th | $49.52 | $103,000 |
| 90th | $67.47 | $140,340 |
| Mean | $41.28 | $85,860 |
How much do new electricians make in California?
The lowest-paid tenth of electricians in California earned $22.50 an hour or less ($46,800 a year), and the lowest quarter earned $28.50 or less.[1] OEWS does not report apprentice pay separately.
Are electricians in demand in California?
Projections Central expects California to go from 81,000 electrician jobs in 2024 to 93,100 in 2034, a change of 14.9%, with about 8,650 openings a year.[3] The US projection is 9.5%.
| Area | Jobs 2024 | Jobs 2034 | Change | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 81,000 | 93,100 | 14.9% | 8,650 |
| United States | 818,700 | 896,100 | 9.5% | 81,000 |
How does electrician pay compare with other trades in California?
Electricians rank second of the five trades on this site by median pay in California. General contractors have the highest median, $46.96 an hour.[1]
| Trade | Median hourly | Median annual | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $46.96 | $97,680 | 71,750 |
| Electricians | $36.62 | $76,160 | 73,310 |
| Plumbers | $35.01 | $72,830 | 47,660 |
| HVAC Technicians | $34.88 | $72,560 | 35,130 |
| Roofers | $30.58 | $63,600 | 21,190 |
Where to train in California
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, California, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- BLS OEWS national estimates: Electricians (47-2111), May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Projections Central, long-term occupational projections 2024-2034 (projectionscentral.org, 2024-2034)