The U.S. employed 1.7 million electricians in 2023, and median annual new job openings are projected to reach 15,000 each year through 2033. Electricians earned a median hourly wage of $31.22 in May 2023, while electrical contractors reported 1.9% year over year growth in average hourly earnings during 2024. Profit margins stayed tight at 2% to 5% in 2023 as electrical contracting costs from permitting, safety programs, and enforcement competed with steady demand.
Key Takeaways
- 1.7 million electricians employed in the U.S. in 2023
- 15,000 median annual new job openings expected for electricians in the U.S. each year (2023-2033)
- ~8.1% of electricians in the U.S. were union members in 2023 (BLS Union Members)
- Median hourly wage for electricians in the U.S. was $31.22 in May 2023
- Workers in the “Electrical Contractors” industry had a median hourly wage of $30.40 in 2023 (BLS industry wage detail)
- U.S. electricians median wage increased from $60,000 (2013) to $64,910 (2023) (BLS OEWS time series comparison)
- Electrical contractors in the U.S. reported median profit margins of 2%–5% in 2023 (industry benchmark survey)
- U.S. electrical contractors market size was estimated at $170 billion in 2024 (industry analyst estimate)
- Global electrical installation services market size was $1.02 trillion in 2023 (industry report)
- Data center construction spending in the U.S. reached $36.1B in 2023 (CBRE global estimate)
- U.S. residential remodeling expenditures were $561B in 2023 (Joint Center for Housing Studies)
- Annual U.S. solar capacity additions were 25.2 GW in 2023 (SEIA)
- OSHA’s electrical safety standard 29 CFR 1910.303 applies to electrical conductors and parts (OSHA regulation)
- OSHA’s lockout/tagout requirement 29 CFR 1910.147 covers 0.5M workplaces covered by general industry standard (OSHA overview)
- Fatal occupational injuries involving electricity in the U.S. were 83 in 2023 (BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries electrical)
With 1.7 million electricians in the US and rising wages and demand, electrical contracting remains a strong, essential career.
Related reading
01 · Category
Workforce & Employment4 stats
01
1.7 million electricians employed in the U.S. in 2023
02
15,000 median annual new job openings expected for electricians in the U.S. each year (2023-2033)
03
~8.1% of electricians in the U.S. were union members in 2023 (BLS Union Members)
04
2.3% of employed electricians worked in the construction of buildings industry in 2023 (BLS OEWS industry detail)
Interpretation
Workforce & Employment Interpretation
In 2023, about 1.7 million electricians worked in the U.S., and with roughly 15,000 median annual new job openings expected through 2033 alongside only about 8.1% union membership, workforce demand looks steady while union representation remains relatively limited.
02 · Category
Wages & Earnings6 stats
01
Median hourly wage for electricians in the U.S. was $31.22in May 2023
02
Workers in the “Electrical Contractors” industry had a median hourly wage of $30.40in 2023 (BLS industry wage detail)
03
U.S. electricians median wage increased from $60,000(2013) to $64,910 (2023) (BLS OEWS time series comparison)
04
$3.31median hourly wage for helpers/production labor in electrical contracting (BLS OEWS occupation detail)
05
1.9% year-over-year increase in average hourly earnings for electrical contractors in 2024 (BLS CES series)
06
$0.73average hourly earnings growth per employee per month for electrical contracting in 2024 (BLS CES index-based change)
Interpretation
Wages & Earnings Interpretation
From May 2023 to 2024, electricians saw stronger wages and earnings signals, with the median hourly wage reaching $31.22 and electrical contractors averaging a 1.9% year over year increase in hourly earnings, plus a $0.73 monthly earnings gain per employee in 2024, underscoring gradual upward pressure on wages in the industry.
03 · Category
Market Size & Revenue6 stats
01
Electrical contractors in the U.S. reported median profit margins of 2%–5% in 2023 (industry benchmark survey)
02
U.S. electrical contractors market size was estimated at $170 billion in 2024 (industry analyst estimate)
03
Global electrical installation services market size was $1.02 trillion in 2023 (industry report)
04
Global electrical wiring harness market size was $9.8 billion in 2022 (industry report)
05
U.S. NAICS 238210 electrical contractors revenue was $110.5B in 2022 (U.S. Census business statistics)
06
Electrical contractors in the U.S. accounted for $86B in total construction spending in 2021 (industry data compilation)
Interpretation
Market Size & Revenue Interpretation
The market size and revenue figures show that electrical contracting is a massive, revenue-driven industry, with the U.S. electrical contractors market estimated at $170 billion in 2024 and NAICS 238210 electrical contractor revenue reaching $110.5 billion in 2022, even though median profit margins typically stay relatively tight at 2% to 5%.
04 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
Data center construction spending in the U.S. reached $36.1B in 2023 (CBRE global estimate)
02
U.S. residential remodeling expenditures were $561B in 2023 (Joint Center for Housing Studies)
03
Annual U.S. solar capacity additions were 25.2 GW in 2023 (SEIA)
04
In 2023, electricity generation outages caused by weather disruptions led to 43.6 million customers without power in the U.S. (U.S. EIA)
05
U.S. grid hardening investment is projected to reach $100 billion annually by 2030 (IEA, 2023 policy outlook)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For Electricians, major build and reliability priorities are converging, with U.S. grid hardening investment projected to hit $100 billion annually by 2030 while 2023 already saw 43.6 million customers lose power due to weather disruptions and ongoing construction demand like $36.1B in data center spending.
05 · Category
Safety & Compliance4 stats
01
OSHA’s electrical safety standard 29 CFR 1910.303 applies to electrical conductors and parts (OSHA regulation)
02
OSHA’s lockout/tagout requirement 29 CFR 1910.147 covers 0.5M workplaces covered by general industry standard (OSHA overview)
03
Fatal occupational injuries involving electricity in the U.S. were 83 in 2023 (BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries electrical)
04
Electrical contracting firms spent 0.9% of revenue on safety programs in 2023 (industry survey benchmark)
Interpretation
Safety & Compliance Interpretation
In the Safety and Compliance category, OSHA electrical safety and lockout tagout rules remain central as the U.S. still recorded 83 fatal electrical occupational injuries in 2023, while electrical contracting firms spent only 0.9% of revenue on safety programs in 2023, suggesting a gap between required protections and investment levels.
More related reading
06 · Category
Cost Analysis3 stats
01
In 2023, OSHA assessed $168 million in penalties in the construction industry (OSHA penalty totals)
02
Electrical contractor insurance loss costs averaged $0.33per $100 of insured value in 2021 (NAIC report)
03
Average inspection fee for electrical permits was $150(municipal fee schedules compilation, 2024)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For cost analysis in the electrical contractors space, the numbers show multiple pressure points with OSHA penalties totaling $168 million in 2023, insurance losses averaging $0.33 per $100 of insured value in 2021, and electrical permit inspections commonly charging about $150 on average in 2024.
07 · Category
Employment & Demographics3 stats
01
5.3% of all construction industry employment in the U.S. was electrical work (electricians, etc.) in 2022
02
Approximately 1 in 5 (20%) of construction workers in the U.S. are union members (2023)
03
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects electrician employment to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032
Interpretation
Employment & Demographics Interpretation
From an employment and demographics angle, electrical work accounted for 5.3% of U.S. construction employment in 2022 and with electrician jobs projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, the sector is likely to expand while building on a workforce where about 1 in 5 construction workers are union members.
08 · Category
Labor Shortages3 stats
01
In 2023, 64% of contractors reported they had difficulty hiring skilled craft workers (Associated General Contractors—AGC)
02
38% of construction firms in 2024 reported increasing wages to attract and retain workers (AGC)
03
For 2024, the U.S. unemployment rate averaged 3.8%, while construction unemployment averaged 4.8% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted averages)
Interpretation
Labor Shortages Interpretation
In 2023, 64% of contractors reported difficulty hiring skilled craft workers, and with construction unemployment still higher than overall unemployment in 2024 at 4.8% versus 3.8% and firms raising wages, the data strongly signals that labor shortages remain a persistent pressure point for the Electricians industry.
09 · Category
Cost & Pricing3 stats
01
Commercial/industrial electricity prices (U.S., average) were 12.53 cents per kWh in Q4 2023 (EIA)
02
The average price of copper (benchmark) was $3.85/lb in 2023, increasing costs for electrical wiring materials (World Bank Commodity Markets Outlook, annual average)
03
The Producer Price Index for construction labor rose by 6.0% in 2023 (BLS PPI, construction labor components)
Interpretation
Cost & Pricing Interpretation
Electricians’ cost pressures are rising as commercial and industrial electricity averaged 12.53 cents per kWh in Q4 2023 while copper climbed to $3.85 per pound in 2023 and construction labor costs increased 6.0% in 2023, tightening pricing margins across the Cost & Pricing category.
10 · Category
Risk & Compliance3 stats
01
North American electrical contractors face higher insurance costs: average liability insurance premium renewal increases of 10%–20% were reported in 2024 (JLL Marsh, insurance market outlook)
02
In 2022, 2.1% of construction firms reported a workplace injury involving an electrical hazard (peer-reviewed study on electrical injury epidemiology)
03
In 2021–2022, electrical incidents accounted for about 4% of all occupational fatalities reported in the U.S. across multiple datasets (peer-reviewed review)
Interpretation
Risk & Compliance Interpretation
For the Risk and Compliance side of the electricians industry, rising insurance costs of 10% to 20% for North American electrical contractors coincide with ongoing electrical safety risks, where 2.1% of construction firms reported a workplace injury involving an electrical hazard in 2022 and electrical incidents made up about 4% of US occupational fatalities in 2021 to 2022.
report visual · Key figures
Electricians employment outlook and growth
Electrician employment is projected to rise alongside steady demand for new job openings.
15,000
15,000 median annual new job openings expected for electricians in the U.S. each year (2023-2033)
5%
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects electrician employment to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032
5.3%
5.3% of all construction industry employment in the U.S. was electrical work (electricians, etc.) in 2022
source-verifiedbls.gov · onetonline.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Electricians Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/electricians-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Electricians Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/electricians-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Electricians Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/electricians-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)