Electricians earn a median $60,240 per year, with overtime adding about 15% to that income. Pay and benefits planning now ties directly to hiring strain, since 74% of contractors report electrician shortages and only 30% of apprenticeship slots fill each year. Retention remains the next bottleneck, with 35% of electricians leaving within the first year.
Key Takeaways
- Median pay for electricians $60,240 annually
- Top 10% electricians earn over $101,000
- 92.3% of electricians in the US are male
- 74% of contractors report electrician shortages
- Electrical industry turnover averages 25%
- 1,200 training hours required for journeyman certification
Electrical industry statistics show steady demand and strong growth for skilled workers and modern infrastructure.
Related reading
01 · Category
Compensation and Benefits25 stats
01
Median pay for electricians $60,240annually
02
Average hourly wage $29.00for electricians
03
Electrical engineers median $104,610
04
Average bonus 8% of salary
05
Pension plans cover 60% of union workers
06
Overtime pay averages 15% of income
07
401(k) matching by 55% of firms
08
Paid time off averages 15 days/year
09
Tool allowances $1,200annually
10
40% offer profit sharing
11
Life insurance standard for 80%
12
Wage growth 4.2% YoY for electricians
13
Entry-level apprentice wage $18/hour
14
Journeyman average $35/hour
15
Dental coverage 70%
16
Tuition reimbursement for 45%
17
Vehicle allowance $500/month for 30%
18
Short-term disability 65%
19
Performance bonuses for 50%
20
12% retirement contribution average
21
Shift differentials 10% premium
22
Wellness programs in 35% firms
23
Childcare benefits rare at 5%
24
Stock options for engineers 20%
25
Paid parental leave 25 days average
Interpretation
Compensation and Benefits Interpretation
The path from apprentice to master electrician offers a steady climb in both pay and perks, but if you truly want to electrify your bank account, you’d better wire your career toward engineering.
02 · Category
Compensation and Pension1 stats
01
Top 10% electricians earn over $101,000
Interpretation
Compensation and Pension Interpretation
If you want to join the elite ten percent of electricians, you'll need to wire your way to a six-figure income, which proves this trade isn't just about current, but also serious currency.
03 · Category
Demographics30 stats
01
92.3% of electricians in the US are male
02
Average age of electricians is 42.5 years
03
7.7% of electrical workers are women
04
65% of electricians have a high school diploma or equivalent
05
Hispanic or Latino workers make up 29.4% of electricians
06
White workers comprise 61.2% of the electrician workforce
07
12.1% of electricians are Black or African American
08
Asian workers represent 3.8% of electricians
09
15% of electrical engineers are over 55 years old
10
25% of the electrical workforce is under 30 years old
11
Veterans make up 8.5% of electricians
12
40% of electrical apprentices are first-generation trade workers
13
Union electricians represent 28% of the total workforce
14
Self-employed electricians account for 22% of workers
15
5.2% of electricians have disabilities
16
Immigrants comprise 18% of the electrical construction workforce
17
35% of electrical line workers are in rural areas
18
Gen Z (under 25) is only 10% of electricians
19
Baby boomers still hold 20% of supervisory roles
20
55% of electrical managers have 20+ years experience
21
Female electrical engineers are 14%
22
22% of electrician apprentices are minorities
23
Average tenure for electricians is 10.2 years
24
30% of workforce has associate degrees
25
Rural electricians average age 45, urban 40
26
8% of electricians are over 60
27
LGBTQ+ representation in electrical trades is 4.1%
28
62% of electrical workforce is non-union
29
High school graduates dominate at 70%
30
Electrical industry workforce totals 700,000 electricians
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
The electrical industry is a seasoned, male-dominated field slowly being rewired by a more diverse new generation, yet the old guard still holds the blueprints and most of the tools.
More related reading
04 · Category
Recruitment and Hiring27 stats
01
74% of contractors report electrician shortages
02
82,000 new electrician jobs needed annually
03
Only 30% of apprenticeship slots filled yearly
04
65% of firms struggle to hire qualified electricians
05
Hiring rate for electrical engineers up 5% YoY
06
50% of contractors use social media for recruitment
07
Time to hire an electrician averages 45 days
08
40% increase in apprenticeship applications post-COVID
09
28% of hires are referrals in electrical trades
10
Diversity hiring goals met by 35% of firms
11
60% of contractors partner with schools for recruitment
12
Entry-level electrician hiring up 12%
13
55% report difficulty hiring journeymen
14
Online job postings for electricians rose 25%
15
70% of hires lack prior experience
16
Veteran hiring programs cover 15% of new hires
17
Campus recruitment yields 20% of engineers
18
45% use temp agencies for electrical labor
19
Female apprentice recruitment up 18%
20
38% of firms offer signing bonuses
21
Job openings exceed applicants by 2:1 ratio
22
52% prioritize skills over degrees in hiring
23
Relocation assistance offered to 25% of candidates
24
67% screen for certifications pre-hire
25
Minority recruitment programs in 40% of companies
26
Average cost per hire for electrician is $4,200
27
6% projected job growth for electricians 2022-2032
Interpretation
Recruitment and Hiring Interpretation
The electrical industry is frantically rewiring its recruitment strategy, realizing it's facing a high-voltage shortage while holding a toolbox filled with everything except enough qualified electricians to meet the overwhelming demand.
05 · Category
Retention and Turnover26 stats
01
Electrical industry turnover averages 25%
02
35% of electricians leave within first year
03
Retention rate for union workers 85%
04
40% cite better pay as departure reason
05
Average tenure 8.5 years for journeymen
06
22% voluntary turnover rate annually
07
55% of firms offer retention bonuses
08
Mentorship improves retention by 30%
09
28% turnover due to work-life balance
10
Female retention 15% lower than males
11
65% stay for career advancement
12
Post-COVID turnover spiked 18%
13
75% retention with flexible scheduling
14
Aging workforce retirements up 12%
15
45% leave for competitor offers
16
Engagement scores average 68/100
17
30% reduction in turnover via training
18
Union retention 20% higher than non-union
19
52% cite safety concerns for leaving
20
Exit interviews show 25% management issues
21
Retention bonuses retain 60% of at-risk
22
10% involuntary turnover rate
23
Career pathing boosts retention 25%
24
38% turnover in first 5 years
25
Remote work options retain 40% more
26
Burnout causes 20% departures
Interpretation
Retention and Turnover Interpretation
While shocking turnover figures threaten to plunge the industry into darkness, the live wires keeping it lit are clear: better pay, union solidarity, and flexible scheduling act as powerful insulators, proving the current problem isn't a short circuit but a failure to connect with the workforce.
06 · Category
Training and Development27 stats
01
1,200 training hours required for journeyman certification
02
85% of electricians receive on-the-job training
03
4-year apprenticeship programs standard
04
65% of firms offer safety training annually
05
OSHA training completed by 92% of workers
06
30% participate in leadership development
07
EV charging certification training up 50%
08
75% of apprentices complete programs
09
Annual training budget averages $2,500per employee
10
Solar installation training demanded by 60%
11
40 hours of continuing education required for license renewal
12
55% use online training platforms
13
Mentor programs cover 70% of apprentices
14
25% trained in smart grid technologies
15
Women in training programs up 22%
16
80% receive arc flash safety training
17
Certification rates 78% for journeymen
18
35% pursue advanced certifications yearly
19
VR simulation training adopted by 20%
20
50% of engineers attend IEEE conferences
21
Lockout/tagout training 95% compliance
22
15% drop-out rate in apprenticeships
23
Green energy training for 45% workforce
24
60 hours safety training first year
25
42% invest in digital skills training
26
Bilingual training offered to 28%
27
70% turnover rate linked to lack of training
Interpretation
Training and Development Interpretation
The electrical industry is meticulously wiring its future, demanding a staggering 1,200 training hours for mastery while simultaneously fighting a 70% turnover rate caused by training gaps, proving that even the most powerful currents need a dedicated path to flow.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). HR In The Electrical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-electrical-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "HR In The Electrical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-electrical-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "HR In The Electrical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-electrical-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level