Journeyman Electrician Salary: What You’ll Earn in 2026
A journeyman electrician in the US earns a median salary of $34.37 per hour — or $71,490 per year on a mean annual basis — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 release. That’s a meaningful jump from prior years, and real-world pay goes higher still depending on where you work, whether you’re union or non-union, and what you specialize in. IBEW journeymen in major metro areas regularly clear $90,000–$110,000+ when overtime is factored in.
If you’re finishing your apprenticeship and want to know what to expect on your first journeyman paycheck, or you’re weighing union vs. non-union, this guide breaks down exactly what journeyman electricians earn across every state, what separates the higher earners from average, and what the pay scale looks like once you’re ready to move up.
Table of Contents
Quick facts: Journeyman electrician salary
- National median hourly wage: $34.37/hr (BLS, May 2025)
- National mean annual wage: $71,490/yr (BLS, May 2025)
- Union journeyman salary: $75,000–$110,000+/yr depending on local
- Top-paying states: Illinois, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, Alaska
- Job outlook: 9.5% growth through 2034 (BLS) — faster than most occupations
- Training required: 4–5 year apprenticeship + state licensing exam
What journeyman electrician pay looks like in practice
A journeyman electrician license is your first fully independent credential in the trade. You’ve completed your apprenticeship — typically 8,000 hours of on-the-job training over four to five years — passed your state licensing exam, and now you can work without direct supervision. That credential shift translates directly into a pay bump.
During an apprenticeship, electricians typically earn 40–90% of journeyman scale depending on their year level. Once you earn journeyman status, you move to the full journeyman rate. In union shops, the jump from 5th-year apprentice to journeyman can be $8–$15 per hour. The BLS reports the mean annual wage for helper electricians — the classification covering early-stage apprentices — at $44,080 (BLS, May 2025), which makes the journeyman milestone even more significant in dollar terms.
In practice, a journeyman working 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year at $34.37/hour earns roughly $68,740 before overtime. Add standard overtime — common in commercial and industrial electrical work — and it’s not unusual to gross $80,000–$95,000 in a year. Some journeymen working heavy industrial or shift work consistently clear six figures.
The honest downside: this is physically demanding work. Journeymen spend long days on their feet, often in tight spaces, on ladders, or in unconditioned environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks roughly 2–3 incidents per 100 workers annually in construction electrical work. Factor that in when comparing electrician pay to desk-based careers.
Average journeyman electrician salary by state
Electrician wages vary widely by geography. Illinois and New York IBEW journeymen can earn $40–$55/hour base, while journeymen in rural Southern states might be closer to $22–$27/hour. The national median hourly is $34.37 (BLS, May 2025), but that average masks a wide distribution.
The table below shows median annual wages for electricians by state using the most current BLS state-level data available. Journeyman wages in your specific area may run above or below these figures depending on union scale, employer type, and specialization.
| State | Median Annual Wage | Median Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $90,640 | $43.58 |
| New York | $86,940 | $41.80 |
| Hawaii | $86,560 | $41.61 |
| Oregon | $85,420 | $41.07 |
| Alaska | $82,810 | $39.81 |
| Massachusetts | $81,560 | $39.21 |
| New Jersey | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| Washington | $80,130 | $38.52 |
| Minnesota | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| California | $77,520 | $37.27 |
| Nevada | $73,110 | $35.15 |
| Michigan | $72,640 | $34.92 |
| Connecticut | $71,890 | $34.56 |
| Colorado | $70,780 | $34.03 |
| Texas | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| Florida | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| Georgia | $54,840 | $26.37 |
| Tennessee | $53,200 | $25.58 |
| North Carolina | $52,960 | $25.46 |
| Mississippi | $47,310 | $22.74 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), state-level data. Figures represent all electricians (including journeymen) within each state. National mean annual figure: $71,490 (BLS, May 2025). For all 50 states, use the skilled trades salary calculator.
Pro tip
State medians don’t tell the full story. Illinois ranks #1 largely because of IBEW union density in the Chicago metro. A non-union journeyman in downstate Illinois may earn significantly less than the state median. Always compare your local IBEW inside wireman scale or regional non-union market rates — not just the statewide average.
Union vs. non-union journeyman electrician salary
Whether you’re in a union matters more to your journeyman electrician wage than almost any other single factor. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) negotiates local collective bargaining agreements that set journeyman inside wireman rates well above the open-shop market in most metro areas. In major cities, IBEW journeyman rates range from $40–$58/hour base, with benefits packages (pension, health insurance, annuity) adding another $15–$25/hour in total compensation.
Non-union journeymen often earn less per hour on base wages, but the gap varies significantly by region. In Texas — a right-to-work state with low union density — non-union journeymen typically earn $26–$34/hour. In markets with strong union presence, non-union contractors often have to pay closer to union scale to attract workers, narrowing the gap.
Union journeyman (IBEW)
- Base wage: $40–$58/hr in major metros
- Benefits add $15–$25/hr in total comp
- Pension, health insurance, annuity included
- Steady work through union hall dispatch
- Defined pay scale — raises on fixed schedule
- Dues: typically 1–2% of gross wages
Non-union journeyman
- Base wage: $22–$40/hr depending on market
- Benefits vary widely by employer
- More negotiating flexibility on pay
- Can take a wider variety of projects
- No dispatch — you manage your own pipeline
- No union dues
Here is the complete guide on Union vs Non-Union Skilled Trades: Pay, Benefits & Career Comparison.
The total compensation difference often surprises people. An IBEW journeyman in Chicago earning $46/hour base also receives pension contributions, health and welfare, apprenticeship/training fund, and annuity contributions that add another $18–$24/hour. That makes effective total compensation closer to $64–$70/hour — even if the non-union journeyman thinks he’s only $10–$12 behind on base wages.
For a deeper look at the tradeoffs on both sides, see our guide to how to become an electrician, which covers union apprenticeship paths in detail.
How to increase your journeyman electrician wage
The journeyman wage floor is set by your local market and union scale — but the ceiling is much higher if you’re strategic. Here’s what actually moves the needle on journeyman electrician pay:
Specialization pays. Journeymen who work in high-voltage transmission, industrial maintenance, or data center construction routinely earn 20–35% more than standard residential/commercial rates. Solar PV installer employment is projected to grow 48% through 2033 (BLS) — experienced journeymen who cross-train in solar can command premium rates on those projects.
Industrial and commercial work pays more than residential. Residential service journeymen often earn $26–$34/hour. Commercial and industrial journeymen in the same market commonly earn $34–$48/hour or more. The work is harder and the environments tougher, but the pay differential is real.
Overtime stacks up fast. Many journeymen in construction and maintenance roles regularly work 50–60-hour weeks during peak projects. At $36/hour straight time, a journeyman working 250 hours of overtime in a year adds roughly $13,500 in gross wages.
Moving to a higher-wage state is a legitimate lever. If you’re currently earning $28/hour in a lower-wage market and are willing to relocate, comparable work in Illinois, Washington, or Oregon could pay $42–$48/hour. Cost of living rises too, but not always proportionally — run the numbers for your specific situation.
Good to know
Some journeymen significantly boost their income by working as traveling IBEW members — taking out-of-town work in higher-paying jurisdictions through the IBEW’s travel card system. It requires willingness to be away from home, but a journeyman from a $34/hr local who picks up a few months of work in a $50/hr jurisdiction adds substantial income in a single year.
Journeyman vs. master electrician salary
The next step on the career ladder after journeyman is master electrician. The pay jump is real, but so is the investment required to get there.
In most states, you need two to four years of post-journeyman experience before you’re eligible to sit for the master exam. The exam itself is more comprehensive — covering the National Electrical Code (NEC) at a deeper level, load calculations, and often business law. Some states require additional training hours.
The payoff: master electricians who work for employers earn more, but the larger jump comes from pulling permits and running your own electrical contracting business. A master license is required to legally operate as an electrical contractor in most states.
Pay comparison:
- Electrical contractor (self-employed master): $90,000–$200,000+/yr — highly variable based on volume and business management
- Journeyman electrician: $34.37/hr median | $71,490/yr mean (BLS, May 2025)
- Master electrician (employed): typically $75,000–$100,000+/yr depending on market and role
Pro tip
Don’t wait until you have enough experience to start thinking about the master exam — begin studying the NEC now. Many journeymen who pass on their first attempt spent 12–18 months slowly working through code books while still on the job. Cramming doesn’t work well for the NEC.
If you’re thinking about the business ownership route, see our guide on how to start an electrical contracting business for what the path actually looks like.
Journeyman electrician salary vs. other trades
Wondering how journeyman electrician pay stacks up against other skilled trades at the same career stage? Here’s a direct comparison using BLS May 2025 data.
| Trade | Median Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Wage | Job Growth (2024–2034) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $34.37 | $71,490 | 9.5% |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | $34.70 | $72,170 | ~6% |
| HVAC Technician | $32.75 | $68,120 | 8.1% |
| Millwright | $33.55 | $69,780 | ~3% |
| Welder | $27.29 | $56,760 | ~2% |
| Elevator Installer / Repairer | $52.80 | $109,820 | ~4% |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Job growth: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
One notable shift in the May 2025 data: plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters now edge out electricians by a narrow margin — $72,170 vs. $71,490 mean annual. The gap is modest, and varies significantly by state and union status, but it reflects consistent demand pressure in the plumbing trade driven by aging residential infrastructure and water system upgrades.
For a salary comparison across all trades and all US states, use our skilled trades salary calculator (free). For a full breakdown of where electricians rank, see our highest paying trade jobs guide. You can also compare individual trade salaries using the electrician salary guide by state and the plumber salary guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a journeyman electrician make per hour?
The national median hourly wage for electricians is $34.37 (BLS, May 2025). Non-union journeymen in lower-wage states might earn $22–$28/hr, while IBEW journeymen in major metro areas commonly earn $40–$58/hr on base wages — with a substantial benefits package on top of that. The BLS mean annual figure of $71,490 translates to approximately $34.37/hr at standard working hours, before overtime.
What is the average journeyman electrician salary in the US?
The mean annual wage for electricians is $71,490 (BLS, May 2025), with a median hourly of $34.37/hr. Journeyman-level electricians cluster around this median, with the bottom 10% earning below $40,000/yr and the top 10% earning above $105,000/yr. Geography, union membership, and specialization are the biggest drivers of where you land in that range.
Do union journeyman electricians make more than non-union?
In most markets, yes — especially when total compensation is included. IBEW journeymen in major cities earn $40–$58/hr base, plus pension contributions, health insurance, and annuity funds that can add $15–$25/hr in additional value. Non-union journeymen often have higher take-home pay per hour in right-to-work states, but lower total compensation when benefits are factored in. The difference is narrowest in competitive labor markets where non-union contractors must approach union scale to retain qualified workers.
What state pays journeyman electricians the most?
Illinois, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, and Alaska consistently rank as top-paying states for electricians. Illinois leads with a state median above $90,000, largely driven by IBEW Local 134 in Chicago. Keep in mind that cost of living in New York and Hawaii is significantly higher than the national average — always factor in purchasing power alongside the headline wage.
How much does a journeyman electrician make vs. an apprentice?
Apprentice wages are set as a percentage of journeyman scale — typically starting at 40–50% in year one and stepping up each year. The BLS reports the mean annual wage for helper electricians (early-stage apprentices) at $44,080 (BLS, May 2025) — compared to $71,490 mean annual for the full electrician category. Passing the journeyman exam moves you to the full rate immediately. The difference between a 5th-year apprentice and a new journeyman in the same local can be $4–$10/hr depending on the market.
Can a journeyman electrician make six figures?
Yes — in the right market and with significant overtime, it’s achievable. IBEW journeymen in Chicago, New York, or the Bay Area earning $46–$55/hr base who work 50-hour weeks regularly gross over $100,000/yr. Industrial maintenance journeymen and those in specialized sectors — data centers, renewable energy, transmission work — also cross six figures regularly. It’s not average, but it’s not rare at the upper end of the market.
How long does it take to become a journeyman electrician?
Most paths take 4–5 years. The standard route is a union or non-union apprenticeship combining 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with 144+ hours of classroom instruction per year. After completing the apprenticeship, you sit for your state’s journeyman licensing exam. Some states have additional requirements — always check your specific state licensing board for current rules. See our full guide on how to become an electrician for the complete step-by-step path.
Is journeyman electrician a good career in 2026?
For the right person, yes — but it comes with real tradeoffs. The mean annual pay of $71,490 (BLS, May 2025), strong job security (9.5% employment growth projected through 2034), and a clear path to master electrician or contractor status are genuine advantages. The honest downside: it’s physically demanding work with real injury exposure, income can fluctuate during slow construction periods, and licensing requirements add ongoing complexity. Ninety percent of surveyed tradespeople say they’re satisfied with their profession (Angi Skilled Trades Report 2024) — but that satisfaction correlates strongly with realistic expectations going in.
Next steps
If you’re wrapping up your apprenticeship, the most important thing you can do right now is get serious about your state’s journeyman exam — requirements, eligible hours, and exam content all vary. Check your state licensing board directly, or review our complete guide to how to become an electrician which covers licensing requirements for every state.
Already licensed and thinking about what comes next? Read our how to start an electrical contracting business guide if ownership is on your radar. If you want to compare the electrical trade to other options, the highest paying trade jobs guide puts all the numbers side by side.
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