Electrician Salary in California
Statewide median pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and what it costs to get into the trade here.
Median annual
$84,330
statewide
Median hourly
$40.54
per hour
Jobs in state
72,880
people employed
Cost to enter
$175
licence + training
What the licence costs against the pay
At the state median, the licence and training pay for themselves in roughly 0.0 months of work. That is the number to compare when you are choosing between states — a cheaper licence in a lower-paying state can still be the slower route to break even.
Pay in other states
| State | Median annual | Licence cost | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $84,330 | $175 | 0 mo |
| Florida | $52,380 | $683 | 0 mo |
| Texas | $56,350 | $30 | 0 mo |
How to read these numbers
- Median, not average. A handful of very high earners drag the average up; the median is the middle person.
- Statewide. Metro pay in this trade often runs 10–25% above the state figure, and rural areas below it.
- Before overtime. BLS base pay excludes overtime and shift differentials, which matter a lot in this trade.
Sources
- BLS OEWS state table (archive snapshot)Median annual wage for Electrician in California, May 2024
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/ElectricalTrade.html“Existing law requires that persons performing work as electrician under a C-10 licensed contractor be certified”
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/EleCat.html“General electrician ... You have on the job experience of at least... 8,000 hours”
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/ElectricalTrade_Fees.html“The fee for initially applying for certification is $75.00. The fee for taking or retaking the examination is $100.00. The fee for renewal of certification is $100.00.”
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/DIR-ECU_Candidate-Information-Bulletin.pdf“You will need to renew your certificate every 3 years. You must complete 32 hours of continuing education prior to the renewal”
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/ECU_Stats.htm“Exams taken to date 146,660 Exams passed to date 79,525”
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/ECU/DIR-ECU_Candidate-Information-Bulletin.pdf“Before you can take the examination, you must apply and be approved by DLSE.”