Electrician Salary Calculator

Estimate an electrician’s take-home pay after federal income tax and FICA, convert an hourly wage to annual pay, and see how electrician earnings compare across trades and fields.

Estimated net take-home (year)

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Gross annual pay—

Federal income tax—

FICA (Social Security + Medicare)—

Monthly take-home—

Effective hourly rate—

Where your electrician salary goes

Your take-home versus federal income tax and FICA payroll tax.

Electrician pay vs other fields

Approximate US median annual wages by occupation (BLS 2024 basis). Your field is highlighted.

Electrician salary, explained

An electrician salary is the yearly pay a licensed electrical worker earns installing and maintaining wiring, panels, and electrical systems. The median electrician in the United States earns about $61,000 a year, but pay climbs sharply with licensure. An apprentice earns a fraction of a journeyman’s wage, and a master electrician or electrical contractor can earn six figures, especially with overtime or self-employment.

Electrician pay is usually quoted as an hourly wage, so overtime, prevailing-wage projects, and union scale matter a great deal. Industrial and specialized electricians (high-voltage, controls, and instrumentation) often out-earn residential installers. Because the trade is in persistent demand, licensed electricians in growing metros can command premium rates. This calculator converts an annual or hourly electrician wage into estimated take-home pay.

Electrician pay by experience level

Electrician pay is not a single number. It grows with experience, credentials, region, and employer. These approximate tiers show the typical range a electrician can expect across a career:

Entry level (0–2 yrs): $40,000
Median / mid-career: $61,000
Experienced (senior): $80,000
Top 10% earners: $104,000

Pay rises at each licensing stage: apprentice, journeyman, then master electrician. Overtime, prevailing-wage public projects, union membership, and moving into supervision or contracting are the fastest ways to raise an electrician’s annual earnings.

The take-home formula

A salary calculator turns your gross pay into the number that actually lands in your bank account. The core formula subtracts federal income tax and FICA payroll tax from gross pay:

gross pay = base salary + extra income
taxable income = gross pay − standard deduction
federal tax = progressive brackets applied to taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to wage cap) + 1.45% Medicare
net take-home = gross pay − federal tax − FICA

Worked example

A journeyman electrician earning $32 an hour at 40 hours a week grosses about $66,560 a year. Filing single, federal income tax is roughly $6,480 and FICA about $5,090, leaving an estimated $54,980 in take-home, near $4,582 a month. Regular overtime at time-and-a-half can add several thousand dollars more to the annual total.

What affects a electrician's pay the most?

License level: apprentice, journeyman, and master electrician each mark a major pay step.
Union vs non-union: union scale and benefits often exceed non-union pay in the same region.
Overtime and prevailing wage: public projects and overtime hours raise annual earnings substantially.
Specialty: industrial, high-voltage, and controls work typically pays more than residential.
Self-employment: electrical contractors can earn more but take on business costs and risk.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average electrician salary?

The median electrician in the US earns about $61,000 a year. Apprentices earn less, while experienced journeymen and master electricians can earn $80,000 to over $100,000.

How do I convert an electrician’s hourly wage to a salary?

Multiply the hourly rate by hours worked per year. At $32 an hour and 2,080 hours, that is about $66,560 in gross annual pay before overtime and taxes.

How much does an electrician take home after taxes?

On a $61,000 salary, a single electrician keeps roughly $51,000 after federal income tax and FICA. State tax and benefits reduce that further.

Do master electricians earn a lot more than journeymen?

Yes. A master electrician license allows higher-paying work, supervision, and contracting, often adding $15,000 to $40,000 a year over journeyman pay depending on the market.

Does union membership raise electrician pay?

Union electricians often earn higher scale wages plus pension and health benefits, though non-union electricians in some regions and specialties can earn comparable totals.

Is overtime common for electricians?

Yes. Construction schedules, shutdowns, and service calls frequently involve overtime, and time-and-a-half hours can add significantly to an electrician’s annual earnings.