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Salary Guides / California
Electrician Salary in California
Compare California electrician employee wages across experience bands, then weigh electrical duties, outage schedules and benefits in each offer.
What Electricians Earn in California
California electricians earn $22.50–$67.47/hr across the reported wage range, or $46,800–$140,340 a year. Building wiring, lighting and motor-control assignments draw on different experience. Ask which systems you will handle and how much troubleshooting the job includes. Employee wages exclude premium pay and benefits, so compare overtime arrangements, health coverage and retirement contributions separately when assessing an offer.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other electricians in California.
What are you making?
Type your hourly rate. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere — it stays in your browser.
Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
These national sector figures help compare electrical work settings when reviewing California vacancies. Ask about the employer's systems, project locations and shutdown schedule.
Utility System Construction
Pumping stations and utility infrastructure need electrical installations. For California project offers, discuss travel between sites and coordination with excavation crews. Ask whether assignments involve new installations or maintenance within existing utility facilities, since access and shutdown planning differ.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial building employers coordinate electrical installations with other trades. Ask how inspection deadlines and shutdowns affect your California project's working hours. Request a description of the installation stage you will join, from initial conduit layout through final testing and handover.
Which states pay electricians the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WECA Electrical Apprenticeship - Commercial Inside Wireman (journeyperson) | +$6.70 | $13,936 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| IBEW Local 11 / LA NECA Inside Wireman Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$9.75 | $20,280 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.35 | $2,808 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| California General Electrician Certification (DIR/DLSE) | +$1.44 |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $36.62/hr.
Questions workers ask
Are these bands California apprenticeship pay schedules?▾
When does electrical construction work earn overtime?▾
How should I compare public works offers?▾
See Open Electrician Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Electricians, SOC 47-2111; May 2025 estimates exclude premium pay, benefits and self-employed contractor revenue.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.