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Electrician I Salary in the United States

How much does an Electrician I make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Electrician I in the United States is $55,579 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, an Electrician I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,187
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,520 to $61,655
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,004
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View as table View as graph 25% $49,520 10% $44,004 90% $67,187 75% $61,655 $55,579 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Electrician I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,655 $5,138 $1,186 $30
Average $55,579 $4,632 $1,069 $27
25th Percentile $49,520 $4,127 $952 $24
Check out Electrician I Job Openings in the United States
Journeyman Electrician

Boynton Fire Safety Service - LANSING, MI

Journeyman Electrician

Cargill - LAKE ODESSA, MI

Journeyman Electrician

Cargill - HASTINGS, MI

Journeyman Electrician

Cargill - LANSING, MI

Search More Electrician I Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Electrician I Salaries

An Electrician I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Electrician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Electrician I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Electrician I (0-1 years): $55,579
  • Electrician II (1-3 years): $64,670
  • Electrician III (3-5 years): $71,275
  • Electrician IV (5-7 years): $83,386
  • Electrical Maintenance Supervisor (7+ years): $83,943
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electrician I0-1 years$55,579
Electrician II1-3 years$64,670
Electrician III3-5 years$71,275
Electrician IV5-7 years$83,386
Electrical Maintenance Supervisor7+ years$83,943
$55,579 Electrici...
$64,670 Electrici...
$71,275 Electrici...
$83,386 Electrici...
$83,943 Electrica...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Electrician Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $70,102
  • San Francisco: $69,413
  • Oakland: $67,873

What Skills Can Increase an Electrician I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.55% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Site Survey (Mentioned in 3.88% Job Postings): Site surveys are inspections of an area where work is proposed, to gather information for a design or an estimate to complete the initial tasks required for an outdoor activity. It can determine a precise location, access, best orientation for the site and the location of obstacles. The type of site survey and the best practices required depend on the nature of the project. Examples of projects requiring a preliminary site survey include urban construction, specialized construction (such as the location for a telescope) and wireless network design. In hydrocarbon exploration, for example, site surveys are run over the proposed locations of offshore exploration or appraisal wells. They consist typically of a tight grid of high resolution (high frequency) reflection seismology profiles to look for possible gas hazards in the shallow section beneath the seabed and detailed bathymetric data to look for possible obstacles on the seafloor (e.g. shipwrecks, existing pipelines) using multibeam echosounders.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.55%
Site Survey 3.88%
Pneumatics 1.64%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Electrician I's salary.
  • Site Survey: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Resilience: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Site Survey
$60,581
9%
Resilience
$59,470
7%
Collaboration
$57,802
4%
HVAC
$57,802
4%
Access Control
$57,802
4%
Decision Making
$57,802
4%
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How Education impacts an Electrician I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrician Is enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Electrician I with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $52,123 and $56,370).

Electrician I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Electrician I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 65.2%
Associates 21.3%
Bachelors 9.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.4%
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Electrician I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Electrician I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Electrician I Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Electrician I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Electrician II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $64,670 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Electrician I

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Electrician I

Here are companies hiring for Electrician I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Electrician I

1. Where can an Electrician I earn the most?

An Electrician I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Electrician I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Electrician I is $70,102.

2. What is the highest pay for Electrician I?

The highest pay for Electrician I is $67,187.

3. What is the lowest pay for Electrician I?

The lowest pay for Electrician I is $44,004.

4. What are the responsibilities of Electrician I?

Inspects, repairs, installs, and maintains electrical systems, machinery, and equipment. Ensures all work performed meets required safety codes and is properly inspected. Uses a variety of tools and equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment. Typically requires a high school diploma. Typically requires Electrician License. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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