Electrician Salary - Midwest
Industrial and manufacturing base with established building trades
Wage figures on this page reflect all electricians counted by the BLS, across union and non-union work, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. The BLS does not publish a separate journey-level tier. State figures are medians: half of workers earn more, half earn less.
The Midwest is defined by one outlier and a solid middle tier. Illinois, specifically Chicago, carries a state median of $99,560. The region's industrial base creates consistent demand for commercial and industrial electricians that keeps employment stable even when residential construction slows.
The Midwest has an active union construction market. Chicago's IBEW locals include Local 134. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan all have IBEW presence in their major metros. The industrial sector adds another union layer: manufacturing facilities, power plants, and refineries across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan employ significant numbers of IBEW inside wiremen and specialists. Outside the major metros, union density drops but remains higher than the Southeast.
The Midwest has a low cost of living for electricians. Illinois posts a COL index of 95.1 against a $99,560 median. Minnesota sits at 93.4, Wisconsin at 97.4, and Michigan at 93.9, all below-average cost of living. Iowa sits at 88.6 and Kansas at 87.6.
- →Industrial manufacturing and automation upgrades across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan's automotive and manufacturing corridor
- →Data center construction expanding into the Chicago metro and secondary Midwest markets
- →Renewable energy infrastructure: wind farm electrical work concentrated in Iowa, Kansas, and the Dakotas
- →EV battery and electric vehicle manufacturing facility construction across Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
- →Grid modernization and utility infrastructure upgrades across the region's aging electrical infrastructure
Chicago is a destination for traveling journeymen. The market runs hot on major commercial and industrial projects. The industrial corridor across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan creates consistent demand for travelers with industrial experience. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current openings. Chicago in particular moves fast.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living: what a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,560 +$36,370 vs. national | 95.1 | $104,690 +$41,500 vs. national |
| Minnesota | $78,160 +$14,970 vs. national | 93.4 | $83,683 +$20,493 vs. national |
| Wisconsin | $76,540 +$13,350 vs. national | 97.4 | $78,583 +$15,393 vs. national |
| Michigan | $76,270 +$13,080 vs. national | 93.9 | $81,225 +$18,035 vs. national |
| Indiana | $68,490 +$5,300 vs. national | 88.3 | $77,565 +$14,375 vs. national |
| Kansas | $65,860 +$2,670 vs. national | 87.6 | $75,183 +$11,993 vs. national |
| North Dakota | $65,710 +$2,520 vs. national | 90.7 | $72,448 +$9,258 vs. national |
| Missouri | $65,410 +$2,220 vs. national | 88.6 | $73,826 +$10,636 vs. national |
| Ohio | $64,700 +$1,510 vs. national | 93.7 | $69,050 +$5,860 vs. national |
| South Dakota | $61,390 -$1,800 vs. national | 94.1 | $65,239 +$2,049 vs. national |
| Iowa | $60,860 -$2,330 vs. national | 88.6 | $68,691 +$5,501 vs. national |
| Nebraska | $60,820 -$2,370 vs. national | 91.3 | $66,616 +$3,426 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - Electricians - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.