Electrician Salary - Pacific Coast
High-cost coastal markets with significant employment volume
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 Pacific Coast is a high-paying region for electricians. Oregon and Washington have IBEW presence and active commercial construction markets. California adds significant employment volume, though wages vary widely between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and rural inland markets.
IBEW density is high across the region. California is more mixed, heavily unionized in the Bay Area and LA metro, less so in the Central Valley and inland regions. Alaska and Hawaii operate as distinct markets, driven by remoteness and cost of living rather than construction volume.
Cost of living on the Pacific Coast is high. California at 140.5 COL, Washington at 114.6, and Oregon at 109.6 all sit above the national average, and Hawaii at 184.8 is extreme. Travelers should run the numbers before committing to a long haul.
- →Data center construction concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon's Hillsboro corridor
- →Grid modernization and renewable energy projects across California, Oregon, and Washington
- →Ongoing residential and commercial construction in Seattle, Portland, and the Bay Area metro
- →Hawaii's tourism and resort infrastructure driving consistent commercial electrical demand
- →Alaska's oil, gas, and mining sectors creating sustained industrial electrical work
The Pacific Coast is a destination for traveling journeymen. Portland and Seattle IBEW locals regularly recruit travelers when local manpower is tight. California's size means opportunities vary significantly by market. Alaska has remote work locations for travelers. Check current openings on RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro before making the trip.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $101,310 +$38,120 vs. national | 109.6 | $92,436 +$29,246 vs. national |
| Hawaii | $96,460 +$33,270 vs. national | 184.8 | $52,197 -$10,993 vs. national |
| Washington | $95,220 +$32,030 vs. national | 114.6 | $83,089 +$19,899 vs. national |
| Alaska | $89,440 +$26,250 vs. national | 129.0 | $69,333 +$6,143 vs. national |
| California | $76,160 +$12,970 vs. national | 140.5 | $54,206 -$8,984 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.