Electrician Salary - Pacific Coast
Oregon and Washington lead the nation, California adds volume
Wage figures reflect all electricians across all employment types -- union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. Union journeymen typically earn above the state median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it. State figures are averages -- wages vary significantly between metro and rural markets within the same state. City-level data coming soon.
The Pacific Coast is the highest-paying region for electricians in the country. Oregon and Washington consistently rank at or near the top of every national wage survey, driven by strong IBEW presence, active commercial construction markets, and a cost of living that unions have fought to keep wages ahead of. California adds significant employment volume -- more electricians work in California than any other state -- though wages vary widely between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and rural inland markets.
IBEW density is high across the region. Oregon and Washington are among the most unionized construction markets in the country, with IBEW locals dominating commercial and industrial work. 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 with high wages driven by remoteness, cost of living, and strong union contracts rather than construction volume.
Cost of living is the significant caveat on Pacific Coast wages. Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco rank among the most expensive metros in the country for housing. The wage premium is real but so is the cost -- a journeyman earning $95/hr in Seattle is not necessarily better off than one earning $65/hr in Indianapolis when housing costs are factored in. Alaska and Hawaii present similar dynamics. Travelers should run the numbers before committing to a long haul.
- →Data center construction concentrated in the Pacific Northwest -- Oregon's Hillsboro corridor is one of the densest data center markets in North America
- →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 one of the most attractive destinations for traveling journeymen in the country. Oregon and Washington pay some of the highest scale rates in North America -- Portland and Seattle IBEW locals regularly recruit travelers when local manpower is tight. California's size means opportunities vary significantly by market. Alaska offers exceptional wages and per diem for travelers willing to work remote locations. Check current openings on RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro before making the trip.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living -- what your paycheck actually buys relative to the national average.
| 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.