Electrician Salary · Updated May 2026

Electrician salary in North Carolina

The median electrician salary in North Carolina is $56,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — 10% below the national median of $63,190. Most electricians in North Carolina earn between $40,130 and $75,060, and the state ranks #49 of 51 for electrician pay.

Median

$56,800

Entry (10th)

$40,130

Top (90th)

$75,060

State rank

#49/51

Annual wages, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

North Carolina vs. the national average

PercentileNorth CarolinaNational
10th percentile (entry)$40,130$42,640
Median (50th)$56,800$63,190
90th percentile (top)$75,060$108,510

For context, the highest-paying state for electricians is Oregon ($101,310 median) and the lowest is Arkansas ($49,070).

Licensing & taxes for electricians

Most states require a journeyman and/or master electrician license earned through documented experience hours and an exam. A handful — including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Arizona, and Nevada — have no statewide license and defer to local jurisdictions (where a city or county license is usually still required). About a third of states offer reciprocity, often through regional compacts.

Whether you charge sales tax on your labor depends on the state and the type of job. Several states tax services by default, and many distinguish a real-property improvement (often not taxed to the customer) from a repair of tangible property (often taxed). This isn't tax advice — confirm with your state revenue department.

For the full state-by-state licensing, reciprocity, and sales-tax breakdown, see the electrician salary & licensing guide.

Electrician pay in North Carolina: FAQ

How much does an electrician make in North Carolina?
The median electrician salary in North Carolina is $56,800 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — 10% below the national median of $63,190. Most electricians in the state earn between $40,130 and $75,060.
What is the starting salary for electricians in North Carolina?
Entry-level electricians in North Carolina — the bottom 10% — earn around $40,130 a year. Pay rises with licensing, experience, and specialization.
What do the top electricians earn in North Carolina?
The highest-paid 10% of electricians in North Carolina make about $75,060 or more per year — typically licensed masters, specialists, or business owners.
Does North Carolina pay electricians well?
North Carolina ranks #49 of 51 states and D.C. for electrician pay, making it one of the lower-paying states for the trade. Its median of $56,800 is 10% below the U.S. median of $63,190.

Other trades in North Carolina

Plumber salary in North Carolina $57,080 HVAC Technician salary in North Carolina $57,260 Carpenter salary in North Carolina $49,100 Roofer salary in North Carolina $49,010 Painter salary in North Carolina $44,110

Compare electricians pay in every state

Oregon $101,310 Illinois $99,560 Hawaii $96,460 Washington $95,220 Alaska $89,440 Massachusetts $79,420 District of Columbia $78,970 New York $78,750 Minnesota $78,160 Connecticut $77,540 New Jersey $77,250 Montana $76,760 Wisconsin $76,540 Michigan $76,270 California $76,160 Wyoming $76,120 Maine $75,380 Rhode Island $74,090 Nevada $73,570 Maryland $73,490 Indiana $68,490 Pennsylvania $67,600 Kansas $65,860 North Dakota $65,710 Missouri $65,410 West Virginia $64,810 Ohio $64,700 Delaware $63,700 Vermont $63,430 Idaho $63,000 Virginia $62,900 New Hampshire $62,840 Colorado $62,230 Utah $62,000 Louisiana $61,540 South Dakota $61,390 Tennessee $61,090 Arizona $61,060 Oklahoma $61,010 Iowa $60,860 Mississippi $60,860 Nebraska $60,820 Kentucky $59,720 South Carolina $58,740 Texas $58,570 New Mexico $58,390 Georgia $58,320 Florida $57,250 Alabama $55,690 Arkansas $49,070

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS OEWS, May 2025, via the BLS public API (SOC 47-2111). Wages are annual and vary by experience, licensing, certification, and local demand. See all electricians by state or trade salaries by state.