Industrial Electrician Pay in Wisconsin
Updated 2026-10-31 · Based on 14 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 20 postings in the last 90 days, up 20% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 23 active industrial electricians openings in Wisconsin, 14 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $70, with the middle 50% earning $70–$70.
Compared to the national median of $37.57/hr, Wisconsin pays 86.32% above average.
The Wisconsin electrician labor market
Wisconsin is a stable, manufacturing-anchored electrician market where paper mills, food processing, and a growing technology footprint sustain steady demand. The Fox Valley's paper industry, Milwaukee's manufacturing base (Harley-Davidson, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls), and Madison's university and healthcare construction provide the commercial-industrial backbone. The growth story is Microsoft's $3.3 billion data center campus in Mount Pleasant (Racine County) — rising on the footprint of the abandoned Foxconn project — which has made southeastern Wisconsin a genuine hyperscale market and pulled traveling electricians on premium packages. Milwaukee's commercial pipeline (downtown redevelopment, Fiserv Forum district spillover, Harley museum-area work) and Green Bay's paper and food-processing maintenance round out the regions. Licensing is state-level for journeymen and masters through the Department of Safety and Professional Services with consistent enforcement — portable and respected statewide. Union density is solid in Milwaukee and Madison and on industrial work (locals include Local 494 Milwaukee, Local 577 Appleton/Fox Valley, Local 159 Madison, and Local 388 Stevens Point); PLAs cover the largest public and industrial jobs. Wisconsin prevailing wage was repealed in 2017, so public-work premiums now depend on federal funding rather than statute. Workforce dynamics are defined by stability and slow replacement: an experienced, aging journeyman cohort, modest in-migration, and apprentice pipelines that keep pace with commercial demand but strain under the Mount Pleasant surge. For electricians, the Racine County data center build is the clear rate leader; Milwaukee commercial and Fox Valley industrial maintenance offer the steadiest careers.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Wisconsin Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $36.80, 75th percentile $45.09, 90th percentile $48.93.
Source: BLS OES Wisconsin (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($70/hr) runs 90% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | Kenosha | $51.54 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 494 | Milwaukee | $50.86 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 430 | Racine | $50.50 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 159 | Madison | $50 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 890 | Janesville | $48.70 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $70 | $36.80 | $48.70 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $70 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $70 | $45.09 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $48.93 | — |
| Sample size | 14 postings | OES survey | 9 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 14 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 9 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Highest-paying industrial electricians openings in Wisconsin
- Licensed Journeyman Electrician - Sturtevant, WI - $70/hr + Per Diem — Lead Staffing (Sturtevant) · $70–$70/hr
- Journeyman Electricians needed in Wisconsin $70/hr + $225 Per Diem — Lead Staffing (Sturtevant) · $70–$70/hr
- Journeyman Electricians needed in Wisconsin $70/hr + Per Diem — Lead Staffing (Sturtevant) · $70–$70/hr
- Journeyman Electrician - Top pay + Per Diem — Lead Staffing (Sturtevant) · $70–$70/hr
- Journeyman Electricians - Sturtevant, WI - $70/hr + PerDiem — Lead Staffing (Sturtevant) · $70–$70/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Microsoft data center campus (Mount Pleasant/Racine County) (data center)
- Fox Valley paper mill maintenance and upgrades (industrial)
- Milwaukee commercial redevelopment pipeline (commercial)
IBEW locals in Wisconsin
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- Cupertino Electric – Electrician - Construction – $48/hr (WI) View posting →
- Lead Staffing – Journeyman Electrician - Top pay + Per Diem – $70/hr (Sturtevant, WI) View posting →
- Lead Staffing – Journeyman Electricians needed in Wisconsin $70/hr + Per Diem – $70/hr (Sturtevant, WI) View posting →
Top employers hiring industrial electricians in Wisconsin
Industrial Electrician openings in Wisconsin
Frequently asked questions
What does a industrial electrician earn in Wisconsin?
Based on 14 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $70, with the middle 50% earning $70–$70. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Wisconsin median of $36.80 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 9 in-state locals median $48.70/hr.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national median?
Wisconsin pays 86.32% above the national median of $37.57/hr for industrial electricians.
Who pays industrial electricians the most in Wisconsin?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Lead Staffing (11 postings), Cupertino Electric (2 postings).
What does an electrician make in Wisconsin?
Based on 13 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for industrial electrician work in Wisconsin is $70.00/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $36.80/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Wisconsin?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Sturtevant. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $70.00/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Wisconsin?
Among employers with repeated postings in Wisconsin, Lead Staffing show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Wisconsin electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Wisconsin for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Wisconsin?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Wisconsin prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Wisconsin right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 13 disclosed-pay industrial electrician postings in Wisconsin. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on Wisconsin
Compare industrial electricians pay in neighboring states
Already licensed in Wisconsin? Check Wisconsin reciprocity →