Journeyman Electrician Pay in California
Updated 2026-10-30 · Based on 9 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 18 postings in the last 90 days, up 167% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 15 active journeyman electricians openings in California, 9 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $38.97, with the middle 50% earning $31.50–$59.07.
Compared to the national median of $38/hr, California pays 2.55% above average.
The California electrician labor market
California pays electricians more than almost any state — and charges them more to live there, a tension that defines the market. High prevailing-wage coverage on public works, strong union density in the Bay Area and Los Angeles basins, and a chronic housing-driven construction backlog combine to push posted medians toward the top of national tables. The work mix is unusually diverse: Silicon Valley's data center and advanced-manufacturing builds (Santa Clara, Hillsboro-adjacent supply chains, and a steady pipeline of hyperscale retrofits), Los Angeles commercial and entertainment construction, San Diego's military and biotech facilities, and statewide utility hardening as PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E bury lines and build substations for wildfire mitigation — multi-billion-dollar programs that will employ linemen and substation electricians for a decade. Semiconductors are a second growth pillar, with applied-materials and fab-support ecosystems across the South Bay and an expanding Arizona-adjacent supply chain pulling traveling talent. Solar and battery storage — the state's signature energy bet — sustain a large residential and commercial solar workforce alongside utility-scale projects in the Central Valley and desert counties. Licensing runs through the CSLB (C-10 Electrical) with journeyman certification via the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, a stricter regime than most states that props up rates and makes California tickets portable nowhere else. Key IBEW locals include Local 11 (Los Angeles), Local 6 (San Francisco), Local 1245 (utility/lineman, Vacaville), Local 47 (Diamond Bar), and Local 595 (Oakland) — several among the highest-scale locals in the country, which shows up directly in posted wages. The catch is cost: Bay Area and coastal Southern California housing costs erase much of the nominal premium, which is why per-diem and travel packages for Central Valley, Inland Empire, and desert postings are disproportionately attractive — same California rates, half the rent. Workforce supply is tight at every tier, with retirements outpacing JATC graduations statewide.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports California Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $36.62, 75th percentile $49.52, 90th percentile $67.47.
Source: BLS OES California (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($43.88/hr) runs 20% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | San Francisco | $95.75 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 332 | San Jose | $95.53 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 617 | San Mateo | $88 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 595 | Dublin | $79.25 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 234 | Salinas | $70.41 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $38.97 | $36.62 | $61.13 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $31.50 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $59.07 | $49.52 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $67.47 | — |
| Sample size | 9 postings | OES survey | 20 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 9 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 20 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Pay by license tier in California
| Tier | Median ($/hr) | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| apprentice | $73.19 | 1 |
| master | $56.25 | 2 |
| journeyman | $33.06 | 4 |
Tier medians come from posting classifications, not license verification.
Highest-paying journeyman electricians openings in California
- Electrical Foreman — Power Design · $43.27–$84.13/hr
- Union Energy Storage Electrical Journeyman — Mortenson (Irwindale) · $65–$81.38/hr
- Electrical Foreman — Power Design · $37.50–$60.10/hr
- Electrical Foreman — Rosendin Electric (Sacramento) · $59.07–$59.07/hr
- Electrical Worker Supervisor (Electrical Worker Foreman) — Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System (Mendota) · $35.97–$41.96/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Silicon Valley data center and advanced-manufacturing builds (data center)
- Utility wildfire hardening (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E undergrounding) (utility)
- Central Valley utility-scale solar and battery storage (industrial)
IBEW locals in California
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. – Marine Electrician Technician IV – $26.07 – $32.30/hr (Imperial Beach, CA) View posting →
- Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System – Electrical Worker Supervisor (Electrical Worker Foreman) – $35.97 – $41.96/hr (Mendota, CA) View posting →
- Mortenson – Union Energy Storage Electrical Journeyman – $65 – $81.38/hr (Irwindale, CA) View posting →
Top employers hiring journeyman electricians in California
Journeyman Electrician openings in California
Frequently asked questions
What does a journeyman electrician earn in California?
Based on 9 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $38.97, with the middle 50% earning $31.50–$59.07. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a California median of $36.62 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 20 in-state locals median $61.13/hr.
How does California compare to the national median?
California pays 2.55% above the national median of $38/hr for journeyman electricians.
Who pays journeyman electricians the most in California?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Power Design (3 postings), Mortenson (1 posting), Rosendin Electric (1 posting), Veterans Health Administration (1 posting).
What does an electrician make in California?
Based on 8 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for journeyman electrician work in California is $43.88/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $36.62/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in California?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Irwindale, Sacramento, Mendota. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $43.88/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in California?
Among employers with repeated postings in California, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a California 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 California for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in California?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see California prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in California right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 8 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in California. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on California
More pay data in California
Already licensed in California? Check California reciprocity →