Journeyman Electrician Pay in North Carolina
Updated 2026-10-29 · Based on 5 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 12 postings in the last 90 days, up 200% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 13 active journeyman electricians openings in North Carolina, 5 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $32.74, with the middle 50% earning $32.74–$33.56.
Compared to the national median of $38/hr, North Carolina pays 13.84% below average.
The North Carolina electrician labor market
North Carolina blends Research Triangle stability with Charlotte's finance-driven construction and a fast-growing advanced-manufacturing belt. The Triangle — Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill — runs on university, hospital, and commercial lab construction, with Wolfspeed's silicon-carbide materials operations in Durham anchoring a semiconductor-adjacent workforce. Charlotte adds banking-tower commercial work, airport expansion, and a growing data center presence in the suburbs, while the Piedmont Triad's Toyota battery plant in Randolph County and Boom Supersonic's Greensboro assembly operation are building an EV and aerospace electrical niche from scratch. Rural counties contribute poultry and food-processing maintenance work plus a steady stream of school and municipal projects. Licensing is state-level through the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (limited, intermediate, unlimited classifications) with local journeyman enforcement varying — a structure most working electricians navigate via contractor sponsorship. North Carolina is right-to-work with low union density outside Charlotte and the Triangle (locals include Local 379 Charlotte, Local 342 Winston-Salem, Local 495 Wilmington, and Local 1558 Durham), and state prevailing-wage coverage is narrow, so posted rates track contractor competition closely. Data centers are scaling along the I-85 corridor and in the western counties where power and land are cheap. Workforce trends mirror the Sun Belt pattern: strong in-migration of both workers and demand, apprentice pipelines expanding but lagging megaproject timelines, and premium travel packages for the battery-plant and hyperscale builds pulling journeymen from across the Southeast. For career electricians, the Triangle's institutional market offers the steadiest employment; for rate maximization, the industrial megaprojects and Charlotte commercial towers lead.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports North Carolina Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $27.31, 75th percentile $29.77, 90th percentile $36.09.
Source: BLS OES North Carolina (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($32.74/hr) runs 20% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 379 | Charlotte | $33.83 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 238 | Asheville | $31.92 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 553 | Raleigh-Durham | $31.07 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 342 | Greensboro | $31 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 495 | Wilmington | $31 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $32.74 | $27.31 | $31.07 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $32.74 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $33.56 | $29.77 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $36.09 | — |
| Sample size | 5 postings | OES survey | 5 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 5 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 5 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Highest-paying journeyman electricians openings in North Carolina
- Electrical Worker Supervisor (Electrical Worker Foreman) — Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System (Butner) · $35.68–$41.67/hr
- Electrician — Department of the Army (Fort Bragg) · $27–$38.47/hr
- Electrician — Joint Activities (Fort Bragg) · $27–$38.47/hr
- Electrician — Veterans Health Administration (Durham) · $30.98–$36.14/hr
- Journeyman Electricians - Data Center — NSC Skilled Trades (Hamlet) · $30–$35/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Toyota battery plant (Randolph County/Greensboro) (industrial)
- I-85 corridor and western-county data center development (data center)
- Research Triangle university, hospital, and lab construction (commercial)
- Charlotte commercial towers and airport expansion (commercial)
IBEW locals in North Carolina
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- NSC Skilled Trades – Journeyman Electricians - Data Center – $30 – $35/hr (Hamlet, NC) View posting →
- Department of the Army – Electrician – $27 – $38.47/hr (Fort Bragg, NC) View posting →
- Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System – Electrical Worker Supervisor (Electrical Worker Foreman) – $35.68 – $41.67/hr (Butner, NC) View posting →
Top employers hiring journeyman electricians in North Carolina
Journeyman Electrician openings in North Carolina
Frequently asked questions
What does a journeyman electrician earn in North Carolina?
Based on 5 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $32.74, with the middle 50% earning $32.74–$33.56. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a North Carolina median of $27.31 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 5 in-state locals median $31.07/hr.
How does North Carolina compare to the national median?
North Carolina pays 13.84% below the national median of $38/hr for journeyman electricians.
Who pays journeyman electricians the most in North Carolina?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are NSC Skilled Trades (1 posting), Veterans Health Administration (1 posting).
What does an electrician make in North Carolina?
Based on 5 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for journeyman electrician work in North Carolina is $32.73/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $27.31/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in North Carolina?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Butner, Fort Bragg, Durham. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $32.73/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in North Carolina?
Among employers with repeated postings in North Carolina, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a North Carolina 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 North Carolina for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in North Carolina?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see North Carolina prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in North Carolina right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 5 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in North Carolina. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on North Carolina
Compare journeyman electricians pay in neighboring states
Already licensed in North Carolina? Check North Carolina reciprocity →