Low Voltage Technician Pay in California
Updated 2026-11-15 · Based on 5 active job postings with disclosed pay · 7 postings in the last 90 days, down 14% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 8 active low voltage technicians openings in California, 5 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $56.95, with the middle 50% earning $56.95–$56.95.
Compared to the national median of $40.46/hr, California pays 40.76% 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)
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics data not available for this specialty — showing ElectricianDB disclosed-pay data only.
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 | $70.41 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | IBEW |
|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $56.95 | $61.13 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $56.95 | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $56.95 | — |
| Sample size | 5 postings | 20 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | 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 20 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Highest-paying low voltage technicians openings in California
- Electrical Estimator — EMCOR Group (San Leandro) · $100000–$120000/hr
- Solar/BMS Journeyman Electrician Technician — EMCOR Group (Riverside) · $56.95–$56.95/hr
- Solar/BMS Journeyman Electrician Technician — EMCOR Group (San Bernardino) · $56.95–$56.95/hr
- Commercial Solar Journeyman Electrician Technician — EMCOR Group (Chino) · $56.95–$56.95/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:
- Tradesmen International – California-certified electricians for an industrial electrical installation project in Perris, California – $44/hr (Perris, CA) View posting →
- EMCOR Group – Solar/BMS Journeyman Electrician Technician – $56.95/hr (Riverside, CA) View posting →
- EMCOR Group – Electrical Estimator – $100000 – $120000/hr (San Leandro, CA) View posting →
Top employers hiring low voltage technicians in California
Low Voltage Technician openings in California
Frequently asked questions
What does a low voltage technician earn in California?
Based on 5 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $56.95, with the middle 50% earning $56.95–$56.95. IBEW journeyman base rates across 20 in-state locals median $61.13/hr.
How does California compare to the national median?
California pays 40.76% above the national median of $40.46/hr for low voltage technicians.
Who pays low voltage technicians the most in California?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are EMCOR Group (4 postings), Tradesmen International (1 posting).
What does an electrician make in California?
Based on 4 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for low voltage technician work in California is $56.95/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in California?
The strongest recent postings cluster around San Leandro, Riverside, San Bernardino. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $56.95/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, EMCOR Group 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 4 disclosed-pay low voltage technician 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 →