Wisconsin Electrician Pay by Trade
Updated 2026-10-29 · 1 trade with 5+ disclosed-pay postings
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 $3.3 billion data center campus in Mount Pleasant (Racine County) — rising on the footprint of the abandoned Foxconn project — which has made southeastern Wisconsin a genuine hyperscale market and pulled traveling electricians on premium packages. Milwaukee's commercial pipeline (downtown redevelopment, Fiserv Forum district spillover, Harley museum-area work) and Green Bay's paper and food-processing maintenance round out the regions. Licensing is state-level for journeymen and masters through the Department of Safety and Professional Services with consistent enforcement — portable and respected statewide. Union density is solid in Milwaukee and Madison and on industrial work (locals include Local 494 Milwaukee, Local 577 Appleton/Fox Valley, Local 159 Madison, and Local 388 Stevens Point); PLAs cover the largest public and industrial jobs. Wisconsin prevailing wage was repealed in 2017, so public-work premiums now depend on federal funding rather than statute. Workforce dynamics are defined by stability and slow replacement: an experienced, aging journeyman cohort, modest in-migration, and apprentice pipelines that keep pace with commercial demand but strain under the Mount Pleasant surge. For electricians, the Racine County data center build is the clear rate leader; Milwaukee commercial and Fox Valley industrial maintenance offer the steadiest careers.
| Trade | Median ($/hr) | Middle 50% ($/hr) | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Electrician | $70 | $70–$70 | 14 |
Medians come from active postings with disclosed pay; each trade page compares them against BLS OES and IBEW scales. How we calculate pay →
Top employers in Wisconsin
Frequently asked questions
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.