Independent salary reference. Not affiliated with BLS, IBEW, NECA, or any electrical contractor. All wage figures cite the source; individual earnings vary by employer, certifications, and market.
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BLS OES May 2024

Electrician Salary in Indiana 2026

Updated 17 April 2026

$56,800/yr average · $27.31/hr

State Median

$57k

vs. National

$5k

Top 10%

$87k

COL-Adjusted

$63k

Where Indiana Ranks

Indiana ranks #21 nationally for electrician median wages. The national median is $61,590 (BLS OES May 2024). Indiana pays $4,790 below the national average.

Indiana's cost-of-living index is 90 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $63,111/yr in national-average dollar terms. The below-average cost of living means electricians here retain more purchasing power than the nominal wage suggests.

Pay by Metro Area

BLS OES May 2024 MSA-level data. Top 5 metropolitan areas in Indiana.

Metro AreaMedian Annualvs. State Avg
Indianapolis Metro$60,800++4.0k
Fort Wayne$56,400-0.4k
Evansville$54,400-2.4k
South Bend-Elkhart$55,200-1.6k
Gary / Northwest Indiana$62,800++6.0k

Pay by Experience Level

LevelHourlyAnnual
Apprentice (Year 1)$15 - $20/hr$31,000 - $42,000
Apprentice (Year 4)$22 - $29/hr$46,000 - $60,000
Journeyman$29 - $42/hr$60,000 - $87,000
Master Electrician (local jurisdictions)$36 - $50/hr$75,000 - $104,000
Self-Employed Contractor$80 - $150/hr billed$80,000 - $210,000 net

Indiana Licensing Requirements

Licensing AuthorityIndiana has no statewide electrician licensing. Licensing is at the city / county level. Indianapolis: Department of Code Enforcement issues Marion County Journeyman and Contractor licenses. Other cities (Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend) have separate boards
Journeyman RequirementMarion County Journeyman: 4 years (8,000 hours) documented OJT + pass Marion County Journeyman exam. Other jurisdictions have parallel but separate requirements
Master RequirementIndiana issues Contractor licenses at the local level. Marion County Electrical Contractor: 2 years as Journeyman + pass Contractor exam + insurance + bond. Lake County, St. Joseph County have separate Master Electrician requirements
FeeMarion County: $150 Journeyman exam + $300 Contractor exam (City of Indianapolis fee schedule). Other jurisdictions vary
ReciprocityLimited and jurisdiction-specific. Marion County does not recognize most out-of-state credentials directly

See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing

Union Presence in Indiana

IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 481 (Indianapolis), Local 305 (Fort Wayne), Local 16 (Evansville), Local 153 (South Bend), Local 697 (Gary-Northwest Indiana, steelworker territory)

Union share: approximately 19% of electricians in Indiana are union, with NW Indiana (Lake/Porter counties) significantly higher due to steel and refinery industrial work.

Union electricians in Indiana typically earn 20-35% more in total compensation than non-union electricians, when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.

Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis

Job Outlook in Indiana

Indiana electricians benefit from significant manufacturing expansion: Stellantis-Samsung StarPlus Energy battery plant in Kokomo, the BHP Foods (Eli Lilly campus expansion in LEAP Innovation District near Lebanon), Roche Diagnostics expansion in Indianapolis, and continued steel mill electrical work in Gary (US Steel, ArcelorMittal). Indianapolis warehouse and logistics build-out (Amazon, FedEx hubs) provides steady commercial demand.

Major Employers in Indiana

Gaylor ElectricERMCO IncAES IndianaDuke Energy IndianaMortenson (industrial electrical)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in Indiana?
Electricians in Indiana earn $56,800/yr ($27.31/hr) on average per BLS OES May 2024. Apprentices start at around $36,000/yr. Top-earning master electricians and self-employed contractors can exceed $87,200/yr.
How does Indiana rank for electrician pay?
Indiana ranks #21 nationally for electrician median wages. After cost-of-living adjustment (MERIC index 90), the real purchasing power is $63,111/yr.
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Indiana?
Marion County Journeyman: 4 years (8,000 hours) documented OJT + pass Marion County Journeyman exam. Other jurisdictions have parallel but separate requirements. For master level: Indiana issues Contractor licenses at the local level. Marion County Electrical Contractor: 2 years as Journeyman + pass Contractor exam + insurance + bond. Lake County, St. Joseph County have separate Master Electrician requirements.
Are union electricians better paid in Indiana?
Yes. IBEW Local 481 (Indianapolis), Local 305 (Fort Wayne), Local 16 (Evansville), Local 153 (South Bend), Local 697 (Gary-Northwest Indiana, steelworker territory) operate in Indiana, with approximately 19% of electricians in Indiana are union, with NW Indiana (Lake/Porter counties) significantly higher due to steel and refinery industrial work. Union electricians earn 20-35% more in total compensation when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.
What is the job outlook for electricians in Indiana?
Indiana electricians benefit from significant manufacturing expansion: Stellantis-Samsung StarPlus Energy battery plant in Kokomo, the BHP Foods (Eli Lilly campus expansion in LEAP Innovation District near Lebanon), Roche Diagnostics expansion in Indianapolis, and continued steel mill electrical work in Gary (US Steel, ArcelorMittal). Indianapolis warehouse and logistics build-out (Amazon, FedEx hubs) provides steady commercial demand.

Related Pages

All StatesLicensing RequirementsJourneyman SalaryMaster Electrician SalaryUnion vs Non-Union

Source: BLS OES May 2024 (47-2111), MERIC 2026 COL Index, IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.

Updated 2026-04-27