BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in Iowa 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$60,860/yr median · $29.26/hr
State Median
$61k
vs. National
-$2k
Top 10%
$89k
COL-Adjusted
$68k
Electrician Salary Range in Iowa
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Iowa, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by BLS. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026.
10th percentile
$40k
$39,770/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$61k
$60,860/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$89k
$89,480/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Iowa earners makes about $39,770/yr, while the top 10% earn $89,480/yr or more, a range of $49,710. The 10th percentile is a published BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen). OEWS publishes no separate entry-level figure, so none is shown.
Where Iowa Ranks
Iowa ranks #39 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). Iowa pays $2,330 below the national average.
Iowa's cost-of-living index is 89 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $68,382/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. The below-average cost of living means electricians here retain more purchasing power than the nominal wage suggests.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in Iowa. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport (Quad Cities) | $76,950 | +16.1k |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $63,420 | +2.6k |
| Ames | $63,320 | +2.5k |
| Des Moines Metro | $62,840 | +2.0k |
| Iowa City | $59,510 | -1.4k |
Pay by Experience Level
Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split.
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $15 - $19/hr | $31,000 - $40,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4) | $22 - $28/hr | $46,000 - $58,000 |
| Journeyman (Class B) | $28 - $40/hr | $58,000 - $83,000 |
| Master Electrician (Class A) | $35 - $48/hr | $73,000 - $100,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $80 - $150/hr billed | $75,000 - $200,000 net |
Iowa Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Iowa
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 347 (Des Moines), Local 405 (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City), Local 145 (Davenport-Quad Cities), Local 231 (Sioux City)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 6.8% of all wage and salary workers in Iowa were union members and 8.2% were covered by a union contract (BLS, all occupations, not electricians alone).
Union pay gap: Nationally in 2025, full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations had median weekly earnings of $1,561, against $1,004 for non-union workers, about 55% higher before benefits (BLS). BLS does not publish this split for electricians alone or by state.
Source: BLS, Union Members 2025 (Current Population Survey annual averages), Tables 4 and 5. BLS publishes no electrician-only union rate by state.
Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis
Job Outlook in Iowa
Iowa electricians benefit from Microsoft, Meta, and Google data center expansion (Microsoft has multiple campuses in West Des Moines, Meta in Altoona, Google in Council Bluffs), MidAmerican Energy wind farm and transmission expansion (Iowa is a top-3 wind power state), and continued manufacturing growth at John Deere, Vermeer, and Collins Aerospace. The low 89 cost-of-living index makes nominal Iowa wages stretch significantly further than coastal equivalents.
Major Employers in Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make in Iowa?
What is the salary range for electricians in Iowa?
How does Iowa rank for electrician pay?
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Iowa?
Are union electricians better paid in Iowa?
What is the job outlook for electricians in Iowa?
Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile wage figures: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Metro figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Cost-of-living index: MERIC cost of living index, 2026 (100 = US average), a separate non-BLS source. Pay-by-level ladder: Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split. IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.