BLS OEWS May 2025
Electrician Salary in Michigan 2026
Updated 22 June 2026
$76,270/yr median · $36.67/hr
State Median
$76k
vs. National
+$13k
Top 10%
$103k
COL-Adjusted
$84k
Electrician Salary Range in Michigan
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Michigan, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (May 2025).
10th percentile
$43k
$42,980/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$76k
$76,270/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$103k
$103,120/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Michigan earners makes about $42,980/yr, while the top 10% earn $103,120/yr or more — a range of $60,140. The 10th-percentile figure is a real BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen), distinct from the modelled apprentice-entry estimate shown in the experience table below.
Where Michigan Ranks
Michigan ranks #13 nationally for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Michigan pays $13,080 above the national average.
Michigan's cost-of-living index is 91 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $83,813/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
Estimated median pay for the top 5 metropolitan areas in Michigan, modelled from the state median and regional cost differentials (not BLS metro estimates).
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Metro | $71,200 | -5.1k |
| Grand Rapids | $60,400 | -15.9k |
| Ann Arbor | $64,800 | -11.5k |
| Lansing | $58,400 | -17.9k |
| Flint | $54,800 | -21.5k |
Pay by Experience Level
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $16 - $22/hr | $33,000 - $46,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4) | $24 - $32/hr | $50,000 - $67,000 |
| Journeyman (Employee) | $31 - $44/hr | $64,000 - $92,000 |
| Master Electrician (Employee) | $38 - $52/hr | $79,000 - $108,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $85 - $160/hr billed | $85,000 - $220,000 net |
Michigan Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Michigan
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 58 (Detroit - one of the strongest auto-sector locals in the US), Local 275 (Muskegon / West MI), Local 252 (Ann Arbor), Local 665 (Lansing), Local 948 (Flint)
Union share: approximately 28% of electricians in Michigan are union, with Detroit Metro near 45%.
Union electricians in Michigan 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 Michigan
Michigan's electrical employment is driven by the EV manufacturing transition. GM's Factory ZERO (Detroit-Hamtramck), Ford's BlueOval City (TN) precursor work at Dearborn, and the Ultium Cells battery plants in Lansing have created sustained industrial electrical demand. The Stellantis Trenton complex and ongoing semiconductor backfill add to it. Detroit's residential rewire and infrastructure modernisation continues.
Major Employers in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median, and 90th-percentile (top 10%) wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (47-2111). COL index: MERIC 2026. Metro, apprentice, and contractor figures are modelled estimates (not BLS). IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.