BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in Virginia 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$62,900/yr median · $30.24/hr
State Median
$63k
vs. National
-$0k
Top 10%
$106k
COL-Adjusted
$62k
Electrician Salary Range in Virginia
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Virginia, 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
$41k
$40,780/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$63k
$62,900/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$106k
$105,720/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Virginia earners makes about $40,780/yr, while the top 10% earn $105,720/yr or more, a range of $64,940. 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 Virginia Ranks
Virginia ranks #30 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). Virginia pays $290 below the national average.
Virginia's cost-of-living index is 101 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $62,277/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. Cost of living is near the national average.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in Virginia. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia (DC Metro) | $75,930 | +13.0k |
| Charlottesville | $62,980 | +0.1k |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | $62,350 | -0.6k |
| Richmond Metro | $61,350 | -1.6k |
| Roanoke | $58,200 | -4.7k |
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 - $20/hr | $31,000 - $42,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4) | $22 - $28/hr | $46,000 - $58,000 |
| Journeyman (Employee) | $27 - $40/hr | $56,000 - $83,000 |
| Master Electrician (Employee) | $34 - $48/hr | $71,000 - $100,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $75 - $145/hr billed | $70,000 - $190,000 net |
Virginia Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Virginia
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 26 (Washington DC area, covers NoVA), Local 666 (Richmond), Local 80 (Norfolk / Hampton Roads), Local 1340 (Newport News / Virginia Peninsula)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 5.4% of all wage and salary workers in Virginia were union members and 6.4% 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 Virginia
Virginia is the data center capital of the world. Loudoun County's 'Data Center Alley' (Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg) hosts roughly 70% of global internet traffic and is in a multi-year construction expansion. Dominion Energy's offshore wind project off Virginia Beach is the largest US offshore wind build to date, requiring substantial transmission and substation electrical work through 2030. Newport News Shipbuilding employs marine electricians on submarine and carrier work.
Major Employers in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does Virginia rank for electrician pay?
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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.