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.
Home/Master Electrician Salary

Updated 17 April 2026 · PayScale + BLS OES 2024

Master Electrician Salary 2026: $78,140 Average

Employee average. Business owners earn $95k-$200k+.

The master electrician license is the highest individual license tier. As an employee it adds $8,000-$18,000 over journeyman. As a business owner it removes the ceiling.

Employee Average

$78,140

Hourly (Employee)

$37.57/hr

Owner Average

$95k-$200k+

Top 10%

$104,180+

Employee vs Business Owner: The Key Distinction

Master Electrician as Employee

  • •National average: $78,140/yr ($37.57/hr)
  • •Top 10% in high-paying states: $100,000-$120,000
  • •Employer-provided benefits (health, pension if union)
  • •Roles: foreman, superintendent, estimator, project manager
  • •No startup risk; predictable W-2 income

Master Electrician as Business Owner

  • •Solo net income: $65k-$100k after 30-40% overhead
  • •2-3 crew net: $100k-$180k
  • •5+ crew shop: $150k-$300k+
  • •Service calls billed at $90-$200/hr to customers
  • •Master license required to pull business permits in most states

See the full self-employment breakdown at electriciansalary.com/self-employed

Master Electrician Pay by State (Top 10)

StateEst. Median
1. Illinois$88,000
2. New York$86,400
3. Washington$84,800
4. California$84,000
5. Massachusetts$82,400
6. New Jersey$80,800
7. Alaska$80,000
8. Oregon$78,800
9. Minnesota$76,400
10. Hawaii$74,800

Estimates derived from BLS OES top-10% electrician data + PayScale master electrician state adjustments.

State Master License Requirements

Requirements vary significantly. Illinois and Pennsylvania have no state license; requirements are purely local. See the full 50-state matrix at /licensing.

StateMaster Requirement
Texas1 yr journeyman + master exam
CaliforniaNo state master; need C-10 contractor license
Florida6 yrs experience (3 commercial) + CEC exam
New York City7.5 yrs experience + NYC master exam
IllinoisChicago: 14,000 hrs + Chicago master exam
Georgia2 yrs journeyman + master exam
Washington8,000 hrs journeyman + master exam
Massachusetts2,000 hrs journeyman + master exam

Certifications That Pay More

These add meaningful value beyond the master license, either as an employee or in bidding for specialty contracts.

NABCEP Solar PV Installation Professional

Opens utility-scale solar contracts; increasingly required on public projects

+$3-$8/hr

EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program)

Required on many commercial and public EV charging installation projects

+$1-$4/hr

NFPA 70E Arc-Flash Qualified

Required for live-work in industrial environments; reduces employer liability

+$2-$3/hr

ASSE 1080 Medical Gas Systems

Opens hospital, clinic, and laboratory electrical contracts with stricter code requirements

+$4-$8/hr

NABCEP PV Technical Sales

Enables credible solar project bidding; supports higher project value

Business only

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a master electrician make per hour?
Master electricians earn $33 to $50 per hour as employees, averaging about $37.57 per hour nationally (PayScale 2026 master-electrician-specific data). In top-paying states like Illinois ($82,400 median) and New York City, master electrician employees earn $42 to $58 per hour. As a business owner billing clients, a master electrician typically charges $90 to $200 per hour for service calls, and more for commercial or specialty work.
How much more does a master electrician make than a journeyman?
Master electricians earn roughly $8,000 to $18,000 more per year than experienced journeymen as employees. The national average for master electricians is $78,140 versus approximately $65,420 for journeymen. The real gap comes when master electricians start their own businesses, where earnings can reach $100,000 to $300,000+ per year depending on crew size.
What are the requirements to become a master electrician?
Requirements vary by state but typically include: completing a journeyman license, holding the journeyman license for 2-4 additional years, and passing the master electrician examination. The exam covers advanced NEC, system design, business law, and state-specific requirements. Some states require insurance, background check, and a filing fee of $100 to $500.
Can you start an electrical business without a master electrician license?
In most states, you cannot legally operate an electrical contracting business or pull business permits without a master electrician license. A few states allow journeymen to operate under certain conditions. Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York have local-only licensing systems where requirements vary by municipality, and some localities do not require a state master license for contractor registration.
What is the highest-paying state for master electricians?
Illinois pays master electricians the most as employees, with medians around $88,000 in the Chicago metro driven by IBEW Local 134. New York City, Washington state, California, and Massachusetts round out the top five. After cost-of-living adjustment, Illinois and Washington state offer the best real purchasing power for master electricians.
What certifications help master electricians earn more?
Three certifications that add meaningful pay: (1) NABCEP Solar PV Installation Professional, which opens utility-scale solar contracts and adds $3-$8/hr. (2) EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), required for many commercial EV charging installations and increasingly required on public EV projects. (3) NFPA 70E Arc-Flash qualified status, which adds $2-$3/hr and is required for industrial live-work environments.
Self-Employed IncomeJourneyman SalaryFull Licensing GuideSalary by State

Sources: PayScale 2026 (master electrician-specific), BLS OES May 2024 top-10% band, IBEW local agreements 2025-2026, state licensing board fee schedules.