High demand
Electrician Careers in California
Everything you need to build an electrical career in California.
$38–$80 / hr
Typical pay range
High
Electrician demand
Market pay ranges: Updated Oct 12, 2026 · Derived from BLS OEWS median Commercial and journeyman scale runs 61% above the BLS OEWS, May 2025 median hourly wage for all electricians in California ($36.62/hr).
Commercial rate ranges are derived from each state's BLS OEWS median electrician wage (SOC 47-2111, May 2025) applied against a national commercial-premium multiplier (1.15×–1.58×), based on 2026 published journeyman wage data. Not a direct BLS figure.
Electrical career overview
California certifies individual electricians through the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and leads the country in EV charging and renewable interconnection work.
How licensing works in California
California runs two separate systems — DIR certifies individual electricians, while CSLB licenses electrical contracting businesses (C-10). Most working electricians only need the DIR certification.