Salary Data
Electrician Salary in Raleigh
$64,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
According to Orbyt's 2026 salary analysis, the average Electrician salary in Raleigh is $64,000. Salaries range from $50,000 (25th percentile) to $87,000 (75th percentile), adjusted for Raleigh's cost of living.
Salary range
How Raleigh compares
Raleigh, NC
$64,000
Cost of living: 1% below average
National Average
$65,000
Raleigh is $1,000 below
Electrician job market in Raleigh
Raleigh market overview
Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio.
What drives Electrician salaries
License level (journeyman vs. master), union membership, and specialization are the primary factors. Industrial electricians and those working on high voltage systems earn significantly more than residential wirers. Overtime availability, geographic demand, and experience with renewable energy systems (solar, EV charging) also drive compensation upward.
Beyond base salary
Total compensation
Union electricians receive substantial benefits including pension contributions, health insurance, annuity, and apprenticeship funds that add 30 to 40% on top of hourly wages. Overtime at 1.5x to 2x the base rate is common. Non union electricians negotiate benefits individually, with more variation in total package value.
Tax considerations in Raleigh
North Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power.
Career progression
Apprentice electricians earn $35,000 to $48,000 during their four to five year training. Journeyman electricians earn $55,000 to $80,000. Master electricians command $75,000 to $105,000. Electrical contractors who start their own business or move into project management can earn $100,000 to $150,000+.
Top industries in Raleigh
Negotiating in Raleigh
Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates.