How much do electricians make in Arizona in 2026?

The median electrician in Arizona earns $61,060 a year, which works out to about $29.36 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of Arizona electricians earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or still building hours, the 25th percentile sits at $48,360 a year ($23.25/hr). Experienced journeymen and foremen pushing toward the top of the scale hit the 75th percentile at $77,060 a year ($37.05/hr). These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The $28,700 gap between the 25th and 75th percentile tells you a lot. Electricians in Arizona are not all earning the same dollar figure — where you land depends heavily on how many years you've been in the trade, what sector you work in, and where in the state the job is located.

Phoenix and the surrounding metro area drive a large share of Arizona's electrical work. The Valley has seen sustained commercial and industrial construction activity, and that translates to steady demand for journeyman and master electricians. Tucson is the state's second-largest market, with a mix of residential, commercial, and government work tied to the University of Arizona and nearby military installations. Smaller markets like Yuma, Flagstaff, and the Prescott area tend to have fewer large contractors competing for workers, which can compress wages — but cost of living is also lower in those areas, so the net picture varies.

Sector matters as much as geography. Industrial electricians working in manufacturing plants, data centers, or utility-scale solar installations generally see pay at or above the median. Residential wiremen on tract housing projects often land closer to the 25th percentile, especially earlier in their careers. Commercial work — office buildings, retail, hospitals — typically falls in the middle range.

Overtime is common in electrical work, particularly during project push periods and summer construction season in Arizona. At the median rate of $29.36/hr, a steady 10 hours of weekly overtime adds roughly $22,900 a year in gross pay before taxes (using a 1.5x rate for overtime hours). Not every job offers that consistently, but project-based commercial and industrial electricians often work 50+ hour weeks for stretches at a time.

Licensing is a clear pay lever in Arizona. The state requires a certificate of proficiency or a contractor's license to perform independent electrical work. Moving from apprentice to journeyman — which typically requires completing a state-approved apprenticeship and passing an exam — is the single biggest jump most electricians will see on their pay stub. Journeymen who go further and earn their master electrician license open the door to supervisory roles, project management, or running their own shop, all of which push compensation well above the $77,060 75th-percentile figure.

Apprentices in Arizona typically earn a percentage of journeyman scale that steps up each year of a four- or five-year program. First-year apprentices commonly start around 40–50% of journeyman pay, meaning entry wages can be lower than even the 25th percentile figure shown here. By the final year of apprenticeship, pay is usually close to or at the starting journeyman rate. The BLS data captures employed workers across all experience levels, so that apprentice population is part of what pulls the 25th percentile down to $23.25/hr.

Some electricians in Arizona work under collective bargaining agreements. If that applies to you, your wage rate and benefit contributions are set by your local's negotiated agreement — check that document directly, since TradesPays doesn't have union scale data for this trade and state combination.

Specializations can push pay beyond what the percentile bands show. Electricians certified in fire alarm systems, high-voltage transmission work, or renewable energy installations (solar and battery storage have grown significantly in Arizona) often command premiums that the broad BLS occupational category doesn't fully reflect. If you have or can get certifications in those areas, they're worth pursuing in this state specifically given Arizona's solar build-out.

One thing the BLS data does not capture: total compensation. Benefits like employer-paid health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off add real value on top of base wages. A job paying $28/hr with strong benefits can be worth more than one paying $31/hr with minimal coverage. Factor that in when you're comparing offers.