BLS wage data says electricians in California earn $42.93/hr. That's 35.9% above the national average. Here's what that means for your bids.
BLS Hourly Wage
$42.93
Customer Rate
$109–$148/hr
Markup Factor
3.0x
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2023. Customer rate = wage × markup.
California
National Avg
California runs noticeably above the national average. Higher cost of living pushes wages up, and your bids should reflect that. Underbidding here means underpaying yourself.
| Service | California Price Range |
|---|---|
| Outlet or switch installation | $136–$340 |
| GFCI outlet install | $177–$380 |
| Ceiling fan installation | $204–$476 |
| Recessed lighting (per light) | $204–$408 |
| Circuit breaker replacement | $204–$476 |
| Dedicated circuit (for appliance) | $272–$679 |
| Panel upgrade (200A) | $2038–$5435 |
| EV charger installation (Level 2) | $679–$2038 |
| Whole-house rewire | $10870–$27175 |
Prices adjusted from national averages using California BLS wage data. Your local market may vary.
Pre-loaded with California rates. Enter your job's square footage and type to get a starting price.
Estimated per-job price for California (—–—/hr effective rate)
Based on BLS wage data for California (CA). Rates reflect state-level labor costs.
Based on BLS wage data, electricians in California typically charge between $109 and $148 per hour. The actual rate depends on the job type, scope, and whether materials are included.
Electrical labor costs in California are 35.9% above the national average. The BLS-reported hourly wage in California is $42.93, compared to $31.60 nationally.
Start with your labor cost ($42.93/hr in California), apply a 3.0x markup to cover overhead, supplies, insurance, and profit. That puts your customer-facing rate around $109–$148/hr. Then adjust for job scope: complex jobs command higher rates.
The biggest factors are metro vs. rural (cities within California can vary 30–40%), job complexity, and recurring vs. one-time work. Recurring contracts cost less per visit because there's no re-quoting or onboarding.
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Looking for national averages? Electrical Pricing Guide (National) →