Electricians Earn 40% More Than Laborers. Here Is What That Does to Your Bill
This is a wage analysis, not a cost guide. The figures are federal medians for each trade, weighted by employment.
Ten trades, one ranking
The table below is the national median for each trade, employment-weighted across all states. It is the same source that drives the state adjustment on every calculator on this site.
| Trade | National median | vs laborer |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | $68,972 | +40% |
| Electricians | $68,765 | +40% |
| Carpenters | $62,569 | +27% |
| Drywall installers | $59,168 | +20% |
| Cement masons | $57,122 | +16% |
| Floor layers | $56,612 | +15% |
| Tile setters | $55,979 | +14% |
| Roofers | $55,610 | +13% |
| Painters | $52,502 | +7% |
| Construction laborers | $49,118 | -0% |
The ordering is not surprising to anyone who has hired: the trades that require a licence or an apprenticeship sit at the top, the trades that do not sit at the bottom.
Why this moves the bill more than it looks
A 40% wage gap does not become a 40% bill gap, because labor is only part of what you pay. On a typical job labor is 45% to 65% of the total, depending on the trade.
Take a job with a $5,000 labor line. Swap a laborer at $49,118 for an electrician at $68,765 and that line becomes $7,000. On a $10,000 bill that is a 20% swing from one decision about who does the work.
This is also why "just get a handyman" is often bad advice for electrical or plumbing. The licence is the product.
Where the gap is widest
| State | Laborer | Electrician | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $50,860 | $101,310 | 1.99x |
| Wyoming | $46,030 | $76,120 | 1.65x |
| Washington | $57,720 | $95,220 | 1.65x |
| Illinois | $60,690 | $99,560 | 1.64x |
| Maine | $46,430 | $75,380 | 1.62x |
| Mississippi | $37,710 | $60,860 | 1.61x |
| Louisiana | $38,230 | $61,540 | 1.61x |
| District of Columbia | $50,020 | $78,970 | 1.58x |
The gap is widest where electrical work is unionised and general labour is not. In those states the bill for a rewire is a much larger multiple of the bill for moving a wall.
See what a kitchen rewire adds
Frequently asked
Is the most expensive trade always the best work?
No. Pay reflects licensing and supply, not quality. A licensed electrician at the state median and one at the bottom of the range can do identical work.
Should I use a laborer for electrical work?
In most states it is illegal for an unlicensed person to do permitted electrical work, and it voids insurance. The wage gap is not a saving you can take.
Updated October 2026