Electrician Salary in Raleigh, NC
Electricians in Raleigh, NC earn a median of $55,000/year, ranging from $42,000 (25th percentile) to $87,000 (90th percentile). After North Carolina state taxes (4.5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 103), this is equivalent to $53,398 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Raleigh, NC
Data-center construction in RTP and apartment build-outs in North Hills keep crews running double shifts through most of the year. Notable employers in this market include Watson Electrical Construction, Starr Electric, and Bryant Durham Services, plus IBEW Local 553 contractors handling pharma and university work. A 1BR in Five Points or downtown runs around $1,500/mo and a 2BR near Cameron Village is closer to $1,900/mo. The GoRaleigh bus is fine for commuting but useless with a van full of MC cable, so most everyone drives I-40 or the Beltline. North Carolina's flat 4.5 percent income tax is moderate. Heavy biotech tenant improvement work at companies like Fujifilm Diosynth and Eli Lilly's new sites needs experienced low-voltage and clean-power techs.
1Salary Distribution in Raleigh, NC
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Raleigh, NC Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC (current) | $55,000 | 103 | $53,398 |
| Charlotte, NC | $52,000 | 102 | $50,980 |
| San Francisco, CA | $98,000 | 186 | $52,688 |
| New York, NY | $92,000 | 187 | $49,198 |
| Seattle, WA | $88,000 | 162 | $54,321 |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Electrician salary in Raleigh, NC?
The median Electrician salary in Raleigh, NC is $55,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $42,000 and the 90th percentile is $87,000.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a Electrician?
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $55,000 Electrician salary in Raleigh, NC is equivalent to $53,398 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Raleigh, NC?
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103, meaning it is 3% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in North Carolina is approximately 4.5%.
What is the Electrician salary range in Raleigh, NC?
In Raleigh, NC, Electricians earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $87,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $55,000 per year.
How many Electrician jobs are there in Raleigh, NC?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 10,000 Electrician positions in the Raleigh, NC metropolitan area.
What do Electricians earn in Raleigh, NC?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Electricians in Raleigh, NC earn a median annual wage of $55,000. The middle 50% earn between $42,000 and $70,000. The top 10% earn more than $87,000. There are approximately 10,000 Electricians employed in the Raleigh, NC metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 5%.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place for a Electrician?
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103 (US average = 100), making it 3% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Electrician in Raleigh, NC earning $55,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $53,398 relative to the US median. North Carolina has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Raleigh, NC?
Raleigh, NC's cost of living index is 103, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $55,000 in Raleigh, NChas the same purchasing power as $53,398 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Raleigh, NC with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Electrician in Raleigh, NC?
The headline median of $55,000 is only part of the picture. Raleigh, NC's cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 97¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $55,000 salary effectively purchases $53,398 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Raleigh, NC, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $55,000 salary, that translates to roughly $15,400/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. North Carolina levies a state income tax of approximately 4.5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $2,475 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $48,533. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Charlotte, NC ($52,000 median, COL 102); San Francisco, CA ($98,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($92,000 median, COL 187). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 5% year-over-year growth rate for Electricians in Raleigh, NC is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Electricians or the North Carolina state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.