16 Highest Paying Electrician Jobs in 2023

Last Updated: July 30, 2023

If you’ve ever considered a career in electrical work, or even just camping on your personal computer looking for the highest paying electrician jobs, we have some great news. A career as an electrician can be one of the most professionally rewarding and lucrative careers on the market. It’s also full of variety, you’ll likely never do the same thing twice.

Electricians learn quickly. They need to be able to work well within tight deadlines, but that also means they often have to learn quickly and move on to the next task. From wiring a house or installing an electrical system, electricians must get everything done as smoothly as possible. There’s no room for error.

Being an electrician is like being an actor without the need for a lot of training: it only takes a little experience and you can get behind the scenes and make big money in your career right away. It’s not about how many high school or college credits you’ve got, but rather how good you are at performing your trade.

That being said, let’s take a look at some of the highest paying electrician jobs. Some of these jobs pay more than 100k.

16 Highest Paying Electrician Jobs

1. Residential Electrical Work

Electricians work on residential and commercial electrical systems, whether you’re doing the wiring for a whole house or just a few outlets. The end-user doesn’t matter because the job is to make sure everything is working as it should and there are no problems.

Although being an electrician isn’t as glamorous as being an actor, it’s still a lot of fun. You’ll be in charge of installing, fixing, and maintaining all kinds of lighting and appliances, from ceiling fans to security systems to switches. Many different kinds of electrical work can be done: simply go to your local area and start looking around.

Residential work is not limited to turning lights on and off. Some jobs could also involve installing or repairing an air conditioning system, insulating a house, and doing drywall work in between jobs. Also, you may want to look into different types of electrical work if you’re interested in the future: if you’ve got the talent and drive, there are plenty of opportunities.

Residential electrical work is one of the high-paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

The average salary for a residential electrician is $58,106, with the highest-paid pocketing $85K per year.

2. Residential Electrical Contractor

A residential electrical contractor is an electrician who has a business working on residential electrical systems. This could mean installing new lighting or hanging drywall, but it can also mean troubleshooting a problem that needs to be fixed.

A lot of residential electrical contractors are also energy consultants and work directly with homeowners to help them understand their energy bills and find ways to save money and protect the environment.

This type of work is great for those who want something more laid back than working in an office, but still want to make good money. In most cases, the average salary for an electrical contractor is $47,547, with the top-paid earning $96,834 per year.

This makes it one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

3. Commercial Electrical Work

The same types of things that affect residential electrical work will also affect commercial electrical work. The only difference is that commercial electricians are in charge of system management, wiring up a new office building, or installing new lighting and appliance circuits for a business.

They also have to be able to handle multiple job sites at once, and sometimes deal with things that residential electricians don’t need to deal with, like installation of specialty equipment on the job site or working with gas lines while they’re installing a new HVAC system.

The average salary for a commercial electrician in the United States of America is $44,869, with the top-paid pocketing $64,735 per year.

4. Substation Electrician

Substation electricians are in charge of installing and repairing the electrical systems that are necessary for a substation to function. You may not be able to see them, but they’re there. Typically, they work with high-voltage equipment and lines.

They also have to be trained in things like crane operation and fall protection so that they can do the job right and ensure the safety of everyone working with them on the job site.

Because there’s a lot of equipment that can cause serious damage, this is one of the most dangerous jobs in the electrical field. High voltage can’t only be disabled, it has to be discharged from the system so that you don’t get shocked and injured on the job site. This means low-voltage equipment, usually in combination with a crane or other heavy machinery, has to be used on the job site.

The average salary for a substation electrician is $63,552 per year, making it one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

5. Utility Construction Electrician

Utility construction electricians are part of the construction crew but are not general laborers. This means that they’re in charge of installing, checking, and maintaining all kinds of electrical systems for a company like Con Ed or MidAmerican Energy. These companies are utilities that provide electricity to customers in their area.

They also have an interest in making sure everything is functioning correctly, so they’ll be checking for leaks or problems as well as making sure everything is working smoothly.

They work on a specific job site and then move on to their next job when it’s wrapped up. If you’re an electrician and want to get into the construction industry, then this is a great way to get started.

The national average salary for a utility construction electrician is $57,657, with the highest paid earning $89,000 per year.

6. Industrial Electrician

Industrial electricians work with high-voltage equipment daily, but they won’t be in the same job site as residential electricians. They’ll be out in open spaces and offices installing/repairing switches, motors, and other equipment that’s essential for different manufacturing places or other businesses to run successfully.

They’ll be working with high-voltage equipment, wiring circuits, and motors all day. It’s a very hands-on job that requires excellent hand-eye coordination, mechanical skills, and the ability to work with not only power tools but computerized systems as well.

You need to take courses from an accredited program to become an industrial electrician (and get a license) since these systems are highly sensitive and need to be properly installed so that they can last longer.

The hourly average salary for an industrial electrician is $29.09 per hour. This makes it one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

7. HVAC Installer

If you’re an electrician, then chances are you’ve already got a pretty good handle on HVAC systems and that’s why you’re looking for a job that involves working with them. HVAC installers generally work with heating and air conditioning systems, although they can work on ventilation and other related systems as well.

You’ll be installing heating and air conditioning units in businesses and homes, but they’ll also take part in the installation process itself. Some installers will travel out to customers’ houses and do design work too. This is included in their pay package.

It’s a very hands-on job that can be dangerous since you have to deal with high-voltage equipment often. You’ll mainly be working with gas lines, so you need to have some knowledge of that type of equipment.

This is one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

The average salary for an HVAC installer is $71,575, with the top-paid earning $112,448 per year.

8. Automation Electrician

Automation electricians install, repair and maintain systems that manage air conditioning, heating, and ventilation. They install, repair and maintain systems like air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and ducts. If you’re an electrician, this is a great job to get started in.

You’ll do all the same work as you would with HVAC installers. This entails installing motors, wiring circuits, and so on. But instead of working with gas lines, you’ll be working with electricity. All the high voltage equipment will be powered by it instead of gas or oil.

You’ve got to have some knowledge of electrical system design because these systems are more technologically advanced than those for HVAC installations. You’ll also be working with computers and other automated equipment.

The average salary for an automation electrician is $63,644 per year. This highest-paid professional in this career earns $112K, which explains why this is among the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

9. Telecommunications Electrician (Communications Lines)

Telecommunications electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining all of the equipment related to all types of communications, both wired and wireless. This includes things like broadband and television. In some cases like those that involve fiber optic cables, you may have to be trained in fiber optic technology too.

One of the biggest things you need to be educated on is how the system works. Most of these systems are computerized, so you’ll have to know how to operate them and be familiar with how they’re set up. Also, many of these systems are set up in homes and businesses, so you’ll have to work directly with customers and help troubleshoot problems if they happen (usually related to wiring or network issues).

The average salary for a telecommunications electrician is $57,657 per year. You won’t get benefits or paid time off, but you will receive a steady paycheck.

10. Construction Electrician

Construction electricians do an amazing amount of work every day, installing, repairing, and maintaining all kinds of equipment from lighting to lifts for vehicles. They’ll even help with foundations and other construction tasks that are required for new buildings or major changes in ones that already exist.

When you’re a construction electrician you’ll be working with a lot of different types of equipment. This includes electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural. You’ll also have to know how to operate those systems easily and be familiar with them well enough to troubleshoot if problems occur during installation. You should be able to work well in a team environment and have excellent communication skills since you’ll be working with many different people from many different career fields.

With an average salary of $64,803 and the best-paid earning of $114,000 per year, construction electrician is one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

11. Industrial Electrical Mechanic

Industrial electrical mechanics do much the same thing as industrial electricians, but instead of just installing the systems they work more on troubleshooting and repairing them if those systems are down or broken. They’ll repair heating and ventilation equipment, industrial controls, and other systems too.

Since many of these systems are highly advanced and require a great deal of training to operate properly, you’ll need to have at least some experience with electrical circuits before you can qualify for this job. You’ll work with equipment that’s almost always running, whether it’s in a factory, mine, or any other workplace. You might have to travel to one or two locations per day, even though most of your work will be about the office instead of outside places.

The average salary for an industrial electrical mechanic is $63,141, with top-earner getting $88,000 per year.

12. HVAC Service Technician

HVAC service technicians are responsible for all kinds of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installations in residential properties. They’ll work with a variety of different equipment including air handlers and duct work as well as motors and wiring, installing, repairing, and maintaining all types of HVAC systems. You’ll be working directly with customers too by helping them maintain their HVAC systems properly and troubleshooting problems if they do occur.

HVAC service technicians have to be knowledgeable about many different types of systems, including steam, central air, and whole home heating applications. You’ll need some experience with electrical circuitry too, since most HVAC systems have a lot of wiring involved. You should also be able to work well as part of a team and help on projects that require teamwork (like backup generators).

Apart from being an ideal job for electricians, being an HVAC service technician is also one of the best jobs for dyslexics that pay well.

According to Indeed, HVAC service technicians make an average salary of $53,778 per year. The highest-paid professional in this career earns $85,607.

13. HVAC Refrigeration Service Technician

HVAC refrigeration service technicians are the same as HVAC service technicians, except they work with only HVAC and refrigeration systems. They’ll also install, repair and maintain all types of refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigerated equipment. When you’re an HVAC refrigeration service technician you’ll generally be working in commercial or industrial settings – like restaurants, hotels, or warehouses.

Since a lot of these systems are very complex and require installation training, much of your job will be troubleshooting and repairing problems. You’ll also have to be knowledgeable about the systems you’re working on and be able to explain those systems to customers. You’ll also have to be able to work in a team environment, especially when you’re with large contractors and are working well with your coworkers.

The hourly average salary for an HVAC refrigeration service technician is $30 per hour. This explains why it is among the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

14. Telecom Installation Manager

Telecom installation managers oversee all of the technicians who do installation work for the telecom companies, so you’ll have a lot of people to manage. You need to make sure that they’re completing their jobs properly, but also make sure that their job sites are safe and appropriate for their work. You’ll also perform on-site inspections and make sure that the new installations meet code requirements in your area.

You’ll need to know a lot about wiring and networking before you can qualify as a telecom installation manager – especially since many of your technicians will be working with these systems. You’ll also have to be able to work well as part of a team and be good at communicating with your employees, customers, and coworkers. You’ll also need basic knowledge about fire safety in the workplace since these installations can sometimes involve a lot of electrical work.

The average salary for a telecom installation manager is $137,463 per year, making it one of the highest paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

15. Switchboard Operator

If you’re looking for a job that’s very similar to switchboard operators, then this is the job for you. Switchboard operators primarily work inside offices, helping to manage phone calls and answering any questions people might have.

They’ll answer incoming calls, transfer the call if needed and direct those callers to the right person in their company – perhaps the wrong line has become busy. Switchboard operators also help often connect people to the right operator for long-distance calls (such as international calls).

Switchboard operators can be quite busy, so you must be able to listen well and give good customer service when necessary. You’ll also have to be able to give accurate information about the caller’s location such as checking to see if they’re in the city or out of the country, and know how to transfer calls easily.

Switchboard operators will also have to be multi-taskers, sometimes performing several different tasks at once and operating multiple phone lines at once.

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a switch operator in the United States of America is $37,587 per year. The top-paid professionals in this career earn $52K.

16. Telecommunications Technician

If you’re a self-taught telecommunications technician, then you’ll have an easier time finding work. Telecommunications technicians usually work in either radio or cable companies. Their job description entails installing and repairing all of the communication systems in cable and radio facilities. They’ll also install, repair and maintain all types of video, cable television, or broadband equipment.

Telecommunications technicians usually have to be able to read schematics for many different types of equipment and be familiar with wiring diagrams, although these days most people use computers when repairing these systems. You should also be able to troubleshoot problems correctly since these technicians will often deal with technical problems such as computer crashes or power outages that cause equipment failure.

According to Indeed, telecommunications technician is one of the high-paying electrician jobs in the United States of America.

The average salary for a professional in this career is $57,050, with the best-paid earning $86,827 per year.