Electrician Salary in San Jose, CA
Electricians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $91,030 a year — 44% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,450 take-home, or $5,621 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrician salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,197
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,644
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,320
- California income tax$4,236
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,183
- Take-home pay$67,450
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrician pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,290 | $26.10 | $43,789 | $3,649 |
| 25th percentile | $63,420 | $30.49 | $50,452 | $4,204 |
| Median (50th) | $91,030 | $43.76 | $67,450 | $5,621 |
| 75th percentile | $128,530 | $61.79 | $89,722 | $7,477 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,340 | $83.34 | $115,599 | $9,633 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $91,030 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrician's $67,450 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,083 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrician jobs are about as common in San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #10 of 56 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $105,090 | $74,395 | $70,569 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $76,860 | $60,226 | $65,079 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $77,170 | $60,429 | $63,551 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $81,990 | $63,276 | $63,088 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $77,800 | $60,819 | $62,741 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $77,310 | $59,640 | $61,462 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $91,030 | $67,450 | $61,083 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 56 metros →
About the job: electricians
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Electrician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $92,830
- Sacramento, CA — $74,830
- Riverside, CA — $72,790
- San Diego, CA — $76,160
- Los Angeles, CA — $73,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in San Jose, CA?
The median electrician salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $91,030 a year, or about $43.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,420 and $128,530.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $91,030 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $67,450 a year ($5,621 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,420 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 44% above the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,083 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #10 of 56 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median electrician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $129,700
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $107,560
- Carpenter — $80,190
- Construction Laborer — $68,470
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,970