Electrician Salary in Durham, NC
Electricians in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $59,220 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,909 take-home, or $3,992 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$4,926
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,672
- Medicare (1.45%)$859
- North Carolina income tax$1,854
- Take-home pay$47,909
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Electrician pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,160 | $22.19 | $37,937 | $3,161 |
| 25th percentile | $49,820 | $23.95 | $40,731 | $3,394 |
| Median (50th) | $59,220 | $28.47 | $47,909 | $3,992 |
| 75th percentile | $64,010 | $30.77 | $51,567 | $4,297 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,800 | $36.44 | $59,640 | $4,970 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,220 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrician's $47,909 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,101 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 less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #179 of 221 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $104,510 | $82,353 | $80,389 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $99,850 | $79,074 | $79,012 |
| 3 | Kokomo, IN | $91,290 | $70,389 | $78,517 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $97,590 | $77,485 | $74,985 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $96,600 | $76,788 | $74,070 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $98,210 | $73,855 | $71,579 |
| 179 | Durham, NC | $59,220 | $47,909 | $49,101 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 221 metros →
Electrician salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $58,380
- Fayetteville, NC — $57,690
- Greenville, NC — $54,930
- Winston, NC — $56,100
- Hickory, NC — $53,730
- Charlotte, NC — $59,080
- Raleigh, NC — $56,800
- Asheville, NC — $54,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in Durham, NC?
The median electrician salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $59,220 a year, or about $28.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,820 and $64,010.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $59,220 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $47,909 a year ($3,992 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,854 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,101 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #179 of 221 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median electrician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,430
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,110
- Carpenter — $51,540
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,820
- Construction Laborer — $46,560