Iowa’s Workforce Development expects the number of jobs for electricians to increase by 20% during the ten-year period ending in 2022. With construction in Iowa ramping up, there should be a number of opportunities for electricians. In fact, the Business Record reported in 2014 that the tight supply of workers in the skilled trades could slow down some contractors as their volume of work ramps up.
Unlike many other states, Iowa now has more construction jobs than before the recession. In its analysis of Iowa’s economy, the Des Moines Register stated that construction added more than 6,000 jobs in the past year. Increased employment levels in construction reflect a number of major development projects in Iowa and expansions of businesses.
Des Moines is a particularly bright spot in Iowa’s robust construction market and thus offers employment opportunities for electricians. According to Iowa Living Magazine’s 2015 year end report for housing trends in Des Moines, the areas with the most home sales included West Des Moines, Ankeny, and northwestern Des Moines.
This article quoted Robin Polder, the 2015 President of the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®, as saying that the biggest sector in housing was new construction. She also stated that the future was very bright for homebuilders with the pent up demand for new construction. However, Polder also expressed concern that the shortage of construction workers could slow down growth.
Commercial construction in Iowa also offers opportunities for electricians, and the Business Record described what lay ahead for this industry. The 2014 article stated that several types of commercial production produced a “double-digit growth outlook for local contractors:”
- Multifamily housing
- Large agribusiness projects
- Renovation of downtown office spaces
Salaries for Residential Electricians in Iowa’s Major Cities and Rural Areas
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians throughout Iowa. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in the Major Cities of Iowa
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in the major cities of Iowa (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Cedar Rapids: $38,770 – $64,690
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island: $55,860 – $64,890
- Des Moines-West Des Moines: $49,770 – $62,900
- Sioux City: $52,560 – $97,080
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls: $55,980 – $74,260
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Cedar Rapids: $68,340 – $81,750
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island: $64,940 – $77,580
- Des Moines-West Des Moines: $66,840 – $90,550
- Iowa City: $67,150 – $77,550
- Sioux City: $67,930 – $80,980
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls: $69,610 – $79,210
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- Cedar Rapids: $41,510 – $57,550
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island: $36,530 – $49,540
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Cedar Rapids: $37,580 – $49,870
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island: $44,030 – $87,580
- Des Moines-West Des Moines: $44,530 – $63,140
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices Throughout Iowa
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” in Iowa’s urban and rural areas. This information is shown here to represent the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship; 2015: