More than 100 jobs a year should become available for electricians in West Virginia on average during the ten-year period ending in 2022 according to the State’s Department of Commerce. Parkersburg-Vienna has an unusually high concentration of electricians—the 7th highest in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nearly 1,500 new construction jobs will become available between 2012 and 2022 according to the West Virginia Department of Commerce. More than 95% of these jobs will be in building construction.
The number of residential building permits in the first half of 2015 suggested a steady increase in new single-family housing starts according to a report from the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics for 2016.
Construction projects that will provide opportunities for electricians include multifamily construction activity at the new University Park and University Place developments in Monongalia County. Major projects underway throughout West Virginia include:
- The $500-million natural gas plant in Moundsville that is scheduled for completion in 2018
- Proctor & Gamble’s new $500 million Martinsburg manufacturing facility that is scheduled for completion in 2017
- Construction at West Virginia State University:
- A new Agricultural Sciences Building
- Renovations to the Milan Puskar Stadium Concourse
Salaries for Residential Electricians Throughout West Virginia
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in a number of West Virginia’s major cities and two rural areas. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians Throughout West Virginia
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for four types of specialized electricians that work in West Virginia’s major cities and rural areas (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Wheeling: $77,310 – $101,360
- Rural Southern West Virginia: $68,490 – $84,460
- Northern West Virginia: $66,240 – $78,700
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Charleston: $39,240 – $65,930
- Huntington-Ashland: $56,920 – $73,630
- Weirton-Steubenville:$45,650 – $50,960
- Rural Northern West Virginia: $57,980 – $77,870
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- Rural Northern West Virginia: $73,870 – $93,270
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Huntington-Ashland: $41,110 – $49,250
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below: