Nearly 500 jobs for electricians in Wisconsin should become available each year on average between 2015 and 2017 according to the state’s Department of Workforce Development.
Rapid building construction in several of Wisconsin’s major markets offers opportunities for electricians. Apartment building in Madison has been booming for more than three years. Strong demand exists for luxury apartments especially in the Downtown area and in suburbs like Verona and Middleton. In addition, city officials plan to help developers add 1,000 units for lower-income workers over a five-year period according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
New home construction in the Milwaukee metro area started off to a fast start in 2016 according to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Permits to build new houses and duplexes in the area jumped 26% in the first three months of 2016 compared to the same time a year ago.
Other large population areas in Wisconsin also saw an increase in permits for the construction of new homes during this period according to data from MTD Marketing Services. Permits were up nearly 22% in the Green Bay-Door County area and more than 7% in the Fox Valley.
In fact, Wisconsin’s construction industry is so robust that contractors are having trouble finding qualified workers. Fully 90% of the contractors surveyed in Wisconsin expected to face difficulty finding and hiring skilled craft workers such as electricians over the coming year according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America about expectations for 2015.
Salaries for Residential Electricians Throughout Wisconsin
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in Wisconsin’s major cities and rural areas. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in Wisconsin’s Major Cities
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in the major cities in Wisconsin (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:
- Eau Claire: $49,470 – $77,760
- Fond du Lac: $79,310 – $98,700
- Green Bay: $69,740 – $87,390
- Madison: $67,620 – $92,330
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $76,920 – $96,220
- Sheboygan: $75,430 – $93,370
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Madison: $59,200 – $78,900
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $54,890 – $73,840
- Wausau: $49,820 – $68,390
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $84,660 – $96,490
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Transportation Equipment:
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $40,470 – $57,790
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers Specializing in Motor Vehicles:
- Appleton: $41,150 – $48,,880
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $29,580 – $70,530
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- Appleton: $35,700 – $50,580
- Madison: $37,760 – $61,190
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $34,840 – $39,650
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Appleton: $41,850 – $58,500
- Madison: $44,000 – $59,340
- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis: $31,320 – $56,410
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in Wisconsin’s Major Cities and Rural Areas
Electrician apprentices in Eau Claire earned the 4th highest average salary of electrician apprentices in any city in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Bureau provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” throughout Wisconsin. Shown below is information that represents the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship (2015):