BLS and Census data

Running a electrical business in Washington, DC

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area has about 16,580 electricians. The median wage is $36.50 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's 4% below the District of Columbia median of $37.97. Nationally, the median is $30.38, so Washington pays 20% more.

Market snapshot

Electricians employed in the metro area
16,580
Median hourly wage
$36.50
Middle 50% earn
$28.40 to $49.65 an hour
Median annual wage
$75,930
District of Columbia median hourly wage
$37.97
U.S. median hourly wage
$30.38
Job concentration
1.09× the national share
Electrical contractors in the metro area
1,070
Washington population
681,294
Median year homes were built in Washington
1958

Job concentration compares the share of local jobs held by electricians with the share nationwide. Above 1 means the trade is more concentrated here than average.

Electrical in nearby cities

CityWorkers in the metroMedian hourly wage
Baltimore, MD6,930$31.54
Lexington Park, MD340$29.59
Hagerstown, MD430$29.96
Winchester, VA180$28.35
Gettysburg, PA110$29.28
York, PA770$31.43

How Tradesman helps electrical businesses in Washington

Build estimates from your pricebook

Save your standard prices for devices, circuits and labor once, then pull them onto any estimate in a few taps.

Show the options side by side

Quote a 100A, 150A and 200A upgrade as options on one estimate. The customer chooses and approves online.

Photos that follow the job

Photos of the old panel and the finished work attach once and carry through to the invoice, so the customer sees exactly what they paid for.

Questions about electrical in Washington

How much do electricians make in Washington?

In May 2025, the median wage for electricians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area was $36.50 an hour. The middle half earned between $28.40 and $49.65 an hour.

How many electricians work in Washington?

About 16,580 electricians worked in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How many electrical contractors are in Washington?

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area had 1,070 establishments classified as electrical contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.

Sources

Figures cover the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area unless they name Washington. Wages are for employees, not business owners.

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