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Best Electrician Jobs

Where Electrical Contractors Are Hiring

By Will Gordon Published November 6, 2026

Read the findingsSee the countiesSources and data

BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, first quarter 2019, 2025 and 2026 · BLS monthly jobs through August 2026 · Census construction spending through September 2026.

Contents
+39,323
Jobs at electrical contractors, March 2025 to March 2026
+90%
Data center construction spending, September 2026 versus a year earlier
$1,703
Average weekly pay at electrical contractors, up 6.2%

What the data shows

Every quarter, BLS counts the jobs at electrical contracting firms in every county, using unemployment insurance records. Census tracks how much is spent building data centers each month. Put together, they show where the work is going.

  1. Electrical contractors employed 1,143,104 people in March 2026, up 39,323 (3.6%) in a year. Construction as a whole grew 1.0%.
  2. Data center construction reached a $96.5 billion annual pace in September 2026, up 90% in a year. It first passed office construction in April 2025 and has stayed ahead since September 2025.
  3. Texas, Virginia and Ohio added the most jobs: 9,961, 5,607 and 4,213. California lost 2,378.
  4. Ten counties added 46% of the national job gain. Bexar County, Texas and Loudoun County, Virginia each added more than 3,700.
  5. Average weekly pay at electrical contractors rose 6.2% to $1,703. Since 2019 it is up 40%, ahead of 30% inflation.

Electrical contracting is growing three times faster than construction

In March 2026, electrical contractors employed 1,143,104 people at 101,565 firms and offices. A year earlier they employed 1,103,781. The 3.6% gain compares with 1.0% for construction as a whole.

The gap has been building since 2019. In the monthly BLS jobs data, electrical contractor employment in August 2026 was 20% above its 2019 average. All construction was 11% above.

Jobs at electrical contractors and in all construction, 2019 average = 100
Monthly employment from January 2019 to August 2026. Both fell in spring 2020. Electrical contractors recovered faster and pulled ahead from 2022. In August 2026 electrical contractors stood at 119.6 and all construction at 111.5. 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 20192020202120222023202420252026 Electrical 120Construction 111 Jan 2019: Electrical contractors 98.5, All construction 99.1 Feb 2019: Electrical contractors 98.6, All construction 98.7 Mar 2019: Electrical contractors 98.9, All construction 99.1 Apr 2019: Electrical contractors 99.1, All construction 99.7 May 2019: Electrical contractors 99.4, All construction 99.8 Jun 2019: Electrical contractors 99.8, All construction 100.1 Jul 2019: Electrical contractors 100.1, All construction 100.4 Aug 2019: Electrical contractors 100.6, All construction 100.5 Sep 2019: Electrical contractors 100.9, All construction 100.7 Oct 2019: Electrical contractors 101.7, All construction 100.8 Nov 2019: Electrical contractors 101.6, All construction 100.6 Dec 2019: Electrical contractors 100.9, All construction 100.5 Jan 2020: Electrical contractors 101.3, All construction 101.1 Feb 2020: Electrical contractors 101.8, All construction 101.6 Mar 2020: Electrical contractors 101.1, All construction 100.6 Apr 2020: Electrical contractors 87.1, All construction 87.0 May 2020: Electrical contractors 93.5, All construction 93.5 Jun 2020: Electrical contractors 95.6, All construction 95.5 Jul 2020: Electrical contractors 96.4, All construction 96.0 Aug 2020: Electrical contractors 97.2, All construction 96.4 Sep 2020: Electrical contractors 97.8, All construction 96.8 Oct 2020: Electrical contractors 98.5, All construction 97.4 Nov 2020: Electrical contractors 98.4, All construction 97.7 Dec 2020: Electrical contractors 98.4, All construction 98.2 Jan 2021: Electrical contractors 98.6, All construction 98.3 Feb 2021: Electrical contractors 97.9, All construction 97.1 Mar 2021: Electrical contractors 99.1, All construction 98.7 Apr 2021: Electrical contractors 99.1, All construction 98.8 May 2021: Electrical contractors 99.4, All construction 98.6 Jun 2021: Electrical contractors 99.4, All construction 98.7 Jul 2021: Electrical contractors 100.1, All construction 99.1 Aug 2021: Electrical contractors 99.7, All construction 99.2 Sep 2021: Electrical contractors 100.6, All construction 99.9 Oct 2021: Electrical contractors 100.9, All construction 100.3 Nov 2021: Electrical contractors 101.8, All construction 100.9 Dec 2021: Electrical contractors 102.1, All construction 101.4 Jan 2022: Electrical contractors 102.8, All construction 101.4 Feb 2022: Electrical contractors 103.3, All construction 102.1 Mar 2022: Electrical contractors 103.8, All construction 102.7 Apr 2022: Electrical contractors 104.2, All construction 102.7 May 2022: Electrical contractors 104.9, All construction 103.3 Jun 2022: Electrical contractors 105.2, All construction 103.6 Jul 2022: Electrical contractors 105.8, All construction 104.0 Aug 2022: Electrical contractors 106.3, All construction 104.1 Sep 2022: Electrical contractors 106.9, All construction 104.5 Oct 2022: Electrical contractors 107.2, All construction 104.7 Nov 2022: Electrical contractors 107.2, All construction 104.9 Dec 2022: Electrical contractors 107.6, All construction 105.2 Jan 2023: Electrical contractors 107.9, All construction 105.9 Feb 2023: Electrical contractors 108.2, All construction 106.0 Mar 2023: Electrical contractors 108.4, All construction 105.8 Apr 2023: Electrical contractors 108.7, All construction 106.2 May 2023: Electrical contractors 108.8, All construction 106.3 Jun 2023: Electrical contractors 109.7, All construction 106.8 Jul 2023: Electrical contractors 110.1, All construction 107.0 Aug 2023: Electrical contractors 110.4, All construction 107.3 Sep 2023: Electrical contractors 110.5, All construction 107.5 Oct 2023: Electrical contractors 110.9, All construction 107.8 Nov 2023: Electrical contractors 111.2, All construction 107.9 Dec 2023: Electrical contractors 111.5, All construction 108.1 Jan 2024: Electrical contractors 111.6, All construction 108.4 Feb 2024: Electrical contractors 111.9, All construction 108.5 Mar 2024: Electrical contractors 112.1, All construction 109.0 Apr 2024: Electrical contractors 112.1, All construction 109.0 May 2024: Electrical contractors 112.6, All construction 109.1 Jun 2024: Electrical contractors 113.1, All construction 109.4 Jul 2024: Electrical contractors 113.6, All construction 109.5 Aug 2024: Electrical contractors 113.6, All construction 109.9 Sep 2024: Electrical contractors 113.5, All construction 110.2 Oct 2024: Electrical contractors 113.9, All construction 110.3 Nov 2024: Electrical contractors 114.1, All construction 110.3 Dec 2024: Electrical contractors 113.8, All construction 110.4 Jan 2025: Electrical contractors 114.8, All construction 110.3 Feb 2025: Electrical contractors 115.1, All construction 110.3 Mar 2025: Electrical contractors 115.2, All construction 110.4 Apr 2025: Electrical contractors 115.5, All construction 110.4 May 2025: Electrical contractors 115.1, All construction 110.4 Jun 2025: Electrical contractors 114.9, All construction 110.3 Jul 2025: Electrical contractors 115.0, All construction 110.2 Aug 2025: Electrical contractors 114.9, All construction 110.0 Sep 2025: Electrical contractors 115.1, All construction 110.2 Oct 2025: Electrical contractors 115.0, All construction 110.0 Nov 2025: Electrical contractors 115.7, All construction 110.5 Dec 2025: Electrical contractors 115.3, All construction 110.4 Jan 2026: Electrical contractors 116.2, All construction 111.0 Feb 2026: Electrical contractors 115.7, All construction 110.7 Mar 2026: Electrical contractors 116.4, All construction 110.9 Apr 2026: Electrical contractors 117.1, All construction 111.0 May 2026: Electrical contractors 118.3, All construction 111.0 Jun 2026: Electrical contractors 118.7, All construction 111.0 Jul 2026: Electrical contractors 119.2, All construction 111.3 Aug 2026: Electrical contractors 119.6, All construction 111.5
Show the monthly index
MonthElectrical contractorsAll construction
Aug 2026119.6111.5
Jul 2026119.2111.3
Jun 2026118.7111.0
May 2026118.3111.0
Apr 2026117.1111.0
Mar 2026116.4110.9
Feb 2026115.7110.7
Jan 2026116.2111.0
Dec 2025115.3110.4
Nov 2025115.7110.5
Oct 2025115.0110.0
Sep 2025115.1110.2
Aug 2025114.9110.0
Jul 2025115.0110.2
Jun 2025114.9110.3
May 2025115.1110.4
Apr 2025115.5110.4
Mar 2025115.2110.4
Feb 2025115.1110.3
Jan 2025114.8110.3
Dec 2024113.8110.4
Nov 2024114.1110.3
Oct 2024113.9110.3
Sep 2024113.5110.2
Aug 2024113.6109.9
Jul 2024113.6109.5
Jun 2024113.1109.4
May 2024112.6109.1
Apr 2024112.1109.0
Mar 2024112.1109.0
Feb 2024111.9108.5
Jan 2024111.6108.4
Dec 2023111.5108.1
Nov 2023111.2107.9
Oct 2023110.9107.8
Sep 2023110.5107.5
Aug 2023110.4107.3
Jul 2023110.1107.0
Jun 2023109.7106.8
May 2023108.8106.3
Apr 2023108.7106.2
Mar 2023108.4105.8
Feb 2023108.2106.0
Jan 2023107.9105.9
Dec 2022107.6105.2
Nov 2022107.2104.9
Oct 2022107.2104.7
Sep 2022106.9104.5
Aug 2022106.3104.1
Jul 2022105.8104.0
Jun 2022105.2103.6
May 2022104.9103.3
Apr 2022104.2102.7
Mar 2022103.8102.7
Feb 2022103.3102.1
Jan 2022102.8101.4
Dec 2021102.1101.4
Nov 2021101.8100.9
Oct 2021100.9100.3
Sep 2021100.699.9
Aug 202199.799.2
Jul 2021100.199.1
Jun 202199.498.7
May 202199.498.6
Apr 202199.198.8
Mar 202199.198.7
Feb 202197.997.1
Jan 202198.698.3
Dec 202098.498.2
Nov 202098.497.7
Oct 202098.597.4
Sep 202097.896.8
Aug 202097.296.4
Jul 202096.496.0
Jun 202095.695.5
May 202093.593.5
Apr 202087.187.0
Mar 2020101.1100.6
Feb 2020101.8101.6
Jan 2020101.3101.1
Dec 2019100.9100.5
Nov 2019101.6100.6
Oct 2019101.7100.8
Sep 2019100.9100.7
Aug 2019100.6100.5
Jul 2019100.1100.4
Jun 201999.8100.1
May 201999.499.8
Apr 201999.199.7
Mar 201998.999.1
Feb 201998.698.7
Jan 201998.599.1

There are 101,565 electrical contracting firms and offices in the BLS count, 2,228 more than a year earlier. Since March 2019, employment at electrical contractors is up 21%, from 943,446.

Data center construction nearly doubled in a year

Census started reporting data center construction as its own category in 2014, when spending ran at a $1.6 billion annual pace. In September 2026 it reached $96.5 billion, up from $50.7 billion a year earlier. That is more than twice the $46.0 billion going into general office buildings. Data centers first passed offices in April 2025 and have stayed ahead every month since September 2025.

Private construction spending, billions of dollars at a seasonally adjusted annual rate
Monthly from January 2014 to September 2026. Data center spending rose from $1.6 billion to $96.5 billion. Electric power rose to $146.9 billion. Computer and electronics plants peaked at $126.4 billion in June 2024 and fell to $52.6 billion. General office spending held near $46.0 billion. $0B $40B $80B $120B $160B 2014201620182020202220242026 Power $146.9BData centers $96.5BChip plants $52.6BOffice $46B Jan 2014: Data centers $1.6B, Electric power $77.0B, Computer and electronics plants $7.7B, General office $32.4B Feb 2014: Data centers $1.7B, Electric power $81.6B, Computer and electronics plants $7.2B, General office $32.3B Mar 2014: Data centers $1.7B, Electric power $79.8B, Computer and electronics plants $6.6B, General office $31.6B Apr 2014: Data centers $1.8B, Electric power $77.3B, Computer and electronics plants $6.0B, General office $34.8B May 2014: Data centers $1.8B, Electric power $74.5B, Computer and electronics plants $5.9B, General office $34.3B Jun 2014: Data centers $1.7B, Electric power $71.0B, Computer and electronics plants $5.3B, General office $35.4B Jul 2014: Data centers $1.8B, Electric power $71.5B, Computer and electronics plants $4.5B, General office $35.2B Aug 2014: Data centers $2.0B, Electric power $70.5B, Computer and electronics plants $4.2B, General office $35.3B Sep 2014: Data centers $1.9B, Electric power $66.3B, Computer and electronics plants $4.1B, General office $37.0B Oct 2014: Data centers $1.8B, Electric power $62.0B, Computer and electronics plants $4.2B, General office $37.8B Nov 2014: Data centers $2.0B, Electric power $60.4B, Computer and electronics plants $3.5B, General office $36.8B Dec 2014: Data centers $1.7B, Electric power $59.5B, Computer and electronics plants $3.2B, General office $38.4B Jan 2015: Data centers $1.9B, Electric power $59.9B, Computer and electronics plants $3.2B, General office $39.3B Feb 2015: Data centers $1.9B, Electric power $62.4B, Computer and electronics plants $3.2B, General office $40.1B Mar 2015: Data centers $2.1B, Electric power $66.9B, Computer and electronics plants $3.3B, General office $41.0B Apr 2015: Data centers $2.3B, Electric power $71.5B, Computer and electronics plants $3.1B, General office $42.4B May 2015: Data centers $3.3B, Electric power $72.8B, Computer and electronics plants $3.4B, General office $44.4B Jun 2015: Data centers $3.9B, Electric power $72.3B, Computer and electronics plants $2.5B, General office $46.1B Jul 2015: Data centers $2.7B, Electric power $72.8B, Computer and electronics plants $4.2B, General office $43.0B Aug 2015: Data centers $2.8B, Electric power $70.3B, Computer and electronics plants $3.8B, General office $44.8B Sep 2015: Data centers $2.8B, Electric power $67.4B, Computer and electronics plants $3.5B, General office $44.0B Oct 2015: Data centers $2.8B, Electric power $64.3B, Computer and electronics plants $3.8B, General office $43.4B Nov 2015: Data centers $3.0B, Electric power $64.2B, Computer and electronics plants $3.9B, General office $45.6B Dec 2015: Data centers $3.1B, Electric power $64.1B, Computer and electronics plants $4.1B, General office $44.9B Jan 2016: Data centers $3.2B, Electric power $67.1B, Computer and electronics plants $2.6B, General office $45.9B Feb 2016: Data centers $3.8B, Electric power $67.7B, Computer and electronics plants $2.5B, General office $48.9B Mar 2016: Data centers $4.1B, Electric power $70.1B, Computer and electronics plants $1.9B, General office $49.3B Apr 2016: Data centers $4.4B, Electric power $69.4B, Computer and electronics plants $1.9B, General office $51.0B May 2016: Data centers $4.2B, Electric power $70.3B, Computer and electronics plants $2.0B, General office $50.8B Jun 2016: Data centers $4.6B, Electric power $70.8B, Computer and electronics plants $2.1B, General office $53.0B Jul 2016: Data centers $4.2B, Electric power $71.9B, Computer and electronics plants $1.9B, General office $55.1B Aug 2016: Data centers $4.6B, Electric power $73.6B, Computer and electronics plants $2.0B, General office $55.7B Sep 2016: Data centers $4.2B, Electric power $73.9B, Computer and electronics plants $2.0B, General office $56.9B Oct 2016: Data centers $3.7B, Electric power $72.2B, Computer and electronics plants $1.6B, General office $57.2B Nov 2016: Data centers $4.0B, Electric power $75.2B, Computer and electronics plants $1.8B, General office $58.8B Dec 2016: Data centers $4.5B, Electric power $75.7B, Computer and electronics plants $1.7B, General office $57.2B Jan 2017: Data centers $4.0B, Electric power $76.7B, Computer and electronics plants $1.6B, General office $56.4B Feb 2017: Data centers $4.2B, Electric power $74.6B, Computer and electronics plants $1.3B, General office $53.8B Mar 2017: Data centers $4.0B, Electric power $70.7B, Computer and electronics plants $1.5B, General office $53.5B Apr 2017: Data centers $4.2B, Electric power $66.8B, Computer and electronics plants $1.8B, General office $53.4B May 2017: Data centers $5.0B, Electric power $64.6B, Computer and electronics plants $1.9B, General office $51.5B Jun 2017: Data centers $4.6B, Electric power $61.7B, Computer and electronics plants $1.8B, General office $52.0B Jul 2017: Data centers $4.7B, Electric power $60.5B, Computer and electronics plants $1.9B, General office $51.1B Aug 2017: Data centers $4.4B, Electric power $60.7B, Computer and electronics plants $2.4B, General office $50.4B Sep 2017: Data centers $4.7B, Electric power $61.0B, Computer and electronics plants $2.5B, General office $50.6B Oct 2017: Data centers $5.0B, Electric power $62.2B, Computer and electronics plants $2.7B, General office $52.2B Nov 2017: Data centers $5.5B, Electric power $61.7B, Computer and electronics plants $2.9B, General office $53.4B Dec 2017: Data centers $5.7B, Electric power $63.3B, Computer and electronics plants $3.1B, General office $54.5B Jan 2018: Data centers $6.1B, Electric power $71.6B, Computer and electronics plants $3.9B, General office $53.6B Feb 2018: Data centers $6.2B, Electric power $72.4B, Computer and electronics plants $4.5B, General office $56.1B Mar 2018: Data centers $6.5B, Electric power $72.5B, Computer and electronics plants $4.3B, General office $55.5B Apr 2018: Data centers $6.6B, Electric power $73.6B, Computer and electronics plants $4.4B, General office $55.5B May 2018: Data centers $7.0B, Electric power $71.9B, Computer and electronics plants $5.9B, General office $57.9B Jun 2018: Data centers $7.1B, Electric power $71.7B, Computer and electronics plants $5.2B, General office $56.6B Jul 2018: Data centers $7.5B, Electric power $70.8B, Computer and electronics plants $5.4B, General office $57.3B Aug 2018: Data centers $7.0B, Electric power $70.0B, Computer and electronics plants $5.9B, General office $59.5B Sep 2018: Data centers $6.3B, Electric power $68.9B, Computer and electronics plants $6.3B, General office $60.2B Oct 2018: Data centers $7.9B, Electric power $67.5B, Computer and electronics plants $6.2B, General office $60.8B Nov 2018: Data centers $7.1B, Electric power $67.5B, Computer and electronics plants $6.6B, General office $59.1B Dec 2018: Data centers $8.0B, Electric power $67.4B, Computer and electronics plants $6.9B, General office $60.1B Jan 2019: Data centers $8.1B, Electric power $62.3B, Computer and electronics plants $6.5B, General office $61.6B Feb 2019: Data centers $8.0B, Electric power $64.2B, Computer and electronics plants $6.9B, General office $61.7B Mar 2019: Data centers $7.6B, Electric power $67.9B, Computer and electronics plants $7.4B, General office $63.4B Apr 2019: Data centers $7.8B, Electric power $72.1B, Computer and electronics plants $8.0B, General office $64.7B May 2019: Data centers $8.7B, Electric power $76.5B, Computer and electronics plants $8.0B, General office $65.5B Jun 2019: Data centers $8.9B, Electric power $79.7B, Computer and electronics plants $8.4B, General office $64.8B Jul 2019: Data centers $8.8B, Electric power $80.4B, Computer and electronics plants $8.6B, General office $69.4B Aug 2019: Data centers $8.8B, Electric power $83.4B, Computer and electronics plants $9.3B, General office $71.5B Sep 2019: Data centers $8.1B, Electric power $86.4B, Computer and electronics plants $9.0B, General office $69.0B Oct 2019: Data centers $9.1B, Electric power $88.7B, Computer and electronics plants $9.5B, General office $69.3B Nov 2019: Data centers $9.6B, Electric power $90.5B, Computer and electronics plants $8.4B, General office $69.6B Dec 2019: Data centers $7.9B, Electric power $91.2B, Computer and electronics plants $9.3B, General office $69.9B Jan 2020: Data centers $9.4B, Electric power $92.6B, Computer and electronics plants $9.4B, General office $72.2B Feb 2020: Data centers $9.7B, Electric power $89.5B, Computer and electronics plants $9.1B, General office $72.9B Mar 2020: Data centers $9.4B, Electric power $89.2B, Computer and electronics plants $9.7B, General office $72.2B Apr 2020: Data centers $8.9B, Electric power $87.6B, Computer and electronics plants $9.8B, General office $67.8B May 2020: Data centers $8.7B, Electric power $87.2B, Computer and electronics plants $8.8B, General office $69.5B Jun 2020: Data centers $9.0B, Electric power $87.4B, Computer and electronics plants $9.7B, General office $70.9B Jul 2020: Data centers $8.8B, Electric power $87.7B, Computer and electronics plants $9.8B, General office $69.0B Aug 2020: Data centers $9.1B, Electric power $87.2B, Computer and electronics plants $8.4B, General office $67.4B Sep 2020: Data centers $10.1B, Electric power $87.8B, Computer and electronics plants $9.2B, General office $66.9B Oct 2020: Data centers $9.3B, Electric power $89.2B, Computer and electronics plants $9.5B, General office $66.2B Nov 2020: Data centers $9.2B, Electric power $88.3B, Computer and electronics plants $8.6B, General office $64.9B Dec 2020: Data centers $9.2B, Electric power $88.3B, Computer and electronics plants $8.1B, General office $65.7B Jan 2021: Data centers $9.3B, Electric power $88.0B, Computer and electronics plants $7.2B, General office $66.6B Feb 2021: Data centers $9.1B, Electric power $88.7B, Computer and electronics plants $7.8B, General office $64.7B Mar 2021: Data centers $10.3B, Electric power $89.6B, Computer and electronics plants $8.2B, General office $67.3B Apr 2021: Data centers $9.4B, Electric power $89.3B, Computer and electronics plants $7.6B, General office $66.4B May 2021: Data centers $9.3B, Electric power $89.8B, Computer and electronics plants $7.7B, General office $66.7B Jun 2021: Data centers $9.3B, Electric power $91.9B, Computer and electronics plants $10.7B, General office $66.2B Jul 2021: Data centers $9.8B, Electric power $91.5B, Computer and electronics plants $11.4B, General office $66.3B Aug 2021: Data centers $10.5B, Electric power $90.3B, Computer and electronics plants $10.9B, General office $64.8B Sep 2021: Data centers $10.8B, Electric power $89.8B, Computer and electronics plants $11.3B, General office $64.8B Oct 2021: Data centers $9.7B, Electric power $88.7B, Computer and electronics plants $17.7B, General office $64.7B Nov 2021: Data centers $10.6B, Electric power $88.0B, Computer and electronics plants $21.6B, General office $65.0B Dec 2021: Data centers $11.3B, Electric power $85.0B, Computer and electronics plants $22.0B, General office $63.3B Jan 2022: Data centers $11.0B, Electric power $87.7B, Computer and electronics plants $26.2B, General office $64.6B Feb 2022: Data centers $10.6B, Electric power $88.5B, Computer and electronics plants $27.4B, General office $65.7B Mar 2022: Data centers $11.3B, Electric power $89.1B, Computer and electronics plants $27.9B, General office $65.4B Apr 2022: Data centers $12.2B, Electric power $90.2B, Computer and electronics plants $29.8B, General office $67.3B May 2022: Data centers $12.1B, Electric power $89.5B, Computer and electronics plants $33.9B, General office $66.9B Jun 2022: Data centers $12.2B, Electric power $92.3B, Computer and electronics plants $33.6B, General office $66.9B Jul 2022: Data centers $12.8B, Electric power $93.1B, Computer and electronics plants $42.5B, General office $66.9B Aug 2022: Data centers $13.1B, Electric power $93.1B, Computer and electronics plants $45.1B, General office $68.5B Sep 2022: Data centers $14.6B, Electric power $92.1B, Computer and electronics plants $52.1B, General office $69.0B Oct 2022: Data centers $12.8B, Electric power $90.6B, Computer and electronics plants $58.8B, General office $69.7B Nov 2022: Data centers $13.9B, Electric power $92.0B, Computer and electronics plants $61.1B, General office $69.5B Dec 2022: Data centers $14.2B, Electric power $93.5B, Computer and electronics plants $69.8B, General office $70.9B Jan 2023: Data centers $15.6B, Electric power $101.9B, Computer and electronics plants $78.5B, General office $70.2B Feb 2023: Data centers $17.9B, Electric power $101.6B, Computer and electronics plants $83.1B, General office $68.7B Mar 2023: Data centers $18.0B, Electric power $103.6B, Computer and electronics plants $90.0B, General office $68.2B Apr 2023: Data centers $17.9B, Electric power $104.3B, Computer and electronics plants $99.5B, General office $67.0B May 2023: Data centers $18.2B, Electric power $106.2B, Computer and electronics plants $97.4B, General office $67.3B Jun 2023: Data centers $18.7B, Electric power $106.7B, Computer and electronics plants $99.3B, General office $66.0B Jul 2023: Data centers $19.6B, Electric power $108.9B, Computer and electronics plants $98.0B, General office $63.8B Aug 2023: Data centers $20.5B, Electric power $113.0B, Computer and electronics plants $100.9B, General office $63.5B Sep 2023: Data centers $21.3B, Electric power $116.0B, Computer and electronics plants $100.4B, General office $63.4B Oct 2023: Data centers $23.7B, Electric power $117.7B, Computer and electronics plants $112.6B, General office $61.3B Nov 2023: Data centers $23.9B, Electric power $118.0B, Computer and electronics plants $121.0B, General office $61.7B Dec 2023: Data centers $24.2B, Electric power $119.8B, Computer and electronics plants $120.8B, General office $59.8B Jan 2024: Data centers $26.4B, Electric power $119.6B, Computer and electronics plants $121.5B, General office $57.6B Feb 2024: Data centers $28.3B, Electric power $118.7B, Computer and electronics plants $122.4B, General office $57.4B Mar 2024: Data centers $30.2B, Electric power $121.4B, Computer and electronics plants $120.2B, General office $55.4B Apr 2024: Data centers $28.1B, Electric power $121.5B, Computer and electronics plants $123.5B, General office $54.2B May 2024: Data centers $32.3B, Electric power $122.3B, Computer and electronics plants $123.7B, General office $53.4B Jun 2024: Data centers $35.3B, Electric power $122.2B, Computer and electronics plants $126.4B, General office $53.8B Jul 2024: Data centers $36.1B, Electric power $122.2B, Computer and electronics plants $125.6B, General office $53.9B Aug 2024: Data centers $36.7B, Electric power $124.9B, Computer and electronics plants $123.3B, General office $53.0B Sep 2024: Data centers $37.6B, Electric power $125.1B, Computer and electronics plants $124.8B, General office $51.1B Oct 2024: Data centers $40.0B, Electric power $125.6B, Computer and electronics plants $118.0B, General office $49.6B Nov 2024: Data centers $41.0B, Electric power $127.1B, Computer and electronics plants $120.5B, General office $50.7B Dec 2024: Data centers $44.7B, Electric power $126.1B, Computer and electronics plants $115.9B, General office $51.1B Jan 2025: Data centers $45.3B, Electric power $126.6B, Computer and electronics plants $115.5B, General office $53.2B Feb 2025: Data centers $46.4B, Electric power $126.3B, Computer and electronics plants $113.7B, General office $52.6B Mar 2025: Data centers $46.6B, Electric power $127.5B, Computer and electronics plants $109.3B, General office $52.6B Apr 2025: Data centers $52.8B, Electric power $127.4B, Computer and electronics plants $107.2B, General office $52.5B May 2025: Data centers $48.2B, Electric power $127.7B, Computer and electronics plants $104.8B, General office $51.2B Jun 2025: Data centers $46.9B, Electric power $127.4B, Computer and electronics plants $99.5B, General office $50.3B Jul 2025: Data centers $47.8B, Electric power $127.7B, Computer and electronics plants $96.7B, General office $50.5B Aug 2025: Data centers $49.1B, Electric power $127.4B, Computer and electronics plants $95.4B, General office $50.7B Sep 2025: Data centers $50.7B, Electric power $128.8B, Computer and electronics plants $90.2B, General office $50.1B Oct 2025: Data centers $54.3B, Electric power $128.6B, Computer and electronics plants $84.4B, General office $51.1B Nov 2025: Data centers $53.0B, Electric power $129.6B, Computer and electronics plants $78.0B, General office $49.2B Dec 2025: Data centers $55.5B, Electric power $130.8B, Computer and electronics plants $70.8B, General office $48.5B Jan 2026: Data centers $56.2B, Electric power $129.9B, Computer and electronics plants $67.0B, General office $46.6B Feb 2026: Data centers $57.4B, Electric power $130.7B, Computer and electronics plants $64.1B, General office $46.1B Mar 2026: Data centers $58.1B, Electric power $131.0B, Computer and electronics plants $61.4B, General office $45.7B Apr 2026: Data centers $61.9B, Electric power $131.6B, Computer and electronics plants $57.9B, General office $45.4B May 2026: Data centers $65.7B, Electric power $134.6B, Computer and electronics plants $54.8B, General office $45.8B Jun 2026: Data centers $72.7B, Electric power $138.6B, Computer and electronics plants $52.1B, General office $45.7B Jul 2026: Data centers $80.7B, Electric power $142.8B, Computer and electronics plants $52.5B, General office $46.0B Aug 2026: Data centers $88.8B, Electric power $145.0B, Computer and electronics plants $52.1B, General office $45.9B Sep 2026: Data centers $96.5B, Electric power $146.9B, Computer and electronics plants $52.6B, General office $46.0B
Show the monthly spending
MonthData centersElectric powerComputer and electronics plantsGeneral office
Sep 2026$96.5B$146.9B$52.6B$46.0B
Aug 2026$88.8B$145.0B$52.1B$45.9B
Jul 2026$80.7B$142.8B$52.5B$46.0B
Jun 2026$72.7B$138.6B$52.1B$45.7B
May 2026$65.7B$134.6B$54.8B$45.8B
Apr 2026$61.9B$131.6B$57.9B$45.4B
Mar 2026$58.1B$131.0B$61.4B$45.7B
Feb 2026$57.4B$130.7B$64.1B$46.1B
Jan 2026$56.2B$129.9B$67.0B$46.6B
Dec 2025$55.5B$130.8B$70.8B$48.5B
Nov 2025$53.0B$129.6B$78.0B$49.2B
Oct 2025$54.3B$128.6B$84.4B$51.1B
Sep 2025$50.7B$128.8B$90.2B$50.1B
Aug 2025$49.1B$127.4B$95.4B$50.7B
Jul 2025$47.8B$127.7B$96.7B$50.5B
Jun 2025$46.9B$127.4B$99.5B$50.3B
May 2025$48.2B$127.7B$104.8B$51.2B
Apr 2025$52.8B$127.4B$107.2B$52.5B
Mar 2025$46.6B$127.5B$109.3B$52.6B
Feb 2025$46.4B$126.3B$113.7B$52.6B
Jan 2025$45.3B$126.6B$115.5B$53.2B
Dec 2024$44.7B$126.1B$115.9B$51.1B
Nov 2024$41.0B$127.1B$120.5B$50.7B
Oct 2024$40.0B$125.6B$118.0B$49.6B
Sep 2024$37.6B$125.1B$124.8B$51.1B
Aug 2024$36.7B$124.9B$123.3B$53.0B
Jul 2024$36.1B$122.2B$125.6B$53.9B
Jun 2024$35.3B$122.2B$126.4B$53.8B
May 2024$32.3B$122.3B$123.7B$53.4B
Apr 2024$28.1B$121.5B$123.5B$54.2B
Mar 2024$30.2B$121.4B$120.2B$55.4B
Feb 2024$28.3B$118.7B$122.4B$57.4B
Jan 2024$26.4B$119.6B$121.5B$57.6B
Dec 2023$24.2B$119.8B$120.8B$59.8B
Nov 2023$23.9B$118.0B$121.0B$61.7B
Oct 2023$23.7B$117.7B$112.6B$61.3B
Sep 2023$21.3B$116.0B$100.4B$63.4B
Aug 2023$20.5B$113.0B$100.9B$63.5B
Jul 2023$19.6B$108.9B$98.0B$63.8B
Jun 2023$18.7B$106.7B$99.3B$66.0B
May 2023$18.2B$106.2B$97.4B$67.3B
Apr 2023$17.9B$104.3B$99.5B$67.0B
Mar 2023$18.0B$103.6B$90.0B$68.2B
Feb 2023$17.9B$101.6B$83.1B$68.7B
Jan 2023$15.6B$101.9B$78.5B$70.2B
Dec 2022$14.2B$93.5B$69.8B$70.9B
Nov 2022$13.9B$92.0B$61.1B$69.5B
Oct 2022$12.8B$90.6B$58.8B$69.7B
Sep 2022$14.6B$92.1B$52.1B$69.0B
Aug 2022$13.1B$93.1B$45.1B$68.5B
Jul 2022$12.8B$93.1B$42.5B$66.9B
Jun 2022$12.2B$92.3B$33.6B$66.9B
May 2022$12.1B$89.5B$33.9B$66.9B
Apr 2022$12.2B$90.2B$29.8B$67.3B
Mar 2022$11.3B$89.1B$27.9B$65.4B
Feb 2022$10.6B$88.5B$27.4B$65.7B
Jan 2022$11.0B$87.7B$26.2B$64.6B
Dec 2021$11.3B$85.0B$22.0B$63.3B
Nov 2021$10.6B$88.0B$21.6B$65.0B
Oct 2021$9.7B$88.7B$17.7B$64.7B
Sep 2021$10.8B$89.8B$11.3B$64.8B
Aug 2021$10.5B$90.3B$10.9B$64.8B
Jul 2021$9.8B$91.5B$11.4B$66.3B
Jun 2021$9.3B$91.9B$10.7B$66.2B
May 2021$9.3B$89.8B$7.7B$66.7B
Apr 2021$9.4B$89.3B$7.6B$66.4B
Mar 2021$10.3B$89.6B$8.2B$67.3B
Feb 2021$9.1B$88.7B$7.8B$64.7B
Jan 2021$9.3B$88.0B$7.2B$66.6B
Dec 2020$9.2B$88.3B$8.1B$65.7B
Nov 2020$9.2B$88.3B$8.6B$64.9B
Oct 2020$9.3B$89.2B$9.5B$66.2B
Sep 2020$10.1B$87.8B$9.2B$66.9B
Aug 2020$9.1B$87.2B$8.4B$67.4B
Jul 2020$8.8B$87.7B$9.8B$69.0B
Jun 2020$9.0B$87.4B$9.7B$70.9B
May 2020$8.7B$87.2B$8.8B$69.5B
Apr 2020$8.9B$87.6B$9.8B$67.8B
Mar 2020$9.4B$89.2B$9.7B$72.2B
Feb 2020$9.7B$89.5B$9.1B$72.9B
Jan 2020$9.4B$92.6B$9.4B$72.2B
Dec 2019$7.9B$91.2B$9.3B$69.9B
Nov 2019$9.6B$90.5B$8.4B$69.6B
Oct 2019$9.1B$88.7B$9.5B$69.3B
Sep 2019$8.1B$86.4B$9.0B$69.0B
Aug 2019$8.8B$83.4B$9.3B$71.5B
Jul 2019$8.8B$80.4B$8.6B$69.4B
Jun 2019$8.9B$79.7B$8.4B$64.8B
May 2019$8.7B$76.5B$8.0B$65.5B
Apr 2019$7.8B$72.1B$8.0B$64.7B
Mar 2019$7.6B$67.9B$7.4B$63.4B
Feb 2019$8.0B$64.2B$6.9B$61.7B
Jan 2019$8.1B$62.3B$6.5B$61.6B
Dec 2018$8.0B$67.4B$6.9B$60.1B
Nov 2018$7.1B$67.5B$6.6B$59.1B
Oct 2018$7.9B$67.5B$6.2B$60.8B
Sep 2018$6.3B$68.9B$6.3B$60.2B
Aug 2018$7.0B$70.0B$5.9B$59.5B
Jul 2018$7.5B$70.8B$5.4B$57.3B
Jun 2018$7.1B$71.7B$5.2B$56.6B
May 2018$7.0B$71.9B$5.9B$57.9B
Apr 2018$6.6B$73.6B$4.4B$55.5B
Mar 2018$6.5B$72.5B$4.3B$55.5B
Feb 2018$6.2B$72.4B$4.5B$56.1B
Jan 2018$6.1B$71.6B$3.9B$53.6B
Dec 2017$5.7B$63.3B$3.1B$54.5B
Nov 2017$5.5B$61.7B$2.9B$53.4B
Oct 2017$5.0B$62.2B$2.7B$52.2B
Sep 2017$4.7B$61.0B$2.5B$50.6B
Aug 2017$4.4B$60.7B$2.4B$50.4B
Jul 2017$4.7B$60.5B$1.9B$51.1B
Jun 2017$4.6B$61.7B$1.8B$52.0B
May 2017$5.0B$64.6B$1.9B$51.5B
Apr 2017$4.2B$66.8B$1.8B$53.4B
Mar 2017$4.0B$70.7B$1.5B$53.5B
Feb 2017$4.2B$74.6B$1.3B$53.8B
Jan 2017$4.0B$76.7B$1.6B$56.4B
Dec 2016$4.5B$75.7B$1.7B$57.2B
Nov 2016$4.0B$75.2B$1.8B$58.8B
Oct 2016$3.7B$72.2B$1.6B$57.2B
Sep 2016$4.2B$73.9B$2.0B$56.9B
Aug 2016$4.6B$73.6B$2.0B$55.7B
Jul 2016$4.2B$71.9B$1.9B$55.1B
Jun 2016$4.6B$70.8B$2.1B$53.0B
May 2016$4.2B$70.3B$2.0B$50.8B
Apr 2016$4.4B$69.4B$1.9B$51.0B
Mar 2016$4.1B$70.1B$1.9B$49.3B
Feb 2016$3.8B$67.7B$2.5B$48.9B
Jan 2016$3.2B$67.1B$2.6B$45.9B
Dec 2015$3.1B$64.1B$4.1B$44.9B
Nov 2015$3.0B$64.2B$3.9B$45.6B
Oct 2015$2.8B$64.3B$3.8B$43.4B
Sep 2015$2.8B$67.4B$3.5B$44.0B
Aug 2015$2.8B$70.3B$3.8B$44.8B
Jul 2015$2.7B$72.8B$4.2B$43.0B
Jun 2015$3.9B$72.3B$2.5B$46.1B
May 2015$3.3B$72.8B$3.4B$44.4B
Apr 2015$2.3B$71.5B$3.1B$42.4B
Mar 2015$2.1B$66.9B$3.3B$41.0B
Feb 2015$1.9B$62.4B$3.2B$40.1B
Jan 2015$1.9B$59.9B$3.2B$39.3B
Dec 2014$1.7B$59.5B$3.2B$38.4B
Nov 2014$2.0B$60.4B$3.5B$36.8B
Oct 2014$1.8B$62.0B$4.2B$37.8B
Sep 2014$1.9B$66.3B$4.1B$37.0B
Aug 2014$2.0B$70.5B$4.2B$35.3B
Jul 2014$1.8B$71.5B$4.5B$35.2B
Jun 2014$1.7B$71.0B$5.3B$35.4B
May 2014$1.8B$74.5B$5.9B$34.3B
Apr 2014$1.8B$77.3B$6.0B$34.8B
Mar 2014$1.7B$79.8B$6.6B$31.6B
Feb 2014$1.7B$81.6B$7.2B$32.3B
Jan 2014$1.6B$77.0B$7.7B$32.4B

Two other kinds of electrical-heavy building moved in opposite directions. Spending on electric power projects, from power plants to transmission, rose 14% in the year to $146.9 billion. Spending on computer and electronics plants, which includes chip fabs, fell 42% to $52.6 billion. It peaked at $126.4 billion in June 2024, so the chip plant wave has already passed its high point while data centers are still climbing.

Census counts the building, not what goes inside it. Its figures leave out the value of racks and servers. The September 2026 number is preliminary and Census revises it.

Texas, Virginia and Ohio added the most jobs

From March 2025 to March 2026, electrical contractor employment grew in 33 of the 50 states and DC and fell in 17. In 32, it grew faster than construction in the same state.

Change in jobs at electrical contractors, March 2025 to March 2026
Texas added 9,961 jobs, Virginia 5,607 and Ohio 4,213. Iowa grew fastest at 27%. California lost 2,378 and Florida 847. TX +9% Texas: 123,924 jobs, +9,961 (+8.7%) VA +16% Virginia: 40,860 jobs, +5,607 (+15.9%) OH +11% Ohio: 42,814 jobs, +4,213 (+10.9%) IA +27% Iowa: 15,578 jobs, +3,320 (+27.1%) NV +19% Nevada: 15,813 jobs, +2,525 (+19.0%) MD +11% Maryland: 24,743 jobs, +2,351 (+10.5%) IN +8% Indiana: 24,219 jobs, +1,853 (+8.3%) WI +8% Wisconsin: 22,028 jobs, +1,629 (+8.0%) SC +12% South Carolina: 14,402 jobs, +1,570 (+12.2%) TN +7% Tennessee: 23,940 jobs, +1,499 (+6.7%) GA +4% Georgia: 37,906 jobs, +1,491 (+4.1%) OK +10% Oklahoma: 13,949 jobs, +1,233 (+9.7%) IL +4% Illinois: 30,125 jobs, +1,160 (+4.0%) NC +3% North Carolina: 37,360 jobs, +1,114 (+3.1%) MI +3% Michigan: 28,382 jobs, +923 (+3.4%) WV +24% West Virginia: 4,187 jobs, +797 (+23.5%) KY +6% Kentucky: 13,422 jobs, +758 (+6.0%) ID +10% Idaho: 8,623 jobs, +755 (+9.6%) NJ +3% New Jersey: 25,699 jobs, +725 (+2.9%) PA +2% Pennsylvania: 31,530 jobs, +661 (+2.1%) NE +7% Nebraska: 9,467 jobs, +625 (+7.1%) MO +3% Missouri: 18,515 jobs, +615 (+3.4%) NY +1% New York: 57,602 jobs, +612 (+1.1%) ND +14% North Dakota: 4,844 jobs, +602 (+14.2%) MN +3% Minnesota: 17,620 jobs, +506 (+3.0%) AL +3% Alabama: 17,498 jobs, +438 (+2.6%) AZ +1% Arizona: 34,633 jobs, +348 (+1.0%) MA +1% Massachusetts: 24,956 jobs, +145 (+0.6%) DE +4% Delaware: 3,119 jobs, +112 (+3.7%) NM +1% New Mexico: 8,578 jobs, +91 (+1.1%) WY +2% Wyoming: 3,053 jobs, +50 (+1.7%) MT +1% Montana: 3,778 jobs, +38 (+1.0%) SD 0% South Dakota: 3,547 jobs, +7 (+0.2%) NH 0% New Hampshire: 4,512 jobs, 0 (0.0%) AK −2% Alaska: 1,663 jobs, −32 (−1.9%) VT −2% Vermont: 1,764 jobs, −42 (−2.3%) HI −2% Hawaii: 5,020 jobs, −116 (−2.3%) DC −5% District of Columbia, not unknown: 2,181 jobs, −122 (−5.3%) RI −7% Rhode Island: 2,596 jobs, −208 (−7.4%) OR −2% Oregon: 14,257 jobs, −266 (−1.8%) CT −3% Connecticut: 9,859 jobs, −275 (−2.7%) ME −6% Maine: 4,270 jobs, −282 (−6.2%) MS −5% Mississippi: 7,720 jobs, −377 (−4.7%) LA −2% Louisiana: 17,037 jobs, −388 (−2.2%) AR −6% Arkansas: 10,430 jobs, −623 (−5.6%) KS −7% Kansas: 7,993 jobs, −638 (−7.4%) CO −3% Colorado: 25,506 jobs, −719 (−2.7%) WA −3% Washington: 24,818 jobs, −755 (−3.0%) FL −1% Florida: 77,631 jobs, −847 (−1.1%) UT −4% Utah: 21,019 jobs, −943 (−4.3%) CA −2% California: 118,114 jobs, −2,378 (−2.0%)

Texas added the most jobs, 9,961, and now has 123,924 people working for electrical contractors, more than any other state. Virginia grew 16% and Ohio 11%. California, the second-largest market, lost 2,378 jobs, and Florida lost 847.

Most jobs added
StateJobs addedGrowth
Texas+9,961+8.7%
Virginia+5,607+15.9%
Ohio+4,213+10.9%
Iowa+3,320+27.1%
Nevada+2,525+19.0%
Maryland+2,351+10.5%
Indiana+1,853+8.3%
Wisconsin+1,629+8.0%
South Carolina+1,570+12.2%
Tennessee+1,499+6.7%
Most jobs lost
StateJobs lostChange
California−2,378−2.0%
Utah−943−4.3%
Florida−847−1.1%
Washington−755−3.0%
Colorado−719−2.7%
Kansas−638−7.4%
Arkansas−623−5.6%
Louisiana−388−2.2%
Show all 50 states and DC
StateJobs, March 2026One-year changeOne-year growthSince 2019Weekly payAll construction growth
Alabama17,498+438+2.6%+32%$1,393+4.7%
Alaska1,663−32−1.9%+9%$1,8310.0%
Arizona34,633+348+1.0%+60%$1,663−1.6%
Arkansas10,430−623−5.6%+29%$1,2820.0%
California118,114−2,378−2.0%+7%$1,974−1.2%
Colorado25,506−719−2.7%+9%$1,619−1.8%
Connecticut9,859−275−2.7%+8%$1,6120.0%
Delaware3,119+112+3.7%+12%$1,4720.0%
District of Columbia, not unknown2,181−122−5.3%+12%$1,9230.0%
Florida77,631−847−1.1%+17%$1,332−3.0%
Georgia37,906+1,491+4.1%+25%$1,593+1.8%
Hawaii5,020−116−2.3%+3%$1,792−1.0%
Idaho8,623+755+9.6%+86%$1,526+7.8%
Illinois30,125+1,160+4.0%+7%$1,925+2.1%
Indiana24,219+1,853+8.3%+40%$1,7440.0%
Iowa15,578+3,320+27.1%+50%$1,632+8.6%
Kansas7,993−638−7.4%+19%$1,6010.0%
Kentucky13,422+758+6.0%+30%$1,456+3.1%
Louisiana17,037−388−2.2%−2%$1,666+1.0%
Maine4,270−282−6.2%+42%$1,3140.0%
Maryland24,743+2,351+10.5%+8%$1,898−0.1%
Massachusetts24,956+145+0.6%+4%$1,9340.0%
Michigan28,382+923+3.4%+29%$1,722+4.3%
Minnesota17,620+506+3.0%+17%$2,075+1.5%
Mississippi7,720−377−4.7%+30%$1,397+0.4%
Missouri18,515+615+3.4%+26%$1,8170.0%
Montana3,778+38+1.0%+45%$1,313+4.0%
Nebraska9,467+625+7.1%+27%$1,418+3.2%
Nevada15,813+2,525+19.0%+51%$1,937+3.5%
New Hampshire4,51200.0%+21%$1,578+0.8%
New Jersey25,699+725+2.9%+13%$1,792−0.5%
New Mexico8,578+91+1.1%+22%$1,459−1.2%
New York57,602+612+1.1%−5%$1,835−2.3%
North Carolina37,360+1,114+3.1%+25%$1,4050.0%
North Dakota4,844+602+14.2%+29%$1,731+4.6%
Ohio42,814+4,213+10.9%+49%$2,011+3.0%
Oklahoma13,949+1,233+9.7%+17%$1,403+4.2%
Oregon14,257−266−1.8%+9%$2,076−4.7%
Pennsylvania31,530+661+2.1%+8%$1,7410.0%
Rhode Island2,596−208−7.4%+12%$1,5430.0%
South Carolina14,402+1,570+12.2%+23%$1,483+3.1%
South Dakota3,547+7+0.2%+39%$1,3690.0%
Tennessee23,940+1,499+6.7%+28%$1,441+1.8%
Texas123,924+9,961+8.7%+35%$1,606+3.8%
Utah21,019−943−4.3%+29%$1,8620.0%
Vermont1,764−42−2.3%+7%$1,2390.0%
Virginia40,860+5,607+15.9%+49%$1,856+5.2%
Washington24,818−755−3.0%+6%$1,911−2.0%
West Virginia4,187+797+23.5%+63%$1,499+7.8%
Wisconsin22,028+1,629+8.0%+32%$1,6110.0%
Wyoming3,053+50+1.7%+33%$1,556+0.8%

Ten counties added almost half the jobs

The growth is concentrated. The ten counties that added the most jobs gained 18,166, or 46% of the national increase. Bexar County, Texas, home to San Antonio, added 3,984 (47%). Loudoun County, Virginia added 3,711 (36%). Licking County, Ohio more than doubled, from 883 to 1,811.

Several of these counties have large data center or chip plant projects. We list a project only where we could read a government, company or news source. Many counties with fast growth have no project listed because we did not confirm one, not because none exists.

The 25 counties that added the most jobs at electrical contractors, March 2025 to March 2026
  1. Bexar County, Texas Data centers
    +3,984+47%$1,679/wk
  2. Loudoun County, Virginia Data centers
    +3,711+36%$2,385/wk
  3. Harris County, Texas
    +1,952+10%$1,636/wk
  4. Polk County, Iowa
    +1,470+49%$1,771/wk
  5. Orange County, California
    +1,269+10%$1,911/wk
  6. Dallas County, Texas
    +1,191+7%$1,782/wk
  7. Clark County, Nevada
    +1,185+12%$1,853/wk
  8. Prince George's County, Maryland
    +1,179+28%$2,540/wk
  9. Santa Clara County, California
    +1,133+12%$3,280/wk
  10. Franklin County, Ohio
    +1,092+15%$2,249/wk
  11. Licking County, Ohio Chip plant
    +928+105%$1,617/wk
  12. Los Angeles County, California
    +886+5%$1,779/wk
  13. Anne Arundel County, Maryland
    +841+22%$1,834/wk
  14. Tulsa County, Oklahoma Data center
    +792+25%$1,425/wk
  15. Erie County, New York
    +724+30%$2,113/wk
  16. Tarrant County, Texas
    +685+8%$1,787/wk
  17. Maricopa County, Arizona
    +656+2%$1,734/wk
  18. Potter County, Texas
    +648+129%$1,763/wk
  19. Fulton County, Georgia
    +640+16%$1,954/wk
  20. Scott County, Iowa
    +572+36%$2,172/wk
  21. St. Joseph County, Indiana Data center planned
    +564+50%$2,015/wk
  22. Williamson County, Texas Chip plant
    +530+17%$1,499/wk
  23. Linn County, Iowa
    +519+41%$1,657/wk
  24. Cobb County, Georgia
    +510+8%$2,091/wk
  25. Washoe County, Nevada
    +500+21%$2,081/wk

Each row shows jobs added, one-year growth and average weekly pay. A tag links to the source for a documented data center or chip plant project in that county. BLS does not publish 1,411 counties where doing so would reveal one employer's numbers. The county download has all 1,508 published counties.

Sources for the project tags

Weekly pay is up 40% since 2019

Average weekly pay at electrical contractors was $1,703 in the first quarter of 2026, up from $1,603 a year earlier. That 6.2% raise beat 3.3% inflation by 2.9%. In the first quarter of 2019, the average was $1,215. Prices have risen 30% since then, so pay is 8% ahead after inflation.

Average weekly pay at electrical contractors, first quarter 2019 and 2026, in the 12 largest states
Ohio rose the most, from $1,155 to $2,011. New York rose the least among the 12, from $1,458 to $1,835. $800 $1,200 $1,600 $2,000 Ohio +74% Ohio: $1,155 to $2,011 a week, up 74.1% Arizona +57% Arizona: $1,062 to $1,663 a week, up 56.6% Virginia +56% Virginia: $1,193 to $1,856 a week, up 55.6% North Carolina +46% North Carolina: $960 to $1,405 a week, up 46.4% Florida +44% Florida: $926 to $1,332 a week, up 43.8% Georgia +42% Georgia: $1,124 to $1,593 a week, up 41.7% Texas +40% Texas: $1,146 to $1,606 a week, up 40.1% California +36% California: $1,448 to $1,974 a week, up 36.3% Michigan +35% Michigan: $1,272 to $1,722 a week, up 35.4% Illinois +33% Illinois: $1,443 to $1,925 a week, up 33.4% Pennsylvania +32% Pennsylvania: $1,323 to $1,741 a week, up 31.6% New York +26% New York: $1,458 to $1,835 a week, up 25.9%

Among the 12 largest states, Ohio stands out. Weekly pay there rose from $1,155 to $2,011, up 74%. In the past year alone, the fastest pay growth was in Ohio (+17.8%), Wyoming (+15.8%), Missouri (+12.9%), Nevada (+12.6%), Iowa (+11.9%).

Highest average weekly pay, counties with at least 1,000 jobs at electrical contractors
CountyWeekly payJobsOne-year growth
Ontario County, New York$4,0081,242+25.5%
Santa Clara County, California$3,28010,931+11.6%
Ramsey County, Minnesota$2,8201,742+11.2%
San Francisco County, California$2,7783,359+1.5%
Utah County, Utah$2,7186,192−1.8%
Hennepin County, Minnesota$2,6165,440−1.3%
Multnomah County, Oregon$2,6064,343−3.3%
Jackson County, Missouri$2,5873,629+6.6%
Prince George's County, Maryland$2,5405,398+27.9%
Lake County, Indiana$2,4462,134+12.4%

These averages cover everyone at an electrical contractor, from apprentices to project managers and office staff, and include overtime and bonuses paid in the quarter. They are not an electrician's hourly rate. For electrician wages by state and metro, see the Electrician Payoff Report and our pay and inflation report.

Loudoun County has nine times the national share of electrical jobs

A location quotient compares an industry's share of local jobs with its share nationally. A value of 1 means the same share as the country. In Loudoun County, electrical contractors hold 9.2 times the national share, higher than any other county with at least 1,000 jobs in the industry.

Highest concentration of electrical contractor jobs, counties with at least 1,000 jobs
CountyTimes the national shareJobsOne-year growth
Loudoun County, Virginia9.2114,022+36.0%
Hanover County, Virginia3.701,582+11.6%
Carroll County, Georgia3.491,178+10.7%
Ontario County, New York3.211,242+25.5%
Licking County, Ohio3.181,811+105.1%
Scott County, Iowa3.172,146+36.3%
Jefferson County, Texas2.992,699−4.9%
Utah County, Utah2.776,192−1.8%
El Dorado County, California2.731,178−40.6%
Seminole County, Florida2.684,188−2.9%
Carroll County, Maryland2.541,104+6.9%
Waukesha County, Wisconsin2.494,519+10.2%

What I see on the job board

The work on our board is almost all data center and commercial. Hardly any residential. Electric vehicle charging stations have picked up.

Data center projects are pulling electricians out of town with sign-on bonuses, per diem and rates around $60 an hour, often on seven 12-hour shifts a week.

It isn't only electricians who are hard to find. Foremen and project managers are scarcer now too, and I'm not sure what's driving that.

What this data does not show

  • BLS counts a job where the employer's office is, not where the crew works. A Dallas contractor's crew on a Loudoun County job counts in Dallas.
  • The counts cover everyone at electrical contracting firms, including apprentices, laborers, estimators and office staff. They are not a count of licensed electricians.
  • BLS does not split jobs by project type. The data center link comes from Census spending and the documented projects we name, not from the job counts themselves.
  • Quarterly numbers move with seasons and big contracts. We compare first quarter with first quarter to avoid seasonal swings.
  • BLS suppresses counties and some states where publishing would reveal a single employer. Those places are missing, not zero.

How we calculated this

Every number on this page comes from published BLS and Census tables. We did not model or estimate any values.

Jobs and pay

BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, NAICS 23821 (electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors). Jobs are the third month of each quarter. Pay is the quarter's average weekly wage.

Comparisons

First quarter 2026 against first quarter 2025 and 2019. One-year changes come straight from the BLS over-the-year fields. Construction is NAICS 23 in the same quarter.

Monthly trend

BLS Current Employment Statistics, seasonally adjusted employment for electrical contractors (CES2023821001) and all construction (CES2000000001), each divided by its 2019 average.

Construction spending

Census Value of Private Construction Put in Place, seasonally adjusted annual rate. Data center, general office, electric power, and computer, electronic and electrical manufacturing.

Pay after inflation

Inflation is CPI-U from March to March, matching the quarter's third month. Pay after inflation is (1 + pay change) ÷ (1 + CPI-U change) − 1.

Sources and data

The build script checks each source file against a SHA-256 checksum before it writes the numbers on this page.

BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

First quarter 2019, 2025 and 2026, national, state and county files for NAICS 23821 and NAICS 23.

Review BLS QCEW data

BLS Current Employment Statistics

Series CES2023821001 and CES2000000001 through August 2026.

Review BLS CES data

Suggested citation

Gordon, Will. “Where Electrical Contractors Are Hiring.” Best Electrician Jobs, November 6, 2026. https://www.bestelectricianjobs.com/research/electrical-contractor-hiring-2026

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