Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician as its own occupation, so this page uses Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (SOC 49-2095, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $103,020 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $81,860 to $118,870.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,730 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $81,860 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $103,020 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $118,870 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $129,920 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $100,760 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31.6 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $39.35 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $49.53 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $57.15 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $62.46 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $48.44 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages include: base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. What they leave out: overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-2095 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, United States. View this release at BLS.
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $103,020 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 2.02 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | 12,920 | 62.4% | $105,940 | $92,780 to $121,250 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | 237130 | 980 | 4.7% | $81,180 | $63,270 to $104,660 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | 980 | 4.7% | $81,180 | $63,270 to $104,660 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 550 | 2.7% | $94,660 | $77,600 to $103,940 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | 510 | 2.5% | $65,340 | $57,600 to $78,000 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 270 | 1.3% | $85,810 | $60,080 to $104,450 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 238210 | 250 | 1.2% | $86,360 | $74,880 to $104,450 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | 541380 | 210 | 1.0% | $99,680 | $68,860 to $103,940 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,160 | $81,530 to $124,370 | 170 | 0.41 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $102,470 | $81,760 to $122,830 | 410 | 0.75 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $81,180 | $81,120 to $108,490 | 240 | 0.61 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,150 | $75,200 to $116,590 | 190 | 1.32 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $114,480 | $107,740 to $130,050 | 170 | 0.28 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $120,930 | $108,280 to $171,680 | 70 | 0.44 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $129,590 | $101,880 to $140,500 | 90 | 0.58 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 86 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $145,530 | 40 | 0.66 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,580 | 90 | 0.29 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,130 | 220 | 0.79 |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $133,300 | 90 | 0.41 |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,080 | 240 | 1.06 |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $129,590 | 90 | 0.58 |
| 7 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $128,540 | 60 | 1.42 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,820 | 40 | 0.39 |
| 9 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $124,700 | 80 | 1.31 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | $122,260 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $85,460 | 170 | 1.12 |
| 78 | Lubbock, TX | $83,200 | 30 | 1.47 |
| 79 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $81,670 | 50 | 0.65 |
| 80 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $81,180 | 240 | 0.61 |
| 81 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $80,430 | 30 | 1.52 |
| 82 | Reno, NV | $74,360 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 83 | Roanoke, VA | $66,480 | 60 | 2.68 |
| 84 | Akron, OH | $64,120 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 85 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $59,550 | 40 | 1.14 |
| 86 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $31,260 | 160 | 1.75 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $145,530 | $46,910 | 3.10 times | 40 | 0.66 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,080 | $48,400 | 2.71 times | 240 | 1.06 |
| Tulsa, OK | $122,260 | $46,670 | 2.62 times | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Jacksonville, FL | $120,840 | $48,830 | 2.47 times | 130 | 1.23 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $110,660 | $44,860 | 2.47 times | 30 | 2.5 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $128,540 | $52,510 | 2.45 times | 60 | 1.42 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $121,670 | $50,790 | 2.40 times | 60 | 0.88 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $109,370 | $45,810 | 2.39 times | 40 | 1.96 |
| Visalia, CA | $105,830 | $45,130 | 2.35 times | 30 | 1.33 |
| Wilmington, NC | $106,950 | $45,800 | 2.34 times | 60 | 2.43 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $109,010 | $46,700 | 2.33 times | 60 | 1.7 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $107,990 | $46,330 | 2.33 times | 40 | 1.29 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $108,240 | $46,570 | 2.32 times | 70 | 1.34 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $114,170 | $49,340 | 2.31 times | 100 | 0.66 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,820 | $55,240 | 2.30 times | 40 | 0.39 |
| Victoria, TX | $98,680 | $43,050 | 2.29 times | 60 | 11.12 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $103,100 | $45,220 | 2.28 times | 30 | 1.49 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $107,750 | $47,470 | 2.27 times | 40 | 0.91 |
| Syracuse, NY | $119,230 | $52,990 | 2.25 times | 160 | 3.95 |
| Longview, TX | $101,320 | $45,150 | 2.24 times | 30 | 2.01 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $106,400 | $47,570 | 2.24 times | 50 | 0.67 |
| Rochester, NY | $114,050 | $51,210 | 2.23 times | 80 | 1.23 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $102,310 | $46,380 | 2.21 times | 50 | 1.39 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $101,780 | $46,630 | 2.18 times | 90 | 0.49 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $100,000 | $46,140 | 2.17 times | 40 | 1.23 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 49-2095 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $100,940 |
| May 2025 | $103,020 |
| Difference | +$2,080 (+2.1%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For an operations offer, check what the quoted pay already includes. BLS includes on-call pay but excludes shift differentials. Do not add on-call pay twice when comparing the offer.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call pay matters here | Included | BLS lists "on-call pay" and "hazardous-duty pay" as wages. |
| Overtime pay | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician candidates are usually screened on lV and MV switching under a switching program; breaker racking and LOTO; NFPA 70E plus a state electrical license where required.
We usually find them through utility and industrial plant electricians; electrical testing techs; Navy electrician's mates. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician?
The BLS median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay nationally is $103,020 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $81,860 to $118,870, and 10% earned less than $65,730.
Is this the exact job title?
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 20,720 jobs nationally in Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
They leave out overtime, shift differentials, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation. Base pay, guaranteed pay, on-call pay and production-based incentive pay are included.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician: BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
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- Methodology
What the published rows say about Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States is represented here by Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, SOC 49-2095, in the May 2025 OEWS release. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, data Center Headhunters uses the proxy crosswalk for this title; the occupation row, rather than a separate survey of Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician, supplies the figures on this page. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, the published annual median is $103,020 and the middle-half endpoints are $81,860 and $118,870.
The Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States middle-half band spans $37,010 on the annual basis. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, its lower quarter-to-median distance is $21,160, compared with $15,850 from the median to the upper quarter. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, the lower interval is at least as wide as the other interval in this row. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, for an offer against this Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician crosswalk, these are published reference points, not experience grades; the width does not establish a reason for differences between individual workers.
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States can also be compared with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where the annual median for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is $96,170 in May 2025. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, the Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician crosswalk comparison differs by $6,850 from the the United States median.
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States can also be compared with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where the annual median for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is $118,990 in May 2025. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, the Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician crosswalk comparison differs by $15,970 from the the United States median.
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States has no local industry-by-occupation wage breakdown in the loaded OEWS rows. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, the highest published national industry medians loaded for SOC 49-2095 are Air Transportation at $129,330 and Scheduled Air Transportation at $129,330. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, these May 2025 observations describe the national Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay occupation in those industries, not the pay of data center employers in the United States; they cannot support a local industry ranking.
The Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States matched median changed from $100,940 in May 2024 to $103,020 in May 2025, a difference of $2,080 up. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, both observations use SOC 49-2095, area code 99 and the same annual wage basis. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, this Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician comparison reports the released values without adjusting for inflation, annualizing the change or attributing it to a particular employer.
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States uses the OEWS straight-time wage definition, not a complete cost-to-employ budget. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, for an offer mapped to Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay, separate overtime, shift differentials and expense reimbursements from the annual figures for the United States; BLS excludes those categories. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, on-call pay, guaranteed pay and production incentives are included under the wage definition. For Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States, no Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician-specific per diem, travel allowance or relocation amount is observed in this row, so this May 2025 page adds no dollar allowance on top.
Questions about Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States?
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician is mapped to SOC 49-2095, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay; the May 2025 the United States annual median is $103,020. The mapping is proxy, not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the the United States figure show all offer costs for Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician?
Switchgear and Electrical Distribution Technician pay in the United States uses straight-time OEWS wages. Overtime and shift differentials are excluded; on-call and guaranteed pay are included. No allowance for travel or relocation is added to this 49-2095 observation.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.