Electrician in Daly City, CA

The Salary Picture: Where Daly City Stands

Living and working as an electrician in Daly City means operating in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, but also in a region with high demand for skilled trades. The data tells a nuanced story.

Median Salary: $64,910/year
Hourly Rate: $31.21/hour
National Average: $61,550/year
Jobs in Metro: 299
10-Year Job Growth: 11%

This median salary is slightly above the national average, which is typical for the Bay Area. However, the cost of living index of 118.2 (US avg = 100) immediately contextualizes this income. The "Bay Area premium" is real, but it's not just about raw pay—it's about opportunity and specialization.

Experience-Level Breakdown

Breaking down salaries by experience level provides a clearer picture of the earning trajectory. These are localized estimates based on regional data and industry standards.

Experience Level	Years of Experience	Estimated Annual Salary	Key Responsibilities
Entry-Level	0-2	$45,000 - $55,000	Residential rough-in, conduit bending, assisting journeymen, basic troubleshooting under supervision.
Mid-Level (Journeyman)	3-7	$65,000 - $85,000	Commercial/industrial wiring, troubleshooting complex systems, reading blueprints, leading small crews.
Senior-Level	8-15	$85,000 - $110,000+	Project management, estimating, specialized systems (fire alarm, security), mentoring apprentices.
Expert/Owner	15+	$110,000 - $150,000+ (or profit-dependent)	Business ownership, large-scale project management, consulting, high-voltage or niche specializations.

Insider Tip: The jump from Entry-Level to Journeyman is the most significant. In Daly City, a licensed Journeyman Electrician with a few years of experience can often command higher rates than the median because of the constant demand for retrofitting older homes and new construction in the area.

Comparison to Other California Cities

How does Daly City stack up? It's a unique position as a "gateway" city.

City	Median Salary (Electrician)	Cost of Living Index	Key Takeaway
Daly City	$64,910	118.2	Strong local demand, high housing costs.
San Francisco	~$85,000+	269.3	Higher pay, but extreme cost of living. Commute from Daly City is common.
San Jose	~$78,000+	214.5	Tech industry drives construction. More industrial opportunities.
Sacramento	~$70,000	114.7	More affordable state capital with growing infrastructure projects.
Los Angeles	~$68,000	173.3	Larger market, more film/TV studio work, but similar housing pressures.

Daly City offers a strategic compromise: salaries are competitive with the broader Bay Area, but the cost of living, while high, is significantly lower than San Francisco or San Jose proper. You get a foot in the Bay Area market without the absolute peak prices.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

An annual salary of $64,910 translates to about $5,409 per month before taxes. Let's break down the post-tax, post-rent reality for a single filer.

Assumptions: Federal tax (12%), CA State tax (6%), FICA (7.65%). This is a simplified estimate; your actual withholdings will vary.

• Gross Monthly: $5,409
• Estimated Taxes (25.65%): ~$1,387
• Net Monthly (Take-Home): $4,022

Now, with the Average 1BR Rent: $2,304/month.

• Rent + Utilities (est.): $2,450
• Remaining for Everything Else: $1,572

This remaining amount must cover:

• Car Payment/Insurance (Bay Area insurance is high)
• Gas (commutes are long)
• Food (groceries are expensive)
• Healthcare, savings, retirement, and discretionary spending.

Can they afford to buy a home?
The short answer: Not on a median salary alone. The median home price in Daly City is over $1.1 million. A 20% down payment is $220,000, and a mortgage payment would exceed $6,000/month. This is out of reach for a single median-income earner. However, a dual-income household (e.g., two electricians, or an electrician with a partner in another field) makes homeownership more plausible. Many electricians in the area live in Daly City but own homes in more affordable regions like Sacramento or the Central Valley, commuting in for work.

Where the Jobs Are: Daly City's Major Employers

The job market for electricians here is not one single large employer but a constellation of contractors, institutions, and ongoing construction. The 299 jobs in metro figure is for the broader San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, offering massive opportunity.

1. Daly City Public Works: A direct government employer for maintaining streetlights, traffic signals, and municipal buildings. Stable, good benefits, but often requires a CA state civil service exam.
2. John Mueller Construction & Electric (SF Bay Area): A major commercial contractor with projects throughout the Peninsula. They handle schools, hospitals, and tech offices. They often hire for both electrical and general construction roles.
3. Sutter Health (California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus): Located just north of Daly City in San Francisco, this is a massive healthcare employer. Hospitals have constant electrical needs for critical systems, backup power, and new equipment installations. A great niche for specialization.
4. Westlake & Associates (Local Electrical Contractor): A well-established residential and commercial contractor based in the Bay Area. They specialize in the retrofitting of older homes common in Daly City neighborhoods like Westlake and St. Francis Heights.
5. San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans): While based in San Carlos, SamTrans has a significant presence and maintains a fleet and facilities. They need electricians for vehicle maintenance, depot wiring, and charging infrastructure for electric buses.
6. Tech Company Electrical Contractors (e.g., Apple, Google, Meta): While the tech giants' HQs are in Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and Menlo Park, their data centers and office expansions are everywhere. Major electrical contractors are constantly hiring for these high-paying, large-scale projects on the Peninsula. This is where the premium rates are found.
7. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): The Colma Station is right at the border of Daly City. BART is a massive employer for electricians to maintain the system's tens of miles of track, power, and signaling systems.

Hiring Trends: There's a strong trend toward green energy and EV infrastructure. Electricians with experience in solar panel installation, EV charger installation (Level 2 and DC fast charging), and energy management systems are in high demand. The push for "electrification" of buildings is a steady source of work.

Getting Licensed in CA

California has a strict licensing system managed by the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Contractors State License Board (CSLB). You cannot work independently without a license.

State-Specific Requirements:

1. Apprenticeship (4-5 Years): You must complete a state-approved apprenticeship program, combining on-the-job training (OJT) with classroom instruction. The local chapter is the Northern California Chapter of the NECA-IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) apprenticeship.
2. Journeyman Electrician Certification: After completing your apprenticeship (typically 8,000 hours of OJT and 960 hours of classroom work), you must pass the California Statewide Certification Exam. This is a rigorous, open-book exam.
3. Contractor's License (C-10): To start your own business or contract directly with clients, you need a C-10 Electrical Contractor License. This requires:
   • 4 years of journeyman-level experience.
   • Passing the Law and Business Exam and the C-10 Trade Exam.
   • Proof of a $25,000 bond.

Timeline and Costs:

• Apprenticeship: 4-5 years.
• Cost to Apprentice: Apprenticeship programs are often tuition-free or low-cost (books/tools fees apply). You earn a wage that increases annually.
• Exam Fees: The state certification exam fee is approximately $175.
• Contractor's License Fees: The application fee is $330, plus the bond and exam fees, totaling ~$1,000 to get started.

Insider Tip: The IBEW-NECA apprenticeship is incredibly competitive. Have a clean driving record, good math skills, and any prior construction experience. Being a union electrician in the Bay Area offers strong wage packages, pension, and health benefits, which is a major advantage in a high-cost region.

Best Neighborhoods for Electricians

Choosing where to live in Daly City is about balancing commute time, rent, and lifestyle. Here’s a local's guide.

Neighborhood	Avg. 1BR Rent	Vibe & Commute	Why It Works for Electricians
Westlake	$2,400	Family-oriented, quiet, older homes. 15-min drive to SF, 10-min to BART.	Prime for residential service calls. Many homes here need updates, panel upgrades, and rewiring. Easy access to major job sites.
St. Francis Heights	$2,500	Hilly, scenic, mix of apartments and single-family. 15-min to SF.	Upscale area. Good for contractors doing high-end renovations. Excellent schools, if family is a priority.
Serra	$2,200	More affordable, dense, near Serramonte Center. 20-min to SF, 5-min to BART.	Great value. A short commute to the BART station for jobs in SF. Close to shopping for supplies.
Stonestown	$2,350	Urban-center feel, near SF State University. 20-min to SF, 15-min to BART.	Diverse community. Good mix of residential and small commercial work nearby.
Genesee	$2,450	Residential, hilly, near the border with Pacifica. 25-min to SF.	Quieter, more suburban feel. Slightly longer commute but more space and tranquility.

Insider Tip: Parking can be a hassle in some apartment complexes. If you have a work van, prioritize neighborhoods with off-street parking. The Serramonte area has many larger complexes with better parking options.

The Long Game: Career Growth

The 10-year job growth of 11% for electricians nationally is solid, but in Daly City, the growth is tied to specific local trends.

• Specialty Premiums:

  • Low-Voltage / Data & Communications: Can add 10-15% to your rate. Crucial for tech office builds.
  • Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems: High demand, especially for healthcare and office buildings. Requires additional certification but offers stable, recurring work.
  • EV Charger Installation: Rapidly growing. The Bay Area is a leader in EV adoption. Getting certified for specific charger brands (like ChargePoint, EVgo) is a smart move.
  • Solar PV Installation: Experience with solar systems is highly valuable as the state pushes for renewable energy.

• Advancement Paths:

  1. Journeyman to Foreman: Move from doing the work to leading a crew. Requires leadership and organizational skills.
  2. Foreman to Project Manager: Focus on budgeting, scheduling, and client communication. Often requires additional training or a degree.
  3. Journeyman to Specialist: Focus on a high-demand niche (e.g., EV infrastructure, industrial controls).
  4. Journeyman to Business Owner: Start your own small contracting business. The C-10 license is the key. Many electricians start with residential service work and grow into commercial.

• 10-Year Outlook: The outlook is very positive. The Bay Area's relentless pace of construction, coupled with the state's mandates for energy efficiency and electrification, ensures steady demand. The challenge is competition and the high cost of living, which can make it difficult to retain trade workers. Skilled, reliable electricians will always have work.

The Verdict: Is Daly City Right for You?

Pros	Cons
High demand in a dense, wealthy metro area.	Extremely high cost of living, especially housing.
Competitive wages relative to national average.	Commuting to SF or the Peninsula can be stressful and time-consuming.
Gateway to the Bay Area job market without SF prices.	Homeownership is a major challenge on a single median income.
Diverse work opportunities (residential, commercial, tech, transit).	State licensing process is lengthy and rigorous.
Strong union presence (IBEW) with excellent benefits.	Job competition is high from qualified locals and transplants.
Access to specialty training (EV, solar, data).	Traffic congestion is a daily reality.

Final Recommendation:
Daly City is an excellent choice for a career-focused electrician who values opportunity over low cost of living. It is ideal for:

• A Journeyman or Master Electrician looking to specialize in high-demand niches (tech, healthcare, EV).
• Someone considering union membership (IBEW Local 6) to maximize long-term benefits and wage security.
• A long-term planner who can manage high living costs for 5-10 years to gain experience, then potentially relocate or start a business.

It is not the best choice for:

• Someone seeking to buy a home quickly on a single income.
• A new apprentice seeking the lowest possible training costs.
• Someone who dislikes traffic, dense living, and competitive job markets.

FAQs

1. What's the typical career path for an electrician starting in Daly City?
Most start with a 4-5 year apprenticeship through the IBEW-NECA program. After becoming a licensed Journeyman, they work for a contractor for several years, gaining experience. Many then specialize (e.g., in EV charging or data systems) or move into a foreman role. Some eventually get their C-10 license to start their own residential service business.

2. Is the union strong in this area?
Yes, IBEW Local 6 is powerful in the Bay Area. Union electricians often earn higher total compensation (wages + benefits package) than non-union, especially in the long run with pensions. However, getting into the union apprenticeship is competitive. Non-union residential and small commercial work is also plentiful.

3. How important is it to have my own tools?
For apprentices, the program usually provides a basic tool list. As a journeyman, you are expected to have your own hand tools and a meter. For service work, you may need a van and power tools. Many contractors supply larger equipment and vehicles for site work.

4. Can I work in Daly City without a CA license?
You can work under a licensed electrician as an apprentice or journeyman. But you cannot advertise, bid on jobs, or work independently without a state license. Doing so can result in heavy fines from the CSLB.

5. What's the biggest challenge for electricians new to Daly City?
The cost of living is the most immediate shock. Finding affordable housing can be difficult, and the commute to job sites across the Bay Area can eat into your time and money. Success here requires careful budgeting and often, a willingness to live in a smaller space or with roommates initially.