Texas
How much does it cost to hire an electrician in Texas?
Short answer: a full-time Texas electrician paid the national median wage of $30.38 an hour costs $63,190.40 a year in wages, $4,834.06 in employer FICA, $42 in net FUTA, and $243 in Texas unemployment tax at the typical new-employer rate. With $660 of payroll software, the known total in this example is $68,969.46, or $33.16 per paid hour, before workers’ comp. Texas has special workers’ comp rules, so that line is left for your quote.
Key takeaways
- The wage is the BLS OEWS May 2025 national table May 2025 median of $30.38 for electricians. Texas shops should check BLS Texas or metro tables and local listings.
- Texas SUTA in this example is 2.7% on the first $9,000 ($243), from the January 2026 DOL state unemployment insurance laws table.
- Workers’ comp is not prefilled. Texas allows many private employers to subscribe or to operate as nonsubscribers with required notices; see the Texas DWC non-subscriber page. This is not advice to opt in or out.
On this page
Open with Texas electrical defaults Prefills $30.38 an hour, 40 hours, Texas, and the electrical trade. Enter a workers' comp quote if you have one.
Open the calculator with these figuresKnown costs you can calculate now
Federal employer taxes follow IRS Publication 15, IRS Topic 751, and IRS Topic 759 (Form 940/FUTA). The 2026 Social Security wage base is above this salary, so 6.2% applies to all of it. Texas unemployment tax uses the DOL-listed new-employer rate of 2.7% and a $9,000 wage base. If your TWC rate notice differs, enter that rate in the calculator.
| Line (one year, 2,080 hours) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wages at $30.38/hour (BLS May 2025 national median) | $63,190.40 |
| Employer Social Security, 6.2% | $3,917.80 |
| Employer Medicare, 1.45% | $916.26 |
| FUTA, net 0.6% on first $7,000 | $42.00 |
| Texas SUTA, new-employer 2.7% on first $9,000 | $243.00 |
| Payroll software (Gusto Simple public price, 1 person) | $660.00 |
| Workers’ comp (enter a Texas quote; not estimated here) | Add quote |
| Known annual cost, before workers’ comp | $68,969.46 |
| Known cost per paid hour, before workers’ comp | $33.16 |
Workers’ comp in Texas
Unlike most states, Texas does not treat workers’ compensation coverage the same way for every private employer. The Texas Department of Insurance describes how a business may subscribe to coverage or operate as a nonsubscriber if it follows the required employee notices. The Texas DWC non-subscriber page is the official starting point. This site does not recommend either path and does not invent a Texas premium. If you buy a policy, add the quoted rate in the calculator; if you do not, you still need to understand the notice rules and the financial risk, with help from an insurance professional and, if needed, a lawyer.
If you are hiring a helper rather than a journeyman electrician, start from helper pay instead of the $30.38 median. The true cost of a W-2 electrician’s helper page uses official helper wage data and the same tax stack.
Add a Texas workers' comp quote Same wage, hours, Texas, and electrical trade. Use the workers' comp field for a real quote.
Open the calculator with these figuresFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire an electrician in Texas?
At the BLS May 2025 national median wage of $30.38 an hour for electricians, a full-time Texas W-2 hire costs $63,190.40 in wages, $4,834.06 in employer FICA, $42 in net FUTA, $243 in Texas new-employer unemployment tax, and $660 of payroll software, or $68,969.46 ($33.16 per paid hour) before workers' comp and benefits. Local Texas pay may differ from the national median. Add a workers' comp quote; this page does not invent one.
Does Texas require workers' comp for one electrician?
Texas has a unique rule: many private employers may choose to subscribe to workers' compensation coverage or to operate as nonsubscribers after meeting notice requirements. The Texas Department of Insurance explains the nonsubscriber path. This page does not tell you which option to take. Check the official TDI page and an insurance professional before the first day of work.
What is the Texas unemployment tax on a first employee?
The U.S. DOL January 2026 state unemployment insurance table lists a Texas new-employer rate of 2.7% on a $9,000 wage base, which is $243 a year for a full-time hire. Your Texas Workforce Commission notice may show a different assigned rate.
Federal figures were checked against 2026 IRS Publication 15 and the linked official pages in November 2026. Rows marked hypothetical are examples only. State rules and rates vary; confirm with your state agencies, an insurance agent, and your accountant before you hire.