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How much does electrician service call and hourly rate cost in California?

Updated September 2026 · California price index 1.15 for electrical work (national = 1.00)

In California, a licensed electrician typically charges $45 to $170 for an electrician's service call or hourly rate, with most jobs landing near $105 (per hour). That is about 15% above the national average of $40–$150, based on what electricians earn in California.

Low end

$45

Most jobs

$105

High end

$170

Got a quote for this in California? Check if it's fair — free

AI-powered second opinion using these same California figures. No account, no card. Need someone to do the work? Verified pros in California took the Fair Price Pledge.

What a California quote means

Quote for this job	What it means
Under $27	Suspiciously low — ask what is excluded, and check licensing and insurance
$27 – $187	Fair price — inside the typical range (up to 10% over the top is still normal)
$187 – $298	Running high — get the quote itemized, and get a second one
Over $298	Ripoff territory — more than 1.75× the high end of the typical range

Same rules the QuoteJury checker uses on every quote.

What you're paying for

What is usually included: The trip and the first hour of diagnosis. Repairs and parts are quoted on top of the visit.

What moves the price:

Trip fees: many companies charge a flat $75–$150 to show up, sometimes credited toward the repair
Journeyman versus master electrician rates
After-hours, weekend and emergency multipliers, often 1.5× to 2×
Flat-rate pricing books that replace hourly billing at larger companies

License level (apprentice vs. master), first-hour/service-call minimum, after-hours or emergency premiums, and regional labor rates.

Electrician service call and hourly rate cost across California

Typical range by metro and rural area, from BLS wage data for electricians in each area.

Area	Typical range	Most jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Chico, CA	$40 – $150	$90
El Centro, CA	$45 – $160	$95
Fresno, CA	$40 – $160	$95
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$45 – $180	$105
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Merced, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Modesto, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Napa, CA	$45 – $175	$105
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$40 – $155	$90
Redding, CA	$40 – $155	$95
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$45 – $160	$95
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$45 – $170	$105
Salinas, CA	$45 – $170	$100
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$45 – $175	$105
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$55 – $210	$125
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$55 – $210	$125
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$45 – $170	$100
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$45 – $175	$105
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$45 – $165	$100
Vallejo, CA	$45 – $175	$105
Visalia, CA	$40 – $145	$90
Yuba City, CA	$40 – $155	$90
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$45 – $165	$100
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$45 – $165	$100
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$45 – $165	$100

Frequently asked

Is $105 a fair price for electrician service call and hourly rate in California?

Yes. $105 is right around what most homeowners in California pay. Anything from $27 to $187 is inside the normal range for a licensed electrician; above $187 it is worth getting a second quote.

Why do quotes for the same job vary so much?

Trip fees: many companies charge a flat $75–$150 to show up, sometimes credited toward the repair. Journeyman versus master electrician rates. Company overhead matters too: a large company with trucks, dispatchers and a warranty department charges more than a one-person shop, and both can be honest prices.

When should I get a second quote?

Any time a quote lands above $187, or when the contractor cannot break it into parts, labor and fees. Ask for the itemized version, ask what would change the price, and confirm licensing and insurance. You can also paste the quote into the free QuoteJury checker for an instant second opinion.

Other electrical jobs in California

Electrician service call and hourly rate in other states

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Sources

HomeGuide (2026): $50–$130 nationally
Angi (2026): $50–$100 nationally
HomeAdvisor (2026): $50–$130 nationally
Fixr (2025): $70–$131 nationally
This Old House (2026): $40–$120 nationally
Forbes Home (2024): $50–$150 nationally
Thumbtack (2024): $65–$130 nationally
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — median hourly wages by state and metro area

About these numbers. Ranges are typical market rates for a licensed, insured contractor, blended from published U.S. cost guides and adjusted with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for each state and metro area. They are estimates, not a bid, appraisal or inspection. Real prices move with parts, access, permits and code requirements. The quote checker is AI-powered and labeled as such.