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Electricians in New York: what they earn
Electricians in New York earned a median $78,750 a year in May 2025, $37.86 an hour. 40,130 people held the job, 4.1 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 25% above the national figure of $63,190, and New York ranks 8 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an electrician in New York — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB) — representative local authority; New York has no statewide electrician license. ↓
The full wage spread in New York
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.99 | $45,740 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $29.08 | $60,480 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $37.86 | $78,750 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $51.16 | $106,420 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $63.29 | $131,640 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $40.80 | $84,860 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
New York against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Alaska | $89,440 | 1,870 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $79,420 | 17,810 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $78,970 | 2,440 |
| 8 | New York | $78,750 | 40,130 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $78,160 | 14,350 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $77,540 | 7,710 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $77,250 | 13,520 |
The complete ranking is on the Electricians page.
Against the national figure
| New York | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $78,750 | $63,190 |
| Median hourly | $37.86 | $30.38 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $45,740 | $42,640 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $131,640 | $108,510 |
| Employed | 40,130 | 757,220 |
Other trades in New York
Plumbers and pipefitters ($77,490) · HVAC technicians ($74,430) · Welders ($59,140) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($62,050)
See all five ranked by pay in New York.
How to become an electrician in New York
New York has no statewide electrician license — cities and counties license electricians. The largest is the NYC Department of Buildings, which licenses Master and Special Electricians; other localities set their own rules.
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYC Master Electrician (NYC DOB) | Seven years of electrical experience within the last ten under a licensed master or special electrician (at least two years in NYC), then a written and a practical exam. An electrical-engineering degree shortens the requirement to three years. | — | Written NYC Electrical Code exam (70% to pass) plus a practical exam | $585 |
| NYC Special Electrician (NYC DOB) | Licenses electrical work on specific NYC buildings or lots — a narrower scope than the Master Electrician license. | — | — | $310 |
Reciprocity. Because licensing is local, a license from one New York jurisdiction does not automatically authorize work in another.
Renewal. 1 year, with 8 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: NYC DOB Master & Special Electrician license (retrieved 2026-09-16) · NYC DOB Master & Special Electricians (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB) — representative local authority; New York has no statewide electrician license before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as an electrician in New York?
New York has no statewide electrician license — cities and counties license electricians. The largest is the NYC Department of Buildings, which licenses Master and Special Electricians; other localities set their own rules.
What does it cost to get licensed as an electrician in New York?
Application and license fees run from about $310 to $585 depending on the tier, with separate exam fees in some cases — see the table above.
How long does it take to become an electrician in New York?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.