Electrician in New Jersey
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NJ
How to Become an Electrician in New Jersey
To become a licensed Electrical Contractor in New Jersey, individuals must meet specific education and experience requirements set by the Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. This typically involves completing an approved apprenticeship program and gaining significant hands-on experience, followed by passing a comprehensive three-part examination covering electrical trade, alarm systems, and business and law. While New Jersey does not offer reciprocity for Electrical Contractor licenses with other states, there is a provision for journeyman electricians to obtain a Class A journeyman license through reciprocity if certain conditions are met.
Electrician Requirements in New Jersey
| Detail | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Completion of a 4-year approved apprenticeship program by the U.S. Department of Labor and one additional year as a journeyman, OR five years of hands-on experience, OR a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and two years of practical hands-on experience. |
| Experience Required | 10,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Electrical Contractor (Trade), Alarm Systems, and Business and Law ($100) |
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 34.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age of 21 for Electrical Contractor license. Individuals with undocumented status are eligible for licensure. New Jersey has two types of electrical licenses: Journeyman Electrician and Electrical Contractor. Journeyman electricians require 8,000 hours of documented experience (4,000 within five years of applying) and 576 hours of classroom training, and 15 CE hours per cycle. The Electrical Contractor license allows individuals to operate their own electrical business and supervise journeymen. There is no Master Electrician license in New Jersey. The Electrical Contractor exam is administered by PSI Services LLC. |
Source: Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
License Tiers
New Jersey offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 |
| Electrical Contractor | 10,000 |
Electrician Salary in New Jersey
The median electrician salary in New Jersey is $73,090 per year, which is 17.2% above the national median of $62,350.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $38,470 |
| 25th | $58,410 |
| 50th (median) | $73,090 |
| 75th | $109,760 |
| 90th (experienced) | $129,190 |
New Jersey employs approximately 15,230 electricians.
Electrician Job Outlook
AI Impact on Electricians
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.78/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming an Electrician in New Jersey Worth It?
Factors to consider: New Jersey's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, strong job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.