BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in New Jersey 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$77,250/yr median · $37.14/hr
State Median
$77k
vs. National
+$14k
Top 10%
$131k
COL-Adjusted
$62k
Electrician Salary Range in New Jersey
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in New Jersey, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by BLS. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026.
10th percentile
$49k
$48,570/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$77k
$77,250/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$131k
$130,860/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of New Jersey earners makes about $48,570/yr, while the top 10% earn $130,860/yr or more, a range of $82,290. The 10th percentile is a published BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen). OEWS publishes no separate entry-level figure, so none is shown.
Where New Jersey Ranks
New Jersey ranks #10 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). New Jersey pays $14,060 above the national average.
New Jersey's cost-of-living index is 124 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $62,298/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. The high cost of living significantly reduces the real value of nominal wages.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in New Jersey. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $98,210 | +21.0k |
| Newark / Jersey City (NYC Metro) | $79,020 | +1.8k |
| Vineland | $76,920 | -0.3k |
| Camden (Philadelphia Metro) | $74,590 | -2.7k |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $65,710 | -11.5k |
Pay by Experience Level
Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split.
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $18 - $24/hr | $37,000 - $50,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4-5) | $26 - $36/hr | $54,000 - $75,000 |
| Journeyman (Employee) | $32 - $46/hr | $67,000 - $96,000 |
| Master Electrician (Employee) | $40 - $56/hr | $83,000 - $116,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $95 - $175/hr billed | $95,000 - $260,000 net |
New Jersey Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in New Jersey
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 102 (Northern NJ - Parsippany), Local 351 (Southern NJ / Atlantic), Local 269 (Trenton / Mercer), Local 400 (Asbury Park / Monmouth), Local 456 (New Brunswick / Central Jersey)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 14.7% of all wage and salary workers in New Jersey were union members and 16.1% were covered by a union contract (BLS, all occupations, not electricians alone).
Union pay gap: Nationally in 2025, full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations had median weekly earnings of $1,561, against $1,004 for non-union workers, about 55% higher before benefits (BLS). BLS does not publish this split for electricians alone or by state.
Source: BLS, Union Members 2025 (Current Population Survey annual averages), Tables 4 and 5. BLS publishes no electrician-only union rate by state.
Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis
Job Outlook in New Jersey
New Jersey electricians benefit from the NYC metro spillover (NJ Transit, Hudson rail tunnels, Newark / Jersey City high-rise construction) plus a strong state push on offshore wind (Ocean Wind, Atlantic Shores) requiring port and substation electrical work. Pharma and biotech in Central Jersey (Princeton, New Brunswick, Bridgewater) drive steady commercial demand. The Meadowlands data center cluster (Carlstadt, Secaucus, Edison) is expanding through 2030.
Major Employers in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make in New Jersey?
What is the salary range for electricians in New Jersey?
How does New Jersey rank for electrician pay?
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in New Jersey?
Are union electricians better paid in New Jersey?
What is the job outlook for electricians in New Jersey?
Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile wage figures: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Metro figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Cost-of-living index: MERIC cost of living index, 2026 (100 = US average), a separate non-BLS source. Pay-by-level ladder: Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split. IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.