BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in New York 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$78,750/yr median · $37.86/hr
State Median
$79k
vs. National
+$16k
Top 10%
$132k
COL-Adjusted
$58k
Electrician Salary Range in New York
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in New York, 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
$46k
$45,740/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$79k
$78,750/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$132k
$131,640/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of New York earners makes about $45,740/yr, while the top 10% earn $131,640/yr or more, a range of $85,900. 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 York Ranks
New York ranks #7 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 York pays $15,560 above the national average.
New York's cost-of-living index is 136 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $57,904/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 York. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| New York City Metro | $79,020 | +0.3k |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $77,930 | -0.8k |
| Rochester | $77,310 | -1.4k |
| Syracuse | $77,110 | -1.6k |
| Albany-Schenectady | $74,890 | -3.9k |
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 - NYC) | $22 - $28/hr | $46,000 - $58,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4-5 - NYC) | $32 - $42/hr | $67,000 - $87,000 |
| Journeyman (NYC - IBEW Local 3) | $64.00/hr base | $133,000+ (base only) |
| Master Electrician (NYC) | $68 - $85/hr billed | $141,000 - $177,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor (NYC) | $120 - $250/hr billed | $150,000 - $400,000+ net |
New York Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in New York
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 3 (NYC - one of the largest IBEW locals in the US), Local 25 (Long Island), Local 363 (Rockland County), Local 41 (Buffalo), Local 236 (Albany)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 21.3% of all wage and salary workers in New York were union members and 22.5% 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 York
New York City remains one of the most active construction markets in the world. Major electrical demand drivers through 2033 include: Hudson Yards Phase 2, continued data center builds in the outer boroughs, offshore wind port infrastructure, MTA and subway modernisation, and significant mixed-income housing construction. Upstate NY benefits from semiconductor fab development (Micron in Syracuse).
Major Employers in New York
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make in New York?
What is the salary range for electricians in New York?
How does New York rank for electrician pay?
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in New York?
Are union electricians better paid in New York?
What is the job outlook for electricians in New York?
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.