How to Become an Electrician in New York (2026)
New York employs about 40,130 electricians earning a median $78,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most electricians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New York.
New York employs approximately 40,130 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,750 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Electrician in New York, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Median wage (New York): $78,750 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in New York
How to become an Electrician in New York? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for electricians in New York.
How long does it take? Most paths into the electrician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
What do electricians earn in New York? The median annual wage for electricians in New York is $78,750 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,740 and experienced professionals can earn $131,640 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician in New York
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New York training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
- Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in New York that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
- Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in New York.
- Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in New York, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in New York
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New York’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New York Office of Apprenticeship 3.
Contact Information:
- Office: Apprenticeship Training Unit, New York State Department of Labor
- Address: State Campus Building, Albany, NY 12240
- Phone: (518) 457-4497
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in New York
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in New York earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent New York general wage determinations show approximately $44.30 per hour in base pay plus $5.50 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $49.80 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 4.
Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within electrician work.
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in New York
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in New York
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in New York vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 36,550 | $79,020 | $88,670 | $46,170 | $132,170 |
| Rochester | 2,540 | $77,310 | $76,630 | $45,410 | $107,910 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | 2,340 | $77,930 | $75,440 | $37,820 | $104,710 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 1,820 | $74,890 | $76,340 | $46,130 | $106,520 |
| Syracuse | 1,160 | $77,110 | $81,090 | $46,080 | $117,310 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | 1,010 | $70,100 | $72,840 | $45,020 | $101,140 |
| Binghamton | 390 | $76,670 | $75,930 | $39,850 | $103,340 |
| Kingston | 280 | $69,440 | $72,210 | $44,980 | $104,400 |
| Utica-Rome | 270 | $61,660 | $69,520 | $44,230 | $100,920 |
| Glens Falls | 230 | $77,660 | $78,900 | $44,320 | $113,920 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | 110 | $78,550 | $75,450 | $45,110 | $93,810 |
| Elmira | 100 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ithaca | 100 | $70,720 | $69,530 | $50,590 | $80,470 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for electricians in New York? New York currently employs approximately 40,130 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New York. You can also contact the New York Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in New York is $78,750, which is $16,400 above the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
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Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
New York Office of Apprenticeship: https://www.labor.ny.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor/index.shtm ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |