How to Become an Electrician in New Hampshire

If you’re looking for a new job or a career change, becoming a skilled electrician could be a great choice. According to New Hampshire Public Radio, the construction industry is experiencing strong growth, especially in the Seacoast and Manchester areas, some of the fastest-growing regions in New England. Due to this demand, New Hampshire expects favorable job prospects for electricians through 2030, with more than 3300 job openings per year. If you have an interest in technical systems and enjoy methodical problem-solving, a career as an electrician may be a great fit.[En Español]

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, electricians must obtain one of three licenses: journeyman electrician, master electrician, or high/medium voltage electrician. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Electricians’ Board sets the rules and regulations for licensing, which are based on the type of electrical installation rather than voltage.

To apply for an electrician’s license, you must first complete an apprenticeship program and obtain an identification card from the Board, valid for 12 months. On-the-job training with verified employment may reduce the required apprenticeship hours for the journeyman exam.

The journeyman apprenticeship is a four-year program requiring 8,000 hours of practical training (about 2,000 hours per year) under a licensed journeyman or master electrician. It also requires 576 classroom hours (144 hours per year). Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

To obtain a journeyman license, you must submit an application and fees, complete all required training hours, pass the exam, have no disqualifying felonies, and hold a valid electrician’s ID card. Journeymen must work under a master electrician. The initial fee for a three-year license is $150.

To qualify for a master electrician license, you must pass the journeyman exam and complete 2,000 hours of field experience as a journeyman. Master electricians can install, maintain, alter, or repair any wire, cable, conduit, raceway, fixture, or electrical equipment. The initial fee for a three-year license is $270.

To obtain a high/medium voltage electrician license, you must submit an application and provide a certificate of completion from a state, federal, or employer-approved certification program. The initial fee for this three-year license is $270.

Electrician Schools in New Hampshire

If you’re ready to tackle the next step and gain the amount of work experience and hours needed to apply for any of the skilled electrical licenses, there are quite a few state-sponsored electrician programs and schools in New Hampshire that you can take advantage of, including:

• Keene Community Education. Keene provides on-the-job training, and typically the apprenticeship program begins at the end of August or beginning of September each year. High school students are eligible to attend Keene’s program if they are at least 16 years of age.
• Laconia Adult Education. Laconia offers flexible class schedules as well as affordability for those interested in the electrician apprenticeship program. Their four-year program will hold classes twice a week from September through April each year, requiring 8,000 hours of on-the-job-training and 600 hours of classroom instruction over the four-year period.
• Manchester School of Technology. Similar to Laconia, Manchester School of Technology offers a four-year program with evening classes that meet twice per week while classes are in session.

In addition to the above, there are distance learning programs that can be a great start to your new career as an electrician. Most of these programs, unless tailored to high school students, require students to have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years of age.

Upon attending these programs you will gain the amount of hours and work experience necessary to sit for your licensure exam. Additionally, the state-sponsored schools above offer job placement assistance for the apprenticeship program.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in New Hampshire

Electrical apprenticeships in New Hampshire can be completed through union or non-union programs. Non-union apprenticeships are available through independent contractors or non-union trade organizations. Union apprenticeships are offered through a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). This partnership, known as the Electrical Training Alliance, provides apprenticeships through local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs).

In New Hampshire, both types of apprenticeships are available. In addition to the following programs, you may be able to find an apprenticeship through a local trade school program or by searching this website.

• The Dover Regional Career Technical Center: This school, located in Dover, NH, offers a four-year Electrical Apprenticeship Program. The program features in-person courses two nights a week paired with non-union apprenticeships completed under the tutelage of licensed contractors and electrical inspectors.
• IBEW Local 490: Located in Concord, NH, this program is a JATC union apprenticeship program. Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and reside in New Hampshire or York County, Maine.
• IBEW Local 104: This union apprenticeship program is located in Barrington, NH. The program is a Northeastern Apprenticeship and Training Program (NEAT) and specifically trains apprentices to become electrical linemen.

Job Outlook and Salary Expectations

According to the 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) report, there were 2,970 electricians working in New Hampshire at that time, with an average hourly wage of $29.46. The lowest 10 percent of earners averaged $35,350 per year, while the highest 10 percent in the field earned an annual average of $84,300. The career field is expected to grow eleven percent by 2030.

Keep in mind that apprentices receive lower pay than fully trained and licensed electricians, but the pay for an apprentice will grow as they learn to do more.

Salaries in New Hampshire by Occupation

Occupation	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Wage	Annual Salary 10th Percentile	Annual Salary 25th Percentile	Annual Salary 75th Percentile	Annual Salary 90th Percentile
Electricians	2,970	$29.46	$61,270	$35,350	$44,740	$76,030	$84,300
Helpers--Electricians	150	$19.08	$39,690	$27,980	$27,980	$47,070	$52,610
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	330	$30.12	$62,640	$43,460	$47,000	$74,750	$87,970
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	**	$34.08	$70,890	$46,570	$62,080	$99,690	$108,480
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	920	$49.03	$101,970	$62,520	$79,820	$114,480	$121,010

Electrician Salaries in New Hampshire by Region

Area	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Salary	Hourly Wage 10th Percentile	Hourly Wage 25th Percentile	Hourly Wage 75th Percentile	Hourly Wage 90th Percentile
Dover-Durham, NH-ME	340	$28.46	$59,200	$17.79	$19.95	$34.58	$38.75
Portsmouth, NH-ME	540	$29.69	$61,750	$21.41	$25.43	$34.87	$39.61
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH	12,840	$39.17	$81,480	$22.97	$28.02	$47.44	$61.03
Manchester, NH	570	$30.14	$62,700	$17.33	$21.15	$37.03	$42.00

Working as an Electrician in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of the top locations for electrician job openings in New England, offering strong growth potential and opportunities for advancement. Electricians can specialize in different areas, including residential work, construction site projects with large contracting companies, and small business or factory positions. Many experienced electricians eventually start their own businesses as independent contractors, managing anywhere from a few clients to over fifty.

Although the path from apprentice to journeyman requires time and training, a career as an electrician in New Hampshire provides financial stability and various opportunities for career growth.

College Programs

• Manchester, NH
• Other New Hampshire Nonmetropolitan Area

Manchester, NH Area

1066 Front St, Manchester, New Hampshire 03102-8518
(603) 206-8000
Electrical Technology – Certificate Program, Electrical Technology – Associate Program

Manchester Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are based at their campus in the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. Most of the school’s 2,968 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The cost of tuition for in-state students is in the order of $7,232 and for students from outside the state in the order of $15,808 per year. Learning materials may cost in the order of $1,400, although this will vary with the program.

Other New Hampshire Nonmetropolitan Area Area

379 Belmont Road, Laconia, New Hampshire 03246
(603) 366-5221
Electrical Power and Control Technologies – Certificate Program

Lakes Region Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. Classes are taken at their campus in the town of Laconia, NH. This public college has in the region of 1,170 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The cost of tuition for in-state students is about $6,972 and for students from other states in the order of $15,548 per year. Learning materials may cost in the order of $1,400, although this will vary with the program.

* College accredition status and tuition fees and are, to our best knowledge, correct at the time of writing, and sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Check all details directly with college before applying.

Neighbor States

See also the neighbor states of Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and New York.

FAQs

How do you renew your electrical apprentice license in New Hampshire?

Electrical apprenticeship licenses are governed by the New Hampshire Office of Professional Regulation and Certification. To renew an Apprentice ID, contact them at NH Electricians' Board, 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301, Phone: (603) 271-0607.

How much do electricians earn in the state of New Hampshire?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of New Hampshire made an average of $55,770 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $33,530 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $79,060.