Becoming an Electrician in New Jersey
New Jersey has statewide regulations for becoming a licensed electrician. First, one must go through an electrician apprenticeship before the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (BEEC) will license you as a journeyman electrician. To become a journeyman electrician in New Jersey, an individual must have 8,000 hours of electrical experience under the supervision of another journeyman or a master electrician. One must also complete 576 hours of classroom technical training in a trade school. After working for at least five years in the field, you can apply to become a licensed electrical contractor. There is a $100 fee along with an examination that you need to answer at least 70 percent correct to pass. [En Español]
The Job Outlook in New Jersey
In 2018, there were 19,240 people working as electricians in New Jersey as detailed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment for electricians in New Jersey is predicted to increase by 10 percent up until 2028, which is higher than average across all occupations. Becoming an electrician is in demand, and it is estimated that approximately 2,520 people will be hired by 2028.
Electrician Salaries in New Jersey
In 2019, the average annual salary for electricians in New Jersey was $67,310 (BLS). This is equivalent to $32.36 per hour. Those who are well trained can earn over $97,520 per year. The top 10th percentile earned an annual average of $121,540. There are many opportunities for people to find well-paying jobs in this field in this state compared to a lot of other states.
Salaries in New Jersey 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 | 16,740 | $35.30 | $73,430 | $39,690 | $50,480 | $97,520 | $121,540 |
| Helpers--Electricians | 1,340 | $16.26 | $33,820 | $23,310 | $26,610 | $39,870 | $48,810 |
| Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 550 | $28.81 | $59,930 | $37,270 | $48,160 | $73,050 | $80,210 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 1,750 | $28.69 | $59,670 | $36,320 | $45,950 | $72,310 | $85,790 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 690 | $42.38 | $88,150 | $64,910 | $81,460 | $99,210 | $111,400 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 1,260 | $43.93 | $91,370 | $66,200 | $80,840 | $104,500 | $118,080 |
Electrician Salaries in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 10,710 | $36.84 | $76,630 | $17.86 | $24.06 | $51.52 | $59.95 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 44,330 | $39.73 | $82,640 | $19.25 | $25.31 | $55.02 | $61.89 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,040 | $26.45 | $55,010 | $17.59 | $21.17 | $29.48 | $35.08 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 700 | $31.21 | $64,910 | $17.68 | $22.54 | $38.29 | $52.89 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 60 | $24.41 | $50,780 | $20.02 | $21.30 | $27.18 | $30.91 |
| Trenton, NJ | 550 | $40.84 | $84,950 | $22.84 | $27.90 | $55.65 | $61.23 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 190 | $32.25 | $67,070 | $21.04 | $24.54 | $40.40 | $49.80 |
Electrician Training Programs in New Jersey
Training to become an electrician in New Jersey is usually completed through apprenticeships via unions and/or non-union employers. Apprentices earn a living, take classes, and learn skills on the job on the path to becoming licensed.
As a student you will receive classroom education as part of the apprenticeship as this is part of the requirement to become a journeyman electrician. In the classroom, a student will learn about electricity, electrical wiring, occupational health and safety, the state building code and the National Electrical Code and other aspects of the maintenance and repair of electrical systems. There are some mathematics involved, including algebra, and you should have sufficient level to be able to pass a basic aptitude test.
The knowledge gained in class will be put into practice while assisting a licensed electrician.
The New Jersey Joint Apprentice Training Committee (NJATC) provides a listing of unionized apprenticeship programs available in the state. New Jersey has six JATC offices that offer such apprenticeships. JATCs are educational organizations formed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association.
- IBEW Local 102 in Parsippany
- IBEW Local 164 in Paramus
- IBEW Local 456 in North Brunswick
- IBEW Local 269 in Trenton
- IBEW Local 351 in Folsom
- IBEW Local 400 in East Wall
Notable union programs are:
- Jersey City Electrical JATC. This union offers a five-year program that is administered in conjunction with the Bergen-Essex-Hudson Division of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). This program, located in Paramus, takes applications four times a year in January, April, July and October. Apprentices in this union attend school on a full-time, paid basis by professional instructors. Once the five years are completed, in addition to passing the apprenticeship examination, an individual can achieve journeyman electrician status.
- Asbury Park Area Electrical JATC. Accepting applications on Wednesdays only, this union offers the opportunity to attend training in the evenings while working during the day in the field. Located in Wall, NJ, this program boasts that being an apprentice with them will set you up with a “good living, health benefits and a retirement future.” The apprenticeship program takes five years to complete. In addition to the electrical apprenticeship program, this union also offers Electrical Journeyman skill improvement courses for members in the evenings and weekends.
- Trenton JATC. Apprentices in this program in Trenton, NJ, have the option of choosing to specialize as an Inside Wireman or a High Voltage Testing Technician. Both programs take five years to complete and include on-the-job electrical training and classroom instruction. Currently, they only accept applications between January and March and they must be submitted online.
New Jersey also has an Independent Electrical Contractors group that offers non-union apprenticeships. As with union programs, these include coursework and on-the-job training, but you will not be a member of the union.
The IEC New Jersey Chapter offers a four-year apprenticeship with locations in East Brunswick, Paterson and Wayne. ABC New Jersey (Associated Builders and Contractors) also offers electrician apprenticeship and training along with other building trades.
Whether you enroll in a non-union or a union program, you must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training along with 576 hours of classroom learning to become a licensed New Jersey journeyman electrician.
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Where to Find Work in New Jersey
With the growth that is expected in New Jersey over the next decade, deciding to work as an electrician is a smart choice with job security and a great income. Most electricians work in a union on construction jobs and various residential and commercial projects. Many go on to open their own independent companies after they earn their journeyman or electrical contractor license. Not all electricians work under a union, though, and they can still find employment in this state. No matter what specialty a person decides to go with in New Jersey, they can expect to earn a good wage compared to most other states.
Electricians in NJ can work in a variety of specialties, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), Refrigeration, solar energy technician (for which you may require additional professional certification), residential or commercial buildings.
Below you can check the electrician schools and community colleges with electrical technology programs in New Jersey and choose the one that best suits you.
List of Approved College Programs
- Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division
- Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division
- New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division
- Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division Area
99 Erial Road, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012
(856) 232-0310
Electrician – Certificate Program
Pennco Tech’s Certificate-level Electrician program is offered at their Blackwood campus in Blackwood in Camden County, NJ. This private, for-profit college has in the order of 1,172 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Tuition fees for the Electrician program are around $16,527 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,170. The typical program completion time is 6 months.
Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division Area
5000 Hadley Road, South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080
(908) 222-9300 x121
Electrician – Certificate Program
Everest Institute’s Certificate program in Electrician is offered at their South Plainfield campus in South Plainfield in Middlesex County, NJ. This private, not-for-profit college has in the order of 374 students in total, with the majority of students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Tuition fees for the Electrician program are generally around $13,753 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $2,558. Usually, the program is completed in 9 months.
137 Bey Lea Rd, Toms River, New Jersey 08753
(732) 473-3100 x3139
Electrical Trades – Certificate Program
Ocean County Vocational-Technical School’s Certificate-level Electrical Trades program is offered at their campus in Toms River in Ocean County. The majority of of the school’s 519 students are on diploma programs of under two years. The college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. Tuition fees for the Electrical Trades program are broadly around $6,550 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $300. Usually, the program is completed in 20 months.
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division Area
200A Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601-6637
(201) 343-6000 x2288
Electrical Technology – Certificate Program
The Certificate program in Electrical Technology at Adult and Continuing Education-BCTS can be taken at their campus in Hackensack in Bergen County, NJ. The college has in the order of 82 students in total, with the majority of students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. Tuition fees for the Electrical Technology program are around $11,700 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $373. Usually, the program is completed in 12 months.
634 Market Street, Paterson, New Jersey 07513
(973) 742-0009
Electrician Apprenticeship – Certificate Program
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences’s Certificate-level Electrician Apprenticeship program is offered at their campus in Paterson in Passaic County. The college has about 201 students in total, with most students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Tuition fees for the Electrician Apprenticeship program are usually around $17,560 yearly. Study materials can cost about $600. Typically, the program is completed in 9 months.
70 McKee Dr, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430
(201) 529-1414 x41400
Electrical / Electronics – Certificate Program
Lincoln Technical Institute’s Certificate program in Electrical / Electronics is offered at their Mahwah campus in Mahwah in Bergen County. This private, for-profit college has about 822 students in total, with most students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The retention rate of full-time students at this college is over 80%. Tuition fees for the Electrical / Electronics program are usually around $22,692 yearly. Study materials can cost about $1,425. Typically, the program is completed in 13 months.
Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division Area
2299 Vauxhall Rd, Union, New Jersey 07083
(908) 964-7800 x40500
Electrical / Electronics – Certificate Program
The Certificate program in Electrical / Electronics at Lincoln Technical Institute can be taken at their Union campus in Union in Union County, NJ. The college has round 1,157 students in total, with most students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The retention rate of full-time students at this college is over 80%. Tuition fees for the Electrical / Electronics program are around $21,900 yearly. Study materials can cost roughly $1,425. Typically, the program is completed in 13 months.
134 Evergreen Place, East Orange, New Jersey 07018
(973) 678-3901
Electrical Assistant & HVAC – Certificate Program
The Electrical Assistant & HVAC Certificate program in Electrical Assistant & HVAC at National Career Institute can be taken at their campus in East Orange in Essex County. Most of the school’s 227 students are on diploma programs of under two years. The college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. Fees for tuition are about $12,500 for each academic year. Study materials can cost roughly $800, depending on the program chosen.
1776 Raritan Rd, Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076
(908) 889-8288 x300
Electrical – Certificate Program
The Certificate program in Electrical at Union County Vocational Technical School is offered at their campus in Scotch Plains in Union County, New Jersey. The college has round 86 students in total, with most students on programs that last under 2 years. The college is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. Tuition fees for the Electrical program are around $5,500 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $440. The typical program completion time is 12 months.
* 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
Residents of New Jersey may also wish to review their options in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
FAQs
How much do electricians earn in the state of New Jersey?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians in the state of New Jersey made an average of $73,430 per year in 2019. Entry-level electricians earned around $39,690 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $121,540.