Electrician in New Jersey
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NJ. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, New Jersey.
Jobs (NJ)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become an electrician in New Jersey
To become a licensed Electrical Contractor in New Jersey, individuals must meet specific education and experience requirements set by the Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. This typically involves completing an approved apprenticeship program and gaining significant hands-on experience, followed by passing a comprehensive three-part examination covering electrical trade, alarm systems, and business and law. While New Jersey does not offer reciprocity for Electrical Contractor licenses with other states, there is a provision for journeyman electricians to obtain a Class A journeyman license through reciprocity if certain conditions are met.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for New Jersey. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist New Jersey requirements
| Licensing body | Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Completion of a 4-year approved apprenticeship program by the U.S. Department of Labor and one additional year as a journeyman, OR five years of hands-on experience, OR a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and two years of practical hands-on experience. |
| Experience | 10,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Electrical Contractor (Trade), Alarm Systems, and Business and Law ($100) |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing education | 34.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age of 21 for Electrical Contractor license. Individuals with undocumented status are eligible for licensure. New Jersey has two types of electrical licenses: Journeyman Electrician and Electrical Contractor. Journeyman electricians require 8,000 hours of documented experience (4,000 within five years of applying) and 576 hours of classroom training, and 15 CE hours per cycle. The Electrical Contractor license allows individuals to operate their own electrical business and supervise journeymen. There is no Master Electrician license in New Jersey. The Electrical Contractor exam is administered by PSI Services LLC. |
Source: Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
workspace_premium New Jersey license tiers
New Jersey offers multiple tiers of electrician licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 |
| Electrical Contractor | 10,000 |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleNew Jersey license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk