How to become an electrician in New York

The path in New York, step by step

There is no state electrical license in New York. Master electricians are licensed by local governments. In New York City, the Department of Buildings licenses master electricians, with a $585 written exam and a $530 practical exam. The training is the same as anywhere: learn the trade under someone experienced, ideally in a registered apprenticeship.

1. Find out which local board licenses electricians where you will work.
2. Get the experience that board requires.
3. Apply for and pass the local master electrician exam.
4. Register your business and get the insurance the locality requires.
5. If you install alarm systems, also apply to the Department of State.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: electrical license in New York.

Finding an apprenticeship in New York

New York runs Registered Apprenticeship through its own State Apprenticeship Agency, recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor to register and oversee programs there. Its staff are state employees, and it may use the federal paperwork or forms of its own. Apprenticeship.gov lists the New York State Apprenticeship Agency as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. Most electricians learn the trade in a 4 or 5 year apprenticeship. Each year brings about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus some classroom instruction.

Licenses and exams around New York

The license to aim for: None at state level (local master electrician license).

What electricians earn in New York

The median electrician in New York earned $37.86 an hour in May 2025, 8th of 51 states, with 40,130 on payrolls. The national median was $30.38.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of electricians in New York earned under $29.08 an hour and a tenth under $21.99. At the top, a quarter earned over $51.16 and a tenth over $63.29.

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: electrician salary in New York.

Jobs ahead in New York

New York's labor market office projects jobs for electricians growing from 43,160 in 2022 to 45,140 in 2032, a change of 4.6%. Counting people who retire or change careers, that is about 200 openings a year.

Jobs are projected to grow 4.6% from 2022 to 2032, slower than the 6.5% projected nationally, ranking 48th of the 50 states in the file.

These are the state's own long-term projections, published together on Projections Central for the occupation group electricians.

Starting your own electrician business in New York

Master electricians are licensed by local governments. In New York City, the Department of Buildings licenses master electricians, with a $585 written exam and a $530 practical exam.

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the New York median of $37.86 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $137.08 per billable hour. Try your own in the electrician labor rate calculator.

The full checklist is in how to start an electrical business. The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans.