Electricians in New York State earned the 2nd highest average salary in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. New York City’s electricians earned the 4th highest average salary of electricians in any city in the country that year.
In addition, New York State and City offer a large number of jobs for electricians:
- New York City area: Highest number of jobs of any city in the country
- New York State: 3rd highest number of jobs of any state
New York’s Department of Labor expects the number of jobs for electricians to increase by 23% in the ten-year period ending in 2024. Jobs for electricians are particularly in demand in four regions of New York State:
- Capital Region
- Central New York
- Hudson Valley
- New York City
Employers in New York face a shortage of skilled craft workers such as electricians. In fact, a survey of New York’s contractors revealed that 77% of the firms surveyed expect it to be difficult to recruit skilled craft workers in 2016 according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
The New York Building Congress Annual Report for 2016 said that construction activity in New York City “reaches historic levels.” The private sector currently invests billions of dollars a year in the construction of new housing, hotels, offices, and attractions.
In 2015 alone, investors initiated $40 billion worth of new construction across the five boroughs, and the New York Building Congress expects an even greater amount of construction in 2016.
Salaries for Residential Electricians Throughout New York
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in New York’s cities and rural areas. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in New York’s Major Cities and Counties
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in New York’s largest cities and counties (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy: $84,030 – $103,230
- Binghamton: $86,340 – $101,710
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls: $85,510 – $103,250
- Dutchess County-Putnam County: $98,130 – $119,400
- Nassau County-Suffolk County: $74,190 – $102,079
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $78,860 – $105,490
- Rochester: $87,960 – $101,390
- Syracuse: $80,540 – $99,350
- Utica-Rome: $76,250 – $101,300
- Watertown-Fort Drum: $83,950 – $99,470
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy: $52,270 – $63,520
- Binghamton: $54,180 – $77,390
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls: $54,770 – $75,210
- Nassau County-Suffolk County: $59,840 – $84,590
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $56,770 – $79,370
- Rochester: $49,250 – $711,750
- Syracuse: $62,470 – $78,450
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $77,280 – $95,420
- Syracuse: $83,830 – $99,150
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Transportation Equipment:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $70,380 – $80,590
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers Specializing in Motor Vehicles:
- Nassau County-Suffolk County: $45,360 – $60,010
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $35,380 – $60,400
- Rochester: $36,690 – $58,510
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy: $46,470 – $60,550
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls: $34,720 – $49,400
- Nassau County-Suffolk County: $31,540 – $63,410
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $49,470 – $61,200
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy: $40,300 – $66,580
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls: $47,520 – $96,660
- Dutchess County-Putnam County: $42,160 – $59,020
- Nassau County-Suffolk County: $44,520 – $68,220
- New York-Newark-Jersey City: $46,230 – $72,990
- Rochester: $48,390 – $75,370
- Syracuse: $46,240 – $61,060
- Utica-Rome: $35,070 – $49,280
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in Urban and Rural New York
New York State had the 2nd highest number of electrician apprentices in the country as of 2015, while New York City had the highest number of electrician apprentices of any city in the country according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This agency provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” throughout New York. Shown below is information that represents the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship: