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How to become an electrician in New York

In New York, cities and counties license electricians and electrical businesses. Whether you need a license of your own depends on the city or county where you work.

See your steps What each license requires

Your license

I'll work in

Starting Nov 2026.

New York City doesn't issue a journeyman electrician license. The New York City Department of Buildings issues the Special Electrician license.

Experience
7 years within the 10 years before you apply, under a licensed master or special electrician. At least 2 of the years in New York City.
When
, after 7 years
Exam
A written and a practical exam, $1,115 for both
Who gives it
New York City doesn't list it
License
$310, renewed every year for $60
Go to the Department of Buildings

Dates are estimates. Each city or county sets its own rules.

Your steps

  1. Step 1: Start as an apprentice

    An apprenticeship is a paid job with training. You work for an employer and you learn the trade on the job.

  2. Step 2: Find the office that licenses electricians where you will work

    Each city or county has its own license and its own rules. Ask the building department in the city or county where you will work.

  3. Step 3: Check what that license requires

    Each office sets the experience you need and the exam you must pass.

    Special Electrician

    New York City

    Experience
    7 years within the 10 years before you apply, under a licensed master or special electrician. At least 2 of the years must be in New York City.
    Exam
    Master/Special Electrician written examination and practical examination. New York City doesn't list who gives it.
    Exam fee
    $1,115
    Fees
    $310 license. New York City doesn't list an application fee.
    Renewal
    Every year, $60

    The $1,115 covers 2 exams: $585 for the written exam and $530 for the practical exam. You must take both. An older fee chart from the New York City Department of Buildings lists lower fees, and the fees on its license page are the current ones.

    Journeyman Electrician License

    City of Buffalo

    Experience
    5 years working under a licensed master electrician, as an employee and not working for yourself.
    Exam
    ICC journeyman electrician examination, or an examination the City of Buffalo gives
    Exam fee
    Buffalo doesn't list it
    Fees
    No application fee. $126 license.
    Renewal
    Every 2 years, $94

    The New York State Journeyman card is a union membership card and not a state license. If you hold that union card, you must still apply to the City of Buffalo, but you don't need to take the ICC exam.

    The official wording of each experience requirement
    Special Electrician and Master Electrician (New York City)“Has at least seven (7) years of experience within ten (10) years prior to application working with their tools on the installation, alteration, and repair of wiring and appliances for light, heat, and power in or on buildings or comparable facilities under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master or special electrician in the United States, at least two (2) years must have been obtained in New York City”
    Journeyman Electrician License (City of Buffalo)“Minimum Qualifications: 5 Years Working Under a Licensed Master Electrician (As an employee of a licensed Master Electrician, not working for yourself)”

  4. Step 4: Apply to that office

    Apply to the office that issues the license, and pay its fees when you apply.

To run an electrical business

If you take electrical work in your own name, the business needs the license for the city or county where the job is.

Master Electrician

New York City

Experience
7 years within the 10 years before you apply, under a licensed master or special electrician. At least 2 of the years must be in New York City.
Exam
Master/Special Electrician written examination and practical examination. New York City doesn't list who gives it.
Exam fee
$1,115
Fees
$310 license. New York City doesn't list an application fee.
Renewal
Every year, $60

Master Electrician License

City of Buffalo

Experience
10 years in the electrical field
Exam
ICC Master Electrician Exam (R16). The International Code Council gives the exam.
Exam fee
Buffalo doesn't list it
Fees
$100 to apply, $220 license
Renewal
Every 2 years. Buffalo doesn't list the renewal fee.

If the City of Buffalo returns your application as incomplete, you pay another $100 each time you send it again.

The official wording of the experience requirement
Master Electrician License (City of Buffalo)“Ten (10) years of experience in the electrical field”

What electricians earn in New York

$37.86an hour

$78,750 a year, full time

Half of the electricians on a payroll in New York earn more than $37.86 an hour, and half earn less. The middle half earn $29.08 to $51.16. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.99 or less, and the highest-paid 10% earn $63.29 or more.

These figures cover everyone on a payroll as an electrician in New York, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 40,130 jobs and doesn't include self-employed electricians. The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.

Use a license from another state

If you hold a license from another state, ask the office that issues the license where you will work whether it recognizes your license.

Questions

Can you become an electrician with no experience?

Yes. You can start as an apprentice and learn the trade on the job.

How much do most electricians earn in New York?

Half of the electricians on a payroll in New York earn between $29.08 and $51.16 an hour. These figures don't include overtime pay.

Can an electrician earn $100,000 a year in New York?

Yes. The highest-paid 10% of electricians on a payroll in New York earn more than $131,640 a year before overtime.

Contact the licensing office

New York City Department of Buildingsnyc.gov
City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Electrical Department (Examining Board of Electricians)buffalony.gov

Sources

8
  1. New York Business Express, electrician licensing, who needs a license and the licensing office
  2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
  3. New York City Department of Buildings, electrician licenses, fees and renewal
  4. New York City Department of Buildings, electrician licenses, experience, exam and fees
  5. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Electrical Department (Examining Board of Electricians), electrician licensing, the licensing office and license names
  6. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Electrical Department (Examining Board of Electricians), Journeyman Electrician License, experience and exam
  7. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, email reply about the electrician license fees and the union journeyman card
  8. City of Buffalo Department of Permit & Inspection Services, Electrical Department (Examining Board of Electricians), Master Electrician License, experience, exam and fees

The dates in Your license are worked out from the years of experience each city requires.

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