Electricians in New Jersey earned the 5th highest average salary in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This agency expects the number of jobs for electricians to grow by 13.9% across the country during the ten-year period ending in 2024.
Many of New Jersey’s contractors face difficulty in finding skilled craft workers such as electricians according to a 2015 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America. In fact, 62% of the contractors surveyed expect to face difficulty finding such workers in 2016.
Part of the reason for this is the current building boom in New Jersey which is taxing the current supply of electricians in the state. New Jersey Business magazine summarized the state’s construction business and described its expectations for this industry in 2016.
New York City’s robust gains in new jobs benefit New Jersey’s Hudson River “Gold Coast” as commuters move into the area to find cheaper housing. This trend is driving a boom in multifamily rentals particularly near rail stations.
Industrial real estate is “hot” in New Jersey. Part of this results from spillover from New York City into New Jersey’s more affordable and large parcels of vacant land. Commercial warehouses make up a substantial amount of this growth with the expansion of e-commerce and consumer demand for next-day or same-day delivery.
Demand for smaller, more efficient buildings such as multi-level warehouses are an additional force behind the growth of commercial real estate in New Jersey. In addition, the market for offices saw near-record levels of transactions in 2015 with this trend expected to continue for the following year.
Asian investors are buying real estate in the area as the Chinese economy has weakened. New Jersey’s prime location with its proximity to dense populations of consumers should ensure a bright future for the construction industry in the state.
Salaries for Residential Electricians in New Jersey’s Major Cities
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in the major cities of New Jersey. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in New Jersey
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in New Jersey’s largest cities and rural areas (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:
- Camden: $83,750 – $107,730
- Newark: $88,140 – $100,330
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Atlantic City: $62,460 – $80,600
- Camden: $53,100 – $76,670
- Newark: $57,810 – $85,770
- Trenton: $50,670 – $61,740
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- Camden: $80,130 – $98,100
- Newark: $78,650 – $97,330
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Transportation Equipment:
- Camden: $58,030 – $72,990
- Newark: $48,580 – $78,160
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers Specializing in Motor Vehicles:
- Camden: $43,440 – $60,170
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- Camden: $37,560 – $73,180
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Camden: $51,370 – $62,490
- Newark: $46,200 – $68,470
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in New Jersey’s Major Cities
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” throughout New Jersey. Shown below is information that represents the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship (2015):