New Jersey cost guide

Electrician Cost in New Jersey (2026)

New Jersey residential electricians average $91.25 an hour plus parts (ProMatcher). Most US electrician jobs run $163 to $538, $351 on average (Angi). NJ electricians earn a $41.68 mean hourly wage against $34.37 nationally (BLS).

An electrician examining an open residential breaker panel on a wall
Finding the fault at the panel is billed time, which is why the service-call fee and the hourly minimum matter as much as the parts. Photo: Kathleen Austin Kuhn, Pexels License, via Pexels. It shows the subject, not a New Jersey job.
Hourly rate
NJ $91.25 avg ($82.38 – $100.12) + parts · ProMatcher NJ report, read Oct 30, 2026
US $50 – $130 · HomeAdvisor, Jun 19, 2026
Service call, first hour
NJ $75 – $150 dispatch fee · ConsumerAffairs, Newark, Aug 28, 2026
US $100 – $200 · Angi, Oct 21, 2026
Add a 120V outlet
NJ $176.16 fixed ($164.75 – $187.56) · ProMatcher NJ report, read Oct 30, 2026
US $200 – $300 · Angi, Oct 21, 2026
Replace an outlet or switch
NJ $120 – $300 · ConsumerAffairs, Newark, Aug 28, 2026
US light switch $85 – $200 · HomeAdvisor, Jun 19, 2026
Ceiling fan install
NJ $150 – $600 · ConsumerAffairs, Newark, Aug 28, 2026
US $140 – $350 · Angi, Oct 21, 2026
Panel upgrade to 200 amps
NJ $2,673.98 ($2,306.46 – $3,041.49) · ProMatcher NJ report, read Oct 30, 2026
US $1,250 – $3,000 · Thumbtack, Jul 8, 2026
Whole-home rewiring
NJ $10,000 – $25,000 · ConsumerAffairs, Newark, Aug 28, 2026
US $1,500 – $10,000 · Angi, Oct 21, 2026
Electrical permit
NJ $50 for 1 – 50 outlets, fixtures or devices · State fee schedule, N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20, read Oct 30, 2026
US building permit $75 – $150 · Angi, Oct 21, 2026

These are published market figures, not LA Trusted prices. No New Jersey agency source we read publishes electrician prices; the New Jersey figures come from ProMatcher's state report, ConsumerAffairs' Newark guide and the State's own permit fee schedule, which applies where the State acts as the enforcing agency. Every figure was read on October 30, 2026 and is named to its source in the tables below.

Last updated October 30, 2026. LA Trusted Partners routes electrical requests to independent providers after your consent — it does not perform electrical work, and it does not set, quote or guarantee any electrician's pricing, availability or workmanship. Every price below comes from a cited published source, with the date it shows or the date we read it. Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and permit, license and tax rules only from New Jersey's own code and agencies.

How Much Does an Electrician Cost per Hour in New Jersey?

ProMatcher's New Jersey cost report lists $91.25 an hour on average for residential electrical contractors. Its range is $82.38 to $100.12, plus parts and materials. Electrical work for a remodel or addition averages $107.09 an hour. ProMatcher says the figures are averages reported back to it and shows no date or sample size, so treat them as a guide.

Newark runs wider. ConsumerAffairs (updated August 28, 2026) puts a licensed electrician in Newark at $65 to $165 an hour. Most contractors there also charge a dispatch or service fee of $75 to $150. That fee typically covers the first hour on site.

The national guides land lower. HomeAdvisor (updated June 19, 2026) says licensed electricians charge $50 to $130 an hour. Angi (updated October 21, 2026) gives $50 to $100, with the first hour around $150. Thumbtack gives $65 to $130 for electrical and wiring repair jobs.

Why New Jersey rates run higher

The pay part of the bill is higher here. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) puts the mean hourly wage for electricians at $41.68 in New Jersey against $34.37 nationwide, about 21% more. The billed rate is higher than the wage because, as Thumbtack puts it, the hourly rate has insurance and overhead built in.

Published electrician hourly rates, New Jersey and national, 2026
SourceHourly figureWhat it coversDated
ProMatcher, New Jersey cost report$91.25 average; range $82.38 – $100.12Residential electrical contractors, per hour, plus parts and materials. Electrical for a remodel or addition: $107.09 ($101.38 – $112.79). Commercial: $112.79. ProMatcher says these are averages reported back to it; it shows no date or sample size.Undated; read October 30, 2026
ConsumerAffairs, Newark, NJ$65 – $165 an hourFor a licensed electrician. Most contractors also charge a dispatch or service fee of $75 to $150 that typically covers the first hour on site. The page does not say where its figures come from.Updated August 28, 2026
HomeAdvisor, national$50 – $130 an hourFor a licensed electrician, plus a service-call fee of $100 to $200 for the first hour. By level: apprentice $40 – $60, journeyperson $60 – $90, master $90 – $120.Updated June 19, 2026
Angi, national$50 – $100 an hour; first hour about $150Urban electricians typically charge $100 or more an hour, against roughly $50 in rural areas.Updated October 21, 2026
Thumbtack, national$65 – $130 an hourFor electrical and wiring repair jobs. Many pros have a minimum service fee, and lighting jobs are sometimes priced per light, not per hour.Last updated Thursday, April 9 (the page title says 2026)

What New Jersey electricians earn, against the national figures

Electricians wages, New Jersey and United States, BLS OEWS May 2025
Electricians (SOC 47-2111)New JerseyUnited States
People employed13,520757,220
Mean hourly wage$41.68$34.37
Median hourly wage$37.14$30.38
10th percentile$23.35$20.50
90th percentile$62.91$52.17
Mean annual wage$86,700$71,490

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state data file and national data file, occupation code 47-2111, downloaded October 30, 2026. These are wages paid to workers, not prices charged to customers.

Experience level, by the hour

HomeAdvisor's national split: apprentice $40 to $60 an hour, journeyperson $60 to $90, master $90 to $120. In New Jersey, the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and registers journeyman electricians. Its page says that from December 31, 2027, anyone working in electrical contracting must show a license as a Class B wireman, Class A electrical apprentice, Class A journeyman or electrical contractor.

Service Call Fees and Hourly Minimums

The hourly rate is only part of a small job's bill. Angi and HomeAdvisor both put the service call fee at $100 to $200 for the first hour. HomeAdvisor says consultations and inspections fall under the same service-call fee, while quotes for clearly defined fixes are often free.

Then comes the minimum. HomeAdvisor says many electricians have a minimum of one to four hours, even when they finish faster. Angi says the same and suggests bundling several small jobs into one visit. At ProMatcher's New Jersey average, a 30-minute fix at a one-hour minimum bills $91.25. At a four-hour minimum, it bills $365.00.

In Newark, ConsumerAffairs puts the dispatch fee at $75 to $150, typically covering the first hour on site.

How much is an electrician for 2 hours?

Two hours of electrician labor, worked from published rates
BasisSumTwo hours
ProMatcher's New Jersey average2 × $91.25$182.50, plus parts
ProMatcher's New Jersey range2 × $82.38 to 2 × $100.12$164.76 to $200.24, plus parts
ConsumerAffairs, Newark: dispatch fee covering the first hour, plus one more hour$75 – $150 + ($65 – $165)$140 to $315, before parts
HomeAdvisor: service call covering the first hour, plus one more hour$100 – $200 + ($50 – $130)$150 to $330, before parts

Sums are added by us from ProMatcher's New Jersey report, ConsumerAffairs (August 28, 2026) and HomeAdvisor (June 19, 2026). Parts, permits and any after-hours premium are extra.

What Moves an Electrician's Price

The published sources name these reasons a price moves up or down, with the source for each:

  • Experience level. HomeAdvisor puts apprentices at $40 to $60 an hour, journeypersons at $60 to $90 and master electricians at $90 to $120.
  • Where you live. Angi says urban electricians typically charge $100 or more an hour, against roughly $50 in rural areas. ConsumerAffairs adds that travel time across the Newark metro area may push costs higher.
  • The minimum. HomeAdvisor says many electricians have a minimum of one to four hours, even when the work takes less time.
  • Timing. HomeAdvisor says after-hours work runs time-and-a-half to double the standard rate, plus a trip charge of $100 or more.
  • Access. Angi says a panel, wiring or fixture in a hard-to-reach spot raises labor cost because the job takes longer.
  • Parts. ProMatcher's New Jersey hourly figures are labor, with parts and materials on top.
  • Permits and inspection. Angi puts a building permit at $75 to $150 and a safety inspection at $100 to $125; New Jersey's own fee schedule is below.
A beige duplex wall outlet with a printed label reading GFCI protected outlet
Swapping an outlet like this for a like or similar one is ordinary electrical maintenance in New Jersey; where GFCI protection is required, the new one must comply with the electrical subcode. Photo: dankeck, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows the subject, not a New Jersey job.

What Common Electrical Jobs Cost in New Jersey

This table puts ProMatcher's New Jersey figures and ConsumerAffairs' Newark ranges next to Angi, HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack. Where no source we read publishes a New Jersey figure, the table says so.

Angi puts the national average cost to hire an electrician at $351, based on 101,757 projects reported by its pros. Most homeowners pay $163 to $538, minor jobs about $85 and complex projects about $1,150.

Common electrical job prices, New Jersey published figures and national figures
JobNew Jersey published figureNational figurePermit note
Replace an outlet or switch$120 – $300 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)Outlet install $200 – $300 (Angi); light switch $85 – $200 (HomeAdvisor)No permit for a like or similar swap (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7)
Add a 120V outlet$176.16 fixed, range $164.75 – $187.56 (ProMatcher NJ)Outlet installation $200 – $300 (HomeAdvisor)Five or fewer outlets on an adequate circuit is minor work (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A)
GFCI outletNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we read$100 – $200 each (Thumbtack)A like or similar swap must meet Section 406.4(D) of the electrical subcode
Ceiling fan$150 – $600 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)$140 – $350 (Angi)—
Light fixtureNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we read$155 – $955 (Angi); recessed light $130 – $150 per fixture (Thumbtack)No permit for a like or similar fixture swap
Replace a circuit breakerNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we readAbout $120 – $200 (Thumbtack)—
Breaker panel or fuse box repairNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we read$174 – $645; most pay around $340 (Thumbtack)—
New circuit$570 – $1,000 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)No national figure in the sources we readPermit, or minor-work notice for a dryer, range, oven or air conditioner circuit
Panel upgrade to 200 amps$2,673.98, range $2,306.46 – $3,041.49 (ProMatcher NJ); $1,200 – $4,500 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)$1,250 – $3,000 (Thumbtack); $1,200 – $2,000 (HomeAdvisor)Permit; State fee $65 for a panel of 225 amps or less
EV chargerLevel 1 $266.66, Level 2 $1,473.63 (ProMatcher NJ); Level 2 $700 – $2,200 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)No national figure in the sources we readAsk the electrician which permit applies
Whole-house surge protector$150 – $700 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)No national figure in the sources we read—
Whole-home rewiring$10,000 – $25,000 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark)$1,500 – $10,000 (Angi)Permit; same-capacity rewiring is minor work
Whole-house generatorNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we read$1,540 – $8,740; transfer switch $400 – $2,500 (Angi)New wiring is not ordinary maintenance; expect a permit
Electrical inspectionNo New Jersey figure published by the sources we read$100 – $125 (HomeAdvisor)—

New Jersey: ProMatcher state report (undated) and ConsumerAffairs, Newark (updated August 28, 2026), both read October 30, 2026. National: Angi (October 21, 2026), HomeAdvisor (June 19, 2026), Thumbtack (breaker and GFCI figures July 8, 2026; recessed lighting from its electrician price page). Your price depends on access, the age of the wiring, parts and timing — treat these as a comparison baseline, not a promise.

Permits and Licenses: What New Jersey Requires

Small like-for-like swaps need no permit in New Jersey. The Uniform Construction Code's ordinary maintenance rule (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7) says no permit, inspection or notice to the construction office is required for ordinary maintenance. It lists these as ordinary electrical maintenance:

  • Replacing any receptacle, switch or lighting fixture, or part of one, with a like or similar item, unless it contains an emergency battery pack. Where GFCI, damp or wet, or tamper-resistant receptacles are required, the new one must comply with Section 406.4(D) of the electrical subcode.
  • Repairs to installed electrically operated equipment, such as doorbells, communication systems and any motor-operated device.
  • Replacing a household dishwasher.
  • Replacing a kitchen range hood in a dwelling unit, within the rule's exhaust-rate limits.
  • Installing a burglar alarm, security system or doorbell in a one- or two-family home.
  • Installing a plug-in landscape irrigation unit under 30 volts at a one- or two-family home.

Adding, altering, replacing or relocating electrical wiring is not ordinary maintenance under the same rule. That work needs a permit from the construction office before it starts (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14), unless it is "minor work" under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A. In a one- or two-family home, minor electrical work includes:

  • New electrical work that comes with installing air conditioning, equipment, a clothes dryer, or a range or oven.
  • Installing five or fewer outlets, where the existing circuits, or the space for circuits and service, can carry the load.
  • Replacing existing wiring with new wiring of the same capacity, of a type the code approves for the use.

Minor work can start once the construction office has been told about it. The permit application follows within five business days of that notice, and the fee is paid before the permit is issued. The office inspects within three business days of a request, or another time within 30 days that both sides agree.

Who does the work matters too. Under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15, electrical work may be done only by people licensed to do it, except a single-family homeowner on their own home. The licensed electrical contractor's seal and signature go on the electrical subcode application. On a permitted job, the permit fee may be part of the price, so ask whether the quote includes it.

New Jersey's Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and requires a valid business permit, renewed every three years. To look a license up before anyone starts, follow the steps in how to check a contractor in New Jersey.

Coils of new yellow electrical cable hanging along a concrete wall before being connected to breaker panels
Running new wiring is not ordinary maintenance. Unless it is on the State's minor-work list, it needs a permit before work starts. Photo: NIST, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows the subject, not a New Jersey job.

What the electrical permit costs on the State schedule

The State's own fee schedule, N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20, applies where the Department of Community Affairs is the plan-checking agency or acts as the local enforcing agency. A town with its own enforcing agency sets its fees by ordinance (N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.17), so ask your construction office for its number. The State schedule shows the scale:

Electrical permit fees on the New Jersey State schedule, N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20
Item on the State scheduleFee
First block of 1 to 50 receptacles, fixtures or devices (lights, switches, outlets, dimmers, smoke and heat detectors and similar)$50
Each additional block of up to 25$9
Each replacement of wiring on one branch circuit; household cooking equipment up to 16 kW; each receptacle rated 30 to 50 amps; each motor or device of 1 to 10 hp or kW$15 each
Each panel board, service equipment or disconnect rated 225 amps or less; each receptacle over 50 amps$65 each
Each panel board or service equipment rated over 225 amps up to 1,000 amps$129 each
Smoke or heat detectors and alarm systems in a one- or two-family home$33 flat per dwelling unit
Private swimming pool, spa or hot tub electrical work$77 flat

Read from the State regulation on October 30, 2026. Nationally, Angi puts a building permit at $75 to $150 and a safety inspection at $100 to $125, and permits at $200 to $900 when rewiring an older home.

Is There Sales Tax on an Electrician's Bill in New Jersey?

On a repair, yes, on the labor. The NJ Division of Taxation's bulletin S&U-2, Sales Tax and Home Improvements (rev. 9/17) names electricians as contractors and lists fixing faulty electrical outlets as a repair. The contractor charges sales tax on the labor portion of the bill and may not charge you sales tax on the materials. If the bill is one lump sum without labor and materials split out, you pay sales tax on the whole amount.

New work that adds value is different. S&U-2 lists new electrical outlets and rewiring among exempt capital improvements: when you give the contractor a completed Certificate of Exempt Capital Improvement (Form ST-8), no sales tax is charged on materials or labor. One exception matters here: hard-wired alarm or security system installations are taxable. The New Jersey rate is 6.625% (S&U-4).

On the bill, that means

  • Repair (a faulty outlet or switch): 6.625% on the labor line only.
  • Lump-sum repair bill: 6.625% on the whole bill, so ask for labor and materials on separate lines.
  • New outlets or rewiring with a completed Form ST-8: no sales tax on materials or labor.
  • Hard-wired alarm or security system installation: taxable.

How to Tell if an Electrician Is Overcharging You

Most overcharge stories start with a number the homeowner heard only at the end: a dispatch fee, a minimum, an after-hours multiplier or a lump sum with tax on top. Ask for each of those before the visit, then hold the quote against the published figures above.

Already have a quote? Check it against the job table, and ask the electrician to explain any line that sits well above the New Jersey and national figures.

Eight checks before you say yes

  • Ask for the service-call or dispatch fee before anyone drives over, and whether it covers the first hour. ConsumerAffairs says Newark dispatch fees of $75 to $150 typically cover the first hour on site.
  • Ask about the minimum. HomeAdvisor says many electricians bill one to four hours even when the work takes less, so bundle small jobs into one visit.
  • Ask for a fixed price for the whole job. HomeAdvisor suggests a fixed quote instead of an hourly rate, to prevent surprises if the job takes longer than expected.
  • Hold the quote against the tables above. A switch, outlet or fan quote far above the New Jersey and national figures should come with a reason, line by line.
  • Check the license before work starts. New Jersey's Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and requires a business permit renewed every three years.
  • Ask who files the permit. The licensed electrical contractor's seal and signature go on the electrical subcode application.
  • Ask for labor and materials on separate lines. In New Jersey, sales tax on a repair applies to the labor portion; a lump-sum bill is taxed on the whole amount.
  • Get it in writing. HomeAdvisor's advice is to put all expectations, terms and conditions in a written agreement.

Nights, Weekends and Electrical Emergencies

Everything above is for regular hours. HomeAdvisor says after-hours work runs time-and-a-half to double the standard rate, plus a trip charge of $100 or more. Angi says emergency service adds $100 to $200 for night and weekend call-outs, and in some cases the labor can reach double the normal hourly rate.

Angi lists burning smells from outlets or appliances, a hot electrical panel and frequent power outages as true electrical emergencies. LA Trusted does not dispatch emergencies. If something is sparking, smoking or hot, stop using it and get urgent help from qualified emergency services directly.

How LA Trusted Partners Fits Into an Electrical Job

This page is research

LA Trusted publishes this cost guide so you can budget from published figures. LA Trusted does not provide electrical advice, emergency dispatch, diagnosis, pricing, permits, or workmanship guarantees.

The request is consent-first

You describe the symptom, where it happens and the town. Your contact information is shared with a matched independent provider only after you agree to the disclosure.

The electrician owns the work

The matched electrician is responsible for license status, inspection, estimate, code-sensitive work, permits, and customer terms. LA Trusted's standards ask that a provider's business identity and service area be checkable, and that licensing where applicable, insurance evidence and complaint history be checked before routing.

Request an Electrical Match in New Jersey

Tell us who you are and where the property is, then note the symptom, where it happens, and whether there are sparks, heat, smoke or a burning smell. We take it from there and an independent electrical provider calls you back.

Coverage depends on the town and the job, and a request is not a guarantee that a provider is available. LA Trusted does not do the work itself and does not promise a response time, so the quote and any warranty come from the provider who calls you. Ask for the service-call fee and how the job is priced before the visit.

Already have a quote? Check it against the published prices. The electrical request page takes the same request.

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Electrician Cost in NJ: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an electrician cost per hour in NJ?

ProMatcher's New Jersey cost report lists $91.25 an hour on average for residential electrical contractors, with a range of $82.38 to $100.12, plus parts and materials (undated; read October 30, 2026). ConsumerAffairs puts Newark rates at $65 to $165 an hour for a licensed electrician (updated August 28, 2026).

How much does an electrician cost?

Angi puts the national average cost to hire an electrician at $351, with most homeowners paying $163 to $538, based on 101,757 projects reported by its pros (updated October 21, 2026). Minor jobs run about $85 and complex projects about $1,150. For New Jersey, compare your quote with the job table on this page.

What is an electrician's service call fee?

Angi and HomeAdvisor put the service call fee at $100 to $200 for the first hour. In Newark, ConsumerAffairs puts the dispatch or service fee at $75 to $150, typically covering the first hour on site. Ask before the visit whether the fee counts toward the repair.

How much does an electrician charge for 2 hours?

At ProMatcher's New Jersey average of $91.25 an hour, two hours of labor is $182.50 plus parts; across its range it is $164.76 to $200.24. On HomeAdvisor's national figures, a $100 to $200 service call that covers the first hour plus one more hour at $50 to $130 comes to $150 to $330. The sums are ours, from the published rates.

Why are electricians so expensive?

Thumbtack says an electrician's hourly rate has insurance and overhead built in, and the wage paid to the worker is less than the rate quoted. In New Jersey the wage part alone is higher than the national average: the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the mean hourly wage for electricians at $41.68 in New Jersey against $34.37 nationwide (May 2025).

How much does it cost to replace a circuit breaker?

Thumbtack says an electrician can replace a failed breaker switch for about $120 to $200, depending on the region, and puts circuit breaker panel or fuse box repairs at $174 to $645 (updated July 8, 2026). We found no published New Jersey figure for a single breaker.

How much does it cost to add an outlet in NJ?

ProMatcher's New Jersey report lists $176.16 as a fixed fee to install a 120V outlet, with a range of $164.75 to $187.56. Angi and HomeAdvisor put outlet installation at $200 to $300 nationally. Installing five or fewer outlets on a circuit that can carry the load is minor work in New Jersey.

Do I need a permit to replace an outlet or light switch in NJ?

No, when it is a like or similar replacement. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code lists replacing a receptacle, switch or lighting fixture with a like or similar item as ordinary electrical maintenance, which needs no permit, inspection or notice (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7). Adding, altering or relocating wiring is not on that list.

Do electricians charge sales tax on labor in NJ?

On a repair, yes. The NJ Division of Taxation lists fixing faulty electrical outlets as a repair: the contractor charges sales tax (6.625%) on the labor portion only, and a lump-sum bill is taxed in full. New electrical outlets and rewiring are exempt capital improvements when you give the contractor a completed Form ST-8. Hard-wired alarm or security system installations are taxable.

Does an electrician in NJ need a license?

Yes. New Jersey's construction code says electrical work may be done only by people licensed to do it, except a single-family homeowner working on their own home (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15). The Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and registers journeyman electricians. The contractor-check guide shows how to look a license up.

Is it cheaper to pay an electrician hourly or a flat rate?

It depends on the job. Hourly can be cheaper on a quick fix, but HomeAdvisor says many electricians have a one- to four-hour minimum. A flat price tells you the total before work starts, and HomeAdvisor suggests asking for one. Thumbtack notes lighting jobs are sometimes priced per light.

Do electricians charge more at night or on weekends?

Yes. HomeAdvisor says after-hours work runs time-and-a-half to double the standard rate, plus a trip charge of $100 or more. Angi says emergency service adds $100 to $200 for night and weekend call-outs, and in some cases the labor can reach double the normal hourly rate.

Sources used on this page

Every source in this list was checked live, and every figure taken from it re-read, on October 30, 2026. Naming a company here is not an endorsement and does not mean it is an LA Trusted Partners provider.

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