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.
New Jersey cost guide
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).

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.
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.
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.
| Source | Hourly figure | What it covers | Dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProMatcher, New Jersey cost report | $91.25 average; range $82.38 – $100.12 | Residential 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 hour | For 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 hour | For 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 $150 | Urban electricians typically charge $100 or more an hour, against roughly $50 in rural areas. | Updated October 21, 2026 |
| Thumbtack, national | $65 – $130 an hour | For 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) |
| Electricians (SOC 47-2111) | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|
| People employed | 13,520 | 757,220 |
| 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.
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.
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.
| Basis | Sum | Two hours |
|---|---|---|
| ProMatcher's New Jersey average | 2 × $91.25 | $182.50, plus parts |
| ProMatcher's New Jersey range | 2 × $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.
The published sources name these reasons a price moves up or down, with the source for each:

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.
| Job | New Jersey published figure | National figure | Permit 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 outlet | No 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 fixture | No 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 breaker | No New Jersey figure published by the sources we read | About $120 – $200 (Thumbtack) | — |
| Breaker panel or fuse box repair | No 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 read | Permit, 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 charger | Level 1 $266.66, Level 2 $1,473.63 (ProMatcher NJ); Level 2 $700 – $2,200 (ConsumerAffairs, Newark) | No national figure in the sources we read | Ask 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 generator | No 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 inspection | No 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.
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:
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:
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.

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:
| Item on the State schedule | Fee |
|---|---|
| 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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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