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Salary data · Bespree
Electrician Salary in Trenton-Princeton
Electricians in the Trenton-Princeton area earn a median of $47.21/hr — based on BLS OEWS May 2025.
At median pay, that's roughly $98,197/year, $1,888/week, or $8,177/month (40-hour week, before taxes).
Adjusted for local prices, the median $47.21/hr wage is about $45.75/hr in national-average purchasing power, and HUD's one-bedroom FMR equals about 32.7 hours of work, or 19% of gross monthly pay.
About electricians
Job duties, work environment, and education based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What electricians do
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories. They read blueprints and technical diagrams, install wiring and fixtures, inspect electrical components like transformers and circuit breakers, and troubleshoot problems using testing devices. All work must comply with state and local building codes based on the National Electrical Code.
Work environment
Electricians work in a variety of settings including homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. The work is physically demanding — it often involves standing for extended periods, working in cramped spaces, and occasionally working at heights. Electricians may work indoors or outdoors and are sometimes exposed to loud noise, requiring protective equipment. Risk of injury from electrical shocks, falls, and cuts exists but is reduced through strict adherence to safety protocols.
How to become one
Most electricians learn their trade through a 4- to 5-year apprenticeship program that combines paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. Apprentices must be at least 18 years old and typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some electricians begin by attending a technical school. Most states require electricians to pass a licensing exam that tests knowledge of electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, and local codes.
Similar occupations
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — bls.gov/ooh. BLS content is in the public domain.
Hourly wage ranges
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th) | $23.33 | $48,526 |
| 25th percentile | $30.21 | $62,837 |
| Median (50th) | $47.21 | $98,197 |
| 75th percentile | $59.33 | $123,406 |
| Top earners (90th) | $60.42 | $125,674 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Annual estimate = hourly × 2,080 hrs · Actual annual income varies by hours worked and schedule.
Electricians — Hourly Pay Distribution
Percentile range from entry-level to top earners
How Trenton-Princeton compares
Electricians pay by metro
| Metro | Median/hr |
|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $47.21 |
| Chicago | $49.21 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford | $38.25 |
| New York City | $37.99 |
| New Haven | $37.22 |
| Philadelphia | $35.86 |
| Los Angeles | $35.49 |
| Houston | $28.45 |
| Miami | $28.19 |
Electricians — Median Hourly Pay by Metro
Sorted by median pay, highest to lowest
What pay means locally
A broad purchasing-power view using BEA regional price data.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare broad local price levels with the U.S. average. They help explain how far a median hourly wage may go in Trenton-Princeton.
| BLS median wage | $47.21/hr |
|---|---|
| BEA all-items RPP | 103.2 |
| Local price level | 3.2% higher than the U.S. average |
| Cost-adjusted median | $45.75/hr |
HUD Fair Market Rent benchmark
HUD Fair Market Rent is a 40th-percentile gross rent benchmark by bedroom size, not average rent. The one-bedroom value is the default comparison for hourly worker affordability.
| Bedroom size | HUD FMR | Hours at median |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,344/mo | 28.5 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $1,545/mo | 32.7 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $1,950/mo | 41.3 hours |
At the local BLS median wage, HUD's one-bedroom FMR equals about 32.7 hours of work, or roughly 19% of gross monthly pay before taxes.
Methodology: cost-adjusted median = BLS median hourly wage ÷ (BEA all-items RPP ÷ 100). An RPP above 100 means local prices are higher than the U.S. average.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis MARPP 2024, line 1 (RPPs: All items); BEA area 45940: Trenton-Princeton, NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area).
HUD rent source: FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents, 40th percentile gross rent. HUD area: Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Close label match to the tracked salary metro.
This is broad metro-level context, not a personal budget, tax, or take-home-pay estimate.
Compare affordability for electrician
Compare the same role across metros using cost-adjusted pay and rent context.
Where electrician pay goes furthest
- Chicago
$47.50/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $49.21/hr
- Bridgeport-Stamford
$35.79/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $38.25/hr
- New Haven
$35.60/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $37.22/hr
- Philadelphia
$34.97/hr cost-adjusted median
BLS median: $35.86/hr
Affordability questions
- What is the cost-adjusted wage for electrician in Trenton-Princeton?
- The BLS median wage is $47.21/hr. After adjusting by the BEA all-items RPP of 103.2, that is about $45.75/hr in national-average purchasing power.
- How many hours does one-bedroom Fair Market Rent take at the median wage?
- HUD's one-bedroom FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA is $1,545/mo. At $47.21/hr, that equals about 32.7 hours of work, or 19% of gross monthly pay before taxes.
- Is this a personal budget estimate?
- No. These are broad metro-level comparisons from public datasets. They do not include taxes, benefits, household size, commuting choices, or actual housing costs.
Job outlook for Electricians
National employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
🟢 Much faster than average
+8.2% projected growth, 2024–2034
+62,400
2024–2034
~73,500
New + replacement
762,600
2024 estimate
High school diploma
Entry-level
On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Published August 2025. National-level projections — local growth may differ.
Skills & qualifications
Key skills and knowledge areas from O*NET OnLine, plus representative tools compiled by Bespree for electricians.
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Critical Thinking
- Installation
- Operation Monitoring
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Design
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Multimeters
- Wire strippers
- Conduit benders
- Power drills
- Voltage testers
Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree.
Commute-adjusted effective wage
What you actually earn after subtracting the cost of getting to work.
Effective hourly wage after estimated commute costs, based on a 40-hr work week.
| Commute mode | Monthly cost | Hourly impact | Effective wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| No commute cost (baseline) | — | — | $47.21 |
| Public transit (regional estimate) | ~$120/mo | −$0.69/hr | $46.52/hr |
| Driving (gas + wear) | ~$280/mo | −$1.62/hr | $45.59/hr |
Methodology: Commute cost is deducted from median hourly wage assuming 2,080 working hours per year (52 weeks × 40 hrs). Costs are directional estimates based on published transit fares or AAA average variable driving costs. Actual costs vary by distance, schedule, vehicle, and commute days.
Public transit (regional estimate): Estimated regional monthly transit cost.
Driving (gas + wear): AAA avg variable cost estimate.
Local job market
—
No current paid openings on Bespree
Public-sector pay signals
—
No current imported salary signals for this role
BLS estimates 600 electricians employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ area, or 7 per 1,000 jobs. (BLS OEWS May 2025)
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Data source: Wage data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, BLS OEWS May 2025. Regional price context uses U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP 2024, all-items RPP). Rent context uses HUD Fair Market Rents (FY 2026, 40th percentile gross rent). Job outlook data is from the BLS Employment Projections program (BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034). BLS data is in the public domain. Occupation profile content summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after retrieval. Wage figures are estimates and do not constitute a guarantee of earnings. Actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, and hours worked. Weekly and monthly earnings shown assume a 40-hour work week and are pre-tax estimates. Commute cost figures and regional price adjustments are directional estimates; actual commute costs, purchasing power, and budgets vary.