New York does not issue a statewide journeyman electrician license. The Department of State building-codes office says licensing of contractors or electricians is not its job. Local laws may or may not. The statewide credential that office's sister licensing division does handle in this neighborhood is a security and fire alarm waiver, which is a different card from a wireman referral.
As of October 25, 2026, inside IBEW halls in New York show 140 open positions. Local 237 Niagara Falls has 86 of them at $48.20/hr, with $15.51/hr health and welfare. 77 of those 86 are Ferguson Electric at Lake Mariner Data, first shift 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or second shift 4:00 p.m. to 2:35 a.m., at scale. The outlook says per diem and incentives are available and does not print the amounts. Book 2 sign-in is in person. The same dispatch line says an NYS pistol permit is required for New York calls. GoHereBro tracks 300 IBEW locals. The cards below are Niagara Falls (Local 237), Syracuse (Local 43), Rochester (Local 86), and Long Island (Local 25).
Check the Local 237 dispatch page, the New York IBEW pay scale table, the national pay scale hub, the map, and Hot Spots. The Niagara Falls traveler write-up is the Local 237 guide. Use the live local page for today's count.
Who licenses electrical work in New York
There is no New York journeyman card that follows you from Niagara Falls to the city. Upstate, the contractor who pulls the permit deals with the local building department. A referred JW works as a W-2 for that contractor.
New York City is a separate license. The Department of Buildings licenses Master Electricians and Special Electricians. As of February 23, 2026, those applications go through DOB NOW. The department does not take walk-in or paper applications for this license. Candidates pass a written exam and a practical exam before the background application. One experience path is seven years in the prior ten, working with the tools under a licensed master or special electrician, with at least two of those years in New York City. Local 3 in Flushing shows 0 open calls on this snapshot, scale $64.00/hr, Book 1 51, Book 2 27. An upstate referral is not that city license.
What the New York halls are calling in October 2026
The October 25 boards add up to 140 inside openings.
Local 237 is 86 open across 6 calls. Ferguson Electric wants 77 JW at Lake Mariner Data on the two shifts above, at scale, with per diem and incentives listed and not priced. The other 9 JW are smaller: IPL at Seneca Niagara Casino (3, 40 hours), Hewitt Young on a 2:30 p.m. second shift (2, temperature controls), North Eastern at Lake Mariner (2, 5-10s plus an 8-hour Saturday), Gross Electric at Albion Prison (1, 5-8s, background check, no per diem), and State Group at Lake Mariner (1, 6-10s with a possible Sunday). Book 1 is 6. Book 2 is 15. Re-signs run from the 10th through the 16th.
Local 43 Syracuse has 25 open at $54.00/hr. Book 1 is 55. Book 2 is 77. Local 86 Rochester has 16 at $47.40/hr, including Ferguson at the University of Rochester bed tower (5 JW, 5-10s plus an 8, scale plus a $300/week incentive or $175/day per diem). Local 25 Long Island has 7 at $66.75/hr.
The contractor list moves. Use the live Local 237 dispatch page.
Weekly gross pay math on Local 237 scale
Local 237 JW scale is $48.20/hr. Ferguson's October 25 line prints the shift window and does not print a weekly hour total, so the rows below are scale math, not a schedule the hall posted. Overtime is time-and-a-half after 40 because the outlook did not print double time on the Ferguson call. Per diem dollars are not on that line, so they are left out.
| Rate | Hours | Straight time (40 hrs) | Overtime | Estimated weekly gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48.20 scale | 40 | $1,928.00 | $0.00 | $1,928.00 |
| $48.20 scale, 10 hours of overtime | 50 | $1,928.00 | $723.00 | $2,651.00 |
These numbers are estimated gross before taxes, dues, lodging, and any unposted per diem. Health and welfare is not included. Do not treat the 50-hour row as Ferguson's posted week.
Compare packages on the New York IBEW pay scale table, the national pay scale hub, and how much union electricians make in 2026.
How Local 237 dispatch works
The hall is at 6700 Schultz Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Phone: (716) 297-3650. Sign Book 2 in person. Re-signs are between the 10th and the 16th. The October 25 logistics line also says an NYS pistol permit is required for New York calls. Confirm that with the hall before you roll, because it is printed as a dispatch rule, not as a wage.
Bring a current dues receipt, OSHA 10 or higher, and a travel letter your home local sent. If this is a first hitch, read how to travel IBEW Book 2 before you leave.
Where the New York work sits
- Lake Mariner Data: 77 JW for Ferguson, plus smaller North Eastern and State Group calls. Stay for the shift the hall prints, not for a guessed 7-day week.
- Niagara Falls proper: the hall on Schultz Street, and the 3-JW casino call at scale for 40 hours.
- Albion: one Gross Electric JW, background check, no per diem.
- Syracuse, Rochester, Long Island: different books. Local 43 is the higher upstate scale at $54. Local 25 is $66.75 with 7 openings. Local 3 is the city hall, and the city license is the master or special electrician card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New York have a statewide electrician license?
No. The state building-codes office says it does not license electricians. Cities and counties may. The Department of State alarm waiver is for security and fire alarm work, not a journeyman wireman card.
Does my out-of-state journeyman license transfer into New York?
There is no state journeyman card to reciprocate into. New York City licenses master and special electricians through the Department of Buildings. Upstate, ask the hall and the local building department. The Local 237 calls are posted at scale with a hall sign-in, not as a reciprocity table.
What does New York City require?
The Department of Buildings licenses Master Electricians and Special Electricians. Applications go through DOB NOW as of February 23, 2026. You pass a written exam and a practical exam before the background application. One path is seven years of tool work in the prior ten years, at least two of them in New York City, under a licensed master or special electrician. Local 3 currently shows 0 open calls.
How many IBEW calls are open in New York right now?
140 inside openings. Local 237 Niagara Falls has 86. Local 43 Syracuse has 25. Local 86 Rochester has 16. Local 25 Long Island has 7. Local 3 New York City has 0 on this snapshot.
What is the IBEW Local 237 pay scale in 2026?
As of October 25, 2026, Local 237 inside scale is $48.20/hr, plus $15.51/hr health and welfare. Ferguson at Lake Mariner is at scale. Per diem and incentive amounts are not printed. A 40-hour week at scale is $1,928 gross before taxes.
Is the 77-person Lake Mariner call a posted 7-day week?
The October 25 outlook prints the shift window, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. to 2:35 a.m., and does not print a weekly hour total. Per diem is listed as available with no dollar amount. Use the live dispatch page for the current line.
How do I sign Book 2 at Local 237?
In person at 6700 Schultz Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14304, phone (716) 297-3650. Re-signs run from the 10th through the 16th. Book 1 is 6. Book 2 is 15. The dispatch line also says an NYS pistol permit is required for New York calls.
Which New York IBEW local has the most open calls right now?
Local 237 Niagara Falls at 86 and $48.20/hr. Then Local 43 Syracuse at 25 and $54.00/hr, Local 86 Rochester at 16 and $47.40/hr, and Local 25 Long Island at 7 and $66.75/hr.
