Cost guide · Updated Aug 9, 2026

Electrician cost in Boston in 2026

Boston electricians run $125 to $225 per hour in 2026 — median around $165. A 200A service upgrade lands $3,000 to $7,000. In a housing stock this old, the conversation usually starts with insurance rather than capacity: carriers are increasingly unwilling to write policies on active knob-and-tube.

Typical range

$125 – $225 / hr

~$165/hr · 200A service upgrade $3,000 – $7,000 all-in

By scope

Scope	Price	Notes
Service call / diagnostic	$110 – $250	Often credited toward the work
Outlet, switch, or fixture replacement	$155 – $320 per device
New dedicated circuit	$550 – $1,400
200A service upgrade	$3,000 – $7,000	Includes permit, inspection, utility coordination
Knob-and-tube replacement (triple-decker unit)	$8,000 – $22,000

What swings the price

Active knob-and-tube wiring, which insurers increasingly decline to cover.
Triple-decker construction, where a single service feeds three units with shared runs.
Plaster and balloon framing, which makes fishing new cable slow and unpredictable.
Efficiency program requirements, where rebate-eligible work has to be sequenced correctly.
Winter, when exterior service work competes with snow and frozen ground.

Boston specifics

Greater Boston has a very large stock of homes still carrying original knob-and-tube in walls and attics, and the insurance market has turned against it — carriers surcharge, decline, or require remediation as a condition of binding a policy. That is what usually forces the project, not a flickering light. It also means the sequence matters: get the electrician's scope and a written remediation plan before you renew, because a mid-term non-renewal is a much worse negotiating position.

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FAQs

How much does an electrician cost per hour in Boston?

$125–$225/hr, median around $165, with a service-call fee of $110–$250 usually credited toward the work. Boston is among the most expensive electrical markets in the country.

Why does my insurer care about knob-and-tube?

Because the insulation is a century old, the system has no ground, and it cannot safely be covered by modern attic insulation. Many carriers now surcharge, decline, or require remediation. A written scope from a licensed electrician is what carriers usually want to see.

What does rewiring a triple-decker unit cost?

$8,000–$22,000 per unit depending on size, access, and how much plaster has to be opened. Doing all three units at once is meaningfully cheaper per unit than doing them one at a time, since much of the cost is setup and shared runs.

What does a 200A service upgrade cost in Boston?

$3,000–$7,000 all-in with permit, inspection, and utility coordination. Multi-family buildings needing new metering or a larger service entrance run higher and require more utility lead time.

Are there rebates for electrical work in Massachusetts?

State efficiency programs regularly incentivize heat pumps and related electrical work, sometimes including panel upgrades needed to support them. Pre-approval and a participating contractor are usually required, so ask before the job starts rather than after.

Sources

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Prices refresh quarterly. Last review: Aug 9, 2026.