New ham radio licenses in the United States
23,970 new amateur radio operators in the past 12 months; 741,707 active licensees nationwide. Updated weekly from FCC data.
At a glance · Data as of
- New hams · last 30 days
- 1,455
- New hams · last 12 months
- 23,970
- ▼ 2% vs prior 12 mo
- Active licensed hams
- 741,707
- Upgrades · 12 mo
- 10,923
- Vanity callsigns · 12 mo
- 6,505
- Address updates · 12 mo
- 8,982
- Often a move into the area
- Expiring · next 6 mo
- 42,485
About ham radio in the United States
The U.S. added 23,970 new amateur radio operators in the past 12 months, about the same as the year before (down 2%). California (2,726), Texas (2,054) and Florida (1,202) added the most new hams. Technicians make up 48% of active licensees nationwide, the entry-level class most new hams start with. 10,923 operators upgraded their license in the past year, the moment many buy their first HF rig. 42,485 licenses expire in the next six months, a chance for clubs to reconnect.
New hams by month
Show data table
| Month | New hams |
|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 79 |
| Nov 2025 | 2,058 |
| Dec 2025 | 2,204 |
| Jan 2026 | 1,884 |
| Feb 2026 | 2,135 |
| Mar 2026 | 2,648 |
| Apr 2026 | 2,408 |
| May 2026 | 3,057 |
| Jun 2026 | 2,617 |
| Jul 2026 | 1,751 |
| Aug 2026 | 1,621 |
| Sep 2026 | 1,587 |
| Total | 24,049 |
License classes
| Class | Hams | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Technician | 359,021 | 48% |
| General | 184,205 | 25% |
| Amateur Extra | 157,682 | 21% |
| Advanced | 25,564 | 3% |
| Novice / Other | 15,235 | 2% |
In the past 12 months, 4,645 operators upgraded to General and 5,439 to Amateur Extra.
23,970 new hams in the U.S. this past year. See the ones near you, free every month.
Sign Up Free →New hams by state
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| State | Rank | New hams 12 mo | Change vs prior year | Active hams | New per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | 349 | ▼ 15% | 12,054 | 29.0 |
| Alaska | 44 | 118 | ▲ 20% | 3,204 | 36.8 |
| Arizona | 17 | 520 | ▼ 9% | 21,012 | 24.7 |
| Arkansas | 35 | 205 | ▼ 12% | 7,880 | 26.0 |
| California | 1 | 2,726 | ▼ 5% | 90,252 | 30.2 |
| Colorado | 13 | 613 | ▲ 3% | 19,471 | 31.5 |
| Connecticut | 37 | 193 | ▼ 7% | 6,975 | 27.7 |
| Delaware | 46 | 81 | ▼ 20% | 1,882 | 43.0 |
| District of Columbia | 50 | 46 | ▲ 28% | 572 | 80.4 |
| Florida | 3 | 1,202 | ▼ 11% | 42,069 | 28.6 |
| Georgia | 8 | 746 | ▲ 2% | 19,012 | 39.2 |
| Hawaii | 43 | 120 | ▲ 29% | 3,412 | 35.2 |
| Idaho | 23 | 365 | ▲ 14% | 11,133 | 32.8 |
| Illinois | 12 | 627 | 0% | 18,824 | 33.3 |
| Indiana | 19 | 467 | ▼ 6% | 15,330 | 30.5 |
| Iowa | 31 | 223 | ▲ 33% | 6,372 | 35.0 |
| Kansas | 34 | 207 | ▲ 9% | 7,057 | 29.3 |
| Kentucky | 28 | 301 | ▼ 13% | 9,760 | 30.8 |
| Louisiana | 33 | 214 | ▲ 22% | 5,890 | 36.3 |
| Maine | 42 | 137 | ▼ 9% | 4,452 | 30.8 |
| Maryland | 26 | 346 | ▼ 8% | 10,628 | 32.6 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 560 | ▲ 16% | 13,299 | 42.1 |
| Michigan | 9 | 710 | ▲ 11% | 20,583 | 34.5 |
| Minnesota | 24 | 360 | ▲ 15% | 11,260 | 32.0 |
| Mississippi | 45 | 107 | ▼ 8% | 4,825 | 22.2 |
| Missouri | 20 | 466 | ▼ 10% | 14,954 | 31.2 |
| Montana | 41 | 145 | ▲ 19% | 4,479 | 32.4 |
| Nebraska | 38 | 170 | ▲ 16% | 3,781 | 45.0 |
| Nevada | 30 | 230 | ▲ 3% | 8,078 | 28.5 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | 149 | ▼ 18% | 5,799 | 25.7 |
| New Jersey | 21 | 444 | 0% | 12,798 | 34.7 |
| New Mexico | 36 | 201 | ▲ 12% | 6,055 | 33.2 |
| New York | 4 | 1,173 | ▲ 5% | 25,909 | 45.3 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 913 | ▼ 21% | 23,519 | 38.8 |
| North Dakota | 52 | 42 | 0% | 1,439 | 29.2 |
| Ohio | 10 | 703 | ▼ 11% | 26,693 | 26.3 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | 269 | ▼ 19% | 9,648 | 27.9 |
| Oregon | 15 | 591 | ▼ 5% | 19,969 | 29.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 785 | ▲ 4% | 23,751 | 33.1 |
| Puerto Rico | 31 | 223 | ▲ 24% | 5,366 | 41.6 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | 46 | ▼ 15% | 1,873 | 24.6 |
| South Carolina | 22 | 376 | ▼ 4% | 10,668 | 35.2 |
| South Dakota | 48 | 57 | ▼ 15% | 2,155 | 26.5 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 605 | ▼ 14% | 20,289 | 29.8 |
| Texas | 2 | 2,054 | ▲ 23% | 53,491 | 38.4 |
| Utah | 18 | 508 | ▼ 6% | 18,054 | 28.1 |
| Vermont | 49 | 48 | ▼ 6% | 2,035 | 23.6 |
| Virginia | 11 | 700 | ▼ 3% | 20,451 | 34.2 |
| Washington | 5 | 931 | ▼ 11% | 32,732 | 28.4 |
| West Virginia | 39 | 161 | ▲ 3% | 5,777 | 27.9 |
| Wisconsin | 27 | 336 | ▼ 3% | 11,233 | 29.9 |
| Wyoming | 47 | 73 | ▲ 4% | 2,395 | 30.5 |
Territories: American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Virgin Islands
Top 25 counties for new hams
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| # | County | New hams 12 mo | Change vs prior year | Active hams | New per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County, CA | 481 | ▼ 1% | 15,862 | 30.3 |
| 2 | King County, WA | 302 | ▼ 5% | 9,030 | 33.4 |
| 3 | Maricopa County, AZ | 255 | ▼ 16% | 9,970 | 25.6 |
| 4 | San Diego County, CA | 252 | ▼ 2% | 8,704 | 29.0 |
| 5 | Orange County, CA | 202 | ▼ 2% | 7,679 | 26.3 |
| 6 | Santa Clara County, CA | 199 | ▼ 21% | 7,161 | 27.8 |
| 7 | Harris County, TX | 198 | ▲ 33% | 5,172 | 38.3 |
| 8 | Middlesex County, MA | 194 | ▲ 34% | 3,978 | 48.8 |
| 9 | Richmond County, NY | 188 | ▼ 1% | 868 | 216.6 |
| 10 | Cook County, IL | 155 | 0% | 4,264 | 36.4 |
| 11 | Utah County, UT | 139 | ▼ 6% | 4,729 | 29.4 |
| 12 | Alameda County, CA | 138 | ▼ 9% | 4,116 | 33.5 |
| 13 | Kings County, NY | 136 | ▼ 24% | 1,261 | 107.9 |
| 14 | Travis County, TX | 135 | ▲ 26% | 2,629 | 51.4 |
| 15 | Wake County, NC | 126 | ▲ 4% | 2,933 | 43.0 |
| 16 | Bexar County, TX | 124 | ▲ 59% | 2,404 | 51.6 |
| 17 | San Bernardino County, CA | 122 | ▼ 43% | 5,288 | 23.1 |
| 18 | Tarrant County, TX | 122 | ▼ 2% | 4,350 | 28.0 |
| 19 | Fairfax County, VA | 113 | ▼ 6% | 2,888 | 39.1 |
| 20 | Clark County, NV | 108 | ▼ 4% | 4,037 | 26.8 |
| 21 | Suffolk County, NY | 108 | ▲ 61% | 2,390 | 45.2 |
| 22 | San Mateo County, CA | 104 | ▼ 16% | 2,969 | 35.0 |
| 23 | Salt Lake County, UT | 99 | ▼ 3% | 4,685 | 21.1 |
| 24 | Riverside County, CA | 97 | ▼ 29% | 4,502 | 21.5 |
| 25 | Multnomah County, OR | 96 | ▼ 14% | 2,948 | 32.6 |
Fastest-growing counties
Among counties with at least 20 new hams in the prior 12 months.
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| # | County | New hams 12 mo | Change vs prior year | Active hams | New per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster County, NE | 56 | ▲ 167% | 807 | 69.4 |
| 2 | Valencia County, NM | 46 | ▲ 109% | 284 | 162.0 |
| 3 | El Paso County, TX | 55 | ▲ 96% | 740 | 74.3 |
| 4 | Macomb County, MI | 40 | ▲ 90% | 1,151 | 34.8 |
| 5 | York County, PA | 44 | ▲ 83% | 1,122 | 39.2 |
| 6 | Fulton County, GA | 75 | ▲ 63% | 1,243 | 60.3 |
| 7 | Cumberland County, PA | 60 | ▲ 62% | 660 | 90.9 |
| 8 | Ramsey County, MN | 42 | ▲ 62% | 930 | 45.2 |
| 9 | Suffolk County, NY | 108 | ▲ 61% | 2,390 | 45.2 |
| 10 | Bexar County, TX | 124 | ▲ 59% | 2,404 | 51.6 |
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Questions about new ham radio licenses
How many new ham radio licenses are issued each year in the U.S.?
23,970 people received their first FCC amateur radio license in the 12 months ending Oct 1, 2026, counting licensees who are still active.
How many licensed ham radio operators are there in the U.S.?
741,707 active amateur radio licensees as of Oct 1, 2026.
Which states have the most new hams?
In the past 12 months: California (2,726), Texas (2,054) and Florida (1,202).
Where does this data come from?
From the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) public amateur license database, which we download every Monday. Addresses are matched to counties with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder. This page shows totals only.
Can I see the names or call signs on this page?
No. Public pages show totals only. Verified Ham Recruiter users can search and export lists for outreach; see how licensee information is handled.
About this data
Data as of . Source: FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) weekly amateur license database; county from U.S. Census Bureau geocoding. Aggregates only, no individual licensee data is shown. Aggregate figures © Ham Recruiter, CC BY 4.0.
How we count
- New ham: an active licensee whose first license was granted in the period.
- Address updates: a change of FCC mailing address, often a move into the area.
- Counts use each licensee’s current FCC address. Someone licensed here who later moved is counted where they live now.
- Each license keeps only its most recent event of each type, so two upgrades in one year count once.
- PO-box-only addresses often can’t be matched to a county, so rural counties are slightly undercounted.
Includes 265 licensees with military or overseas mailing addresses.