Average electrician salary in the UK (£32,540)

 

This year the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded an average Electrician salary of £32,540, compared to £33,495 the year before. This is the median and is the ONS's preferred measure of average earnings. They use this because it is less influenced by the small number of high earners who tend to skew the data upwards. The median means that half of the electricians earn more and half earn less, so the median is a better representation of typical pay.

 

Average Wages by Industry

 

Last year we saw a 1% increase in wages for electricians. This has been addressed this year with a slight decrease in the average wage per trade. After the pandemic and the end of the furlough program, we will likely see a larger increase in electrician wages in the coming year similar to 2018. Average earned per trade：

• Electrician £32,540
• Plumber £31,695
• Plasterer £26,806
• Carpenter £27,961
• Tiler £27,956
• Roofer £24,793
• Tiler £25,477
• Painter £24,797

The above data is based on the annual survey of hours worked and earnings for 2020 to 2021, taken from the Office of National Standards (ONS). See the average percentages by clicking on the interactive chart above.

 

How realistic is it to earn more than £30,000 a year as an electrician?

 

Veteran electricians tend to work as self-employed or contract workers, and while the salaries in this article represent what you could earn while employed by a company, earnings as a contractor tend to be more realistic.

An established self-employed electrician is likely to earn around £350,000 - £40,000 per year, and in London and the South East this figure can be higher. Please note that the salary ranges reported in this article are for guidance only.

 

How do electricians charge for their time?

 

Self-employed electricians will be charged a daily rate or a fixed rate depending on the job.

As a self-employed electrician or contractor, you may be charged a daily or fixed rate depending on the job itself and the region of the country you are in. But as a rough guide, here is a list of what you can expect to be charged.

 

• Consumer unit (fuse box) replacement £500 (0.5 - 1 day)
• Electrical inspection report £90 - £180 (4 - 8 hours)
• Installation and supply of double sockets £80 - £130 (1 - 3 hours)
• Replace light fittings £40 - £60 (0.5 - 1 hour)
• Repair of damaged power cables £40 - £60 (0.5 - 1 hour)
• Electric cooker installation £50 - £80 (0.5 - 1 hour)
• Electric shower installation £250 - £400 (1 day)
• Installation of external security lights £90 - £140 (1 - 3 hours)
• Electric vehicle charging point installation £200 - £300 (1 day)
• Hourly rate / daily rate (£45 to £70 per hour / £180 to £350 per day)
• It is difficult to gather accurate data on how much electricians charge, as it depends on whether they are self-employed or contract workers and what part of the country they work in. In the South East and London, as a rule of thumb, electricians charge £45-70 per hour or £180-350 per day.

 

Working smart and marking up materials when quoting a job can make a real difference to how much you charge per hour. With the average price of supplying and installing a new consumer unit (fuse box) being around. £500 and the cost of the consumer unit being around £100 and the job taking less than a day, it's clear to see where the money starts to add up.

 

Although self-employed electricians tend to earn more than those employed, don't forget that there are other costs to consider for the self-employed, such as tool costs, vehicle costs, scheme registration and business insurance.

 

How much can an apprentice electrician earn?

 

Apprentices often start out earning less than the minimum wage, largely because their employer pays for their learning while they earn money. The current national minimum wage for first year apprentices is £3.90 per hour. However, many employers choose to pay more, with an average wage of approx. 178 per week.

For those who choose not to go down the apprenticeship route, there are other options at the start. One is to pre-load your training and first gain a technical certificate with C&G 2365 Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. This will mean you will be able to earn a better trainee salary of up to £24,000.

 

JIB Electrician Salary Scale

 

You can view the JIB's electrician salaries and pay scales on their website. The JIB has clear guidelines for what electricians earn, but these are only guidelines and not every employer follows them.

As of January 7, 2019, the JIB hourly rates for graded operators who have their transportation are：

 

• Trainee Electrician (Stage 1 and Stage 2) - £12.41 - £13.93
• Electrician - £15.46
• Approved Electrician - £16.77
• Field Technician - £18.88
• If you live in London or the South East, you should expect
• Trainee Electrician (Stage 1 and Stage 2) - £13.90 - £15.60
• Electrician - £17.32
• Approved Electrician - £18.78
• Field Technician - £21.14
• To qualify for a higher wage band, you may need to meet the following criteria.
• Trainee Electrician - Apprentice or Electrician usually in conjunction with a C&G 2365 Diploma
• Electrician - Relevant qualifications, Level 3 NVQ and AM2 (now 2357)
• Approved Electrician - Qualified under #2 as well as regular inspections and tests, e.g. C&G 2394/2395
• Field Technician - based on #3 plus 5+ years of experience (3 of which in a supervisory role) plus a level 4 qualification, e.g. HNC.

 

The key to earning more?

 

There are many ways to increase your earning potential and it really depends on how much time and effort you are willing to put in.

Ensure your work is carried out to a high standard

Be prepared to work hard

Always show up when you say you will

Invest in yourself by increasing your knowledge through experience and further training

If you follow these simple rules, not only will your reputation grow, but your income will too.

 

Work your way up.

 

In the beginning, agency work is great because it allows you to gain confidence and experience, ready to go out and apply for contracts straight away.

Working overtime is a great way to increase an employee's income as it is usually paid at a higher hourly rate.

Upskilling through further training is a great way to improve your skills and earning potential.

Self-employed electricians apply directly for their own contracts and therefore have the opportunity to increase their income.

 

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