Electricians have earned the most of all the trades for multiple years running and have only been increasing each time. Let’s talk more about this trade and what you have the potential to earn by completing our electrician course.  

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE ELECTRICIAN SALARY IN THE UK? 

As of 2020, an electrician’s average yearly salary is £33,495 as recorded by the Office of  National Statistics (ONS). This has seen an increase from the average of £33,176 recorded last year. This data has not been skewed by the small percentage of very high earners as  ONS measures average earnings based on the median value. 

AVERAGE SALARIES BY TRADE 

Here is a breakdown of the average salary earned by each trade: 

• Electrician £33,495 
• Plumber £32,356 
• Plasterer £29,772 
• Carpenter £28,488 
• Bricklayer £27,995 
• Roofer £26,994 
• Tiler £27,780 
• Painter £25,591 

This date is taken from ONS’ 2019 to 2020 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.  

CAN I EARN OVER 30K AS A FULLY QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN? 

While it should be noted that the salary ranges mentioned here are intended as a guideline only, a fully-qualified, self-employed, and established electrician is expected to earn anywhere from £35-40K each year, with that number potentially being even higher if you are based in the South East or London areas. 

Self-employed electricians achieve this by charging either a day rate or a fixed rate depending on the type of job they are carrying out, so these rates can vary dramatically and for good reason as being an electrician means doing simple tasks like household rewiring to more taxing tasks like fixing complex machinery. 

Here is a rough guide on what you could be expected to charge for your services: 

• Consumer unit (fuse box) replacement £500 (0.5 – 1 day) 
• Electrical inspection report £90 – £180 (4 – 8 hours) 
• Install and supply a double socket £80 – £130 (1 – 3 hours) 
• Light fitting replacement £40 – £60 (0.5 – 1 hour) 
• Repair a damaged power cable £40 – £60 (0.5 – 1 hour) 
• Electric cooker installation £50 – £80 (0.5 – 1 hour) 
• Electric shower installation £250 – £400 (1 day) 
• Install an external security light £90 – £140 (1 – 3 hours)
• EV charge point installation £200 to £300 (1 day) 

HOURLY RATES / DAY RATES 

Focusing on the South East and London areas again, it’s no unrealistic for an electrician to charge £45-70 per hour or £180-£350 per day as the people in that area earn more so can pay more, plus sometimes things cost more for you in these areas for the same reason, so you need to charge higher rates to get the right equipment. 

Smart thinking and marking up on materials can make a real difference when providing a  quote to your clients. For example, installation and supplement of a new fuse box are around £500, the consumer unit costs around £100 and the job only takes less than a day so the need to cover these costs is obvious. 

Typically, self-employed electricians earn more than those who are employed, but by being self-employed you have to cover all expenses yourself, including tools, vehicle expenses,  scheme registrations, and business insurance, whereas by being employed this is usually provided by the business out of their pocket. 

TRAINEE ELECTRICIANS AND HOW MUCH THEY CAN EARN 

Being an apprentice means you aren’t going to be carrying out the same range of tasks as someone who is established. Most apprentices start out earning below the minimum wage because the employer is paying for their learning whilst they are earning.  

By coming on board with The Trades College, you can bypass the need for an apprenticeship as we can qualify you for the required Level 3 NVQ qualification, so there is no need to pursue an apprenticeship, thereby reducing the qualification time by 30%!  

Our full range of qualification and certificates earned through our course include: 

Domestic Electrical Installer 

• Part P Defined Scope 
• City & Guilds 2382 – 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations • Part P Full Scope 
• City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building and  Structures) 
• City & Guilds 2392 – Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing, and Initial  Verification 

Full Scope Electrician 

• Part P Defined Scope 
• City & Guilds 2382 – 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations
• Part P Full Scope 
• 2391-52 Level 3 Award in inspection and testing 
• City & Guilds 2365 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building,  Structures) 
• City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ 
• City & Guilds 2392 – Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing, and Initial  Verification 
• AM2 (Achievement Measurement 2) Assessment 

JIB ELECTRICIAN WAGE GRADES 

Here are the hourly rates for graded operatives who utilize their own transport as stated by  the Joint Industry Board ( JIB ): 

• Trainee Electrician (stage 1 and stage 2) – £12.41 – £13.93 
• Electrician – £15.46 
• Approved Electrician – £16.77 
• Site Technician – £18.88 

And if you live in London or the southeast you should expect: 

• Trainee Electrician (stage 1 and stage 2) – £13.90 – £15.60 
• Electrician – £17.32 
• Approved Electrician – £18.78 
• Site Technician – £21.14 

THE KEY TO EARNING MORE? 

With lots of electricians competing for customer’s attention, you might feel reluctant to charge higher rates. But you are fully within your right to earn more for your skills, especially  if you follow these steps: 

• Carry out a high-quality service with effective, long-lasting results 
• Work hard and always be trying to be better via further training and research • Turn up on time for your scheduled appointments 

Following these steps will help to increase both your reputation and your income in no time! More focused ways of increasing your earnings include: 

Completing agency work helps to boost confidence, experience, and helps you be ready to apply for contracts directly.

While many hate this word, working overtime is the most commonly used way of increasing earnings while employed, as it’s often paid at a higher hourly rate. 

Further training results in new skills learned, meaning more jobs available to you and more payment avenues as a result. 

Conclusion 

Now you should have a greater understanding of the electrician role and why applying for our electrician course will be extremely beneficial for you financially. We look forward to hopefully hearing from you, answering any more questions you may have, and seeing you at one of our nationwide training centers soon. Become an electrician