Nearly 4 % Wage Rise Secured for UK Electricians: What the 2026-28 JIB Deal Means for Your Pay Packet and Training Plans
The Joint Industry Board (JIB) and Unite the Union have agreed a three-year deal that will lift graded-operative wage rates by almost 13 % between January 2026 and January 2028. The headline figure is a 3.95 % increase from 5 January 2026, followed by 4.6 % in 2027 and 4.85 % in 2028. London technicians working on transport projects will see the top hourly rate climb to £26.70 next year. Apprentice rates rise by 2 % in 2027 and 3 % in 2028, while sick-pay bands gain £10 per week for weeks 3-24 and £5 for weeks 25-52.
For practicing and would-be electricians this settlement is more than a cost-of-living adjustment; it reshapes ROI calculations on every electrician course, apprenticeship pathway and NVQ portfolio. Below we unpack the numbers, the wider labour-market context, and the smartest ways to position your skills before the first pay-rise kicks in. If you want to know more about How to become an electrician.
1 | How Much Extra Cash Are We Talking?
Year | Graded-Operative Uplift | Example: Approved Electrician* | Weekly Sick-Pay Boost (Weeks 3-24) |
2026 | +3.95 % | £21.50 → £22.35/hr | +£10 (£210/wk) |
2027 | +4.6 % | £22.35 → £23.38/hr | No change |
2028 | +4.85 % | £23.38 → £24.51/hr | No change |
*Illustrative, outside London. Exact figures vary by region and grade.
Across three years a site spark outside the capital could see £3 extra per hour—around £6,000 more gross for someone billing a 40-hour week. In London the gap widens further once the city weighting compounds.
2 | Why Employers Agreed to the Deal
- Retention Crisis – Nearly a third of the UK electrical workforce is over 50. Wage stagnation would accelerate retirements and defections to data-centre gigs that already pay premium rates.
- Inflation Catch-Up – Even after recent Bank of England tightening, core inflation pressured take-home pay. A near-4 % rise narrows the gap.
- Project Pipeline – The renewable-energy boom and 300,000-public-charger target mean contractors can pass some labour cost to clients. Better to lock in predictable rises than face strike risk mid-project.
3 | Implications for Apprentices and Improvers
- Apprentices get a back-loaded benefit—2 % in 2027 and 3 % in 2028—but pairing that with a Level 3 completion bumps their grade just as the biggest rise lands. Fast-tracking your NVQ now means you graduate into the 2027 uplift at the higher rate.
- The improved sick-pay safety net (£200–£220 per week) makes it easier for career-changers to quit low-paid jobs and commit to full-time electrical training without fearing lost income if injury strikes.
4 | Strategy for Working Sparks: Upskill Before the Pay Wave
- Nail the NVQ Level 3 by Q3 2025
With 2026 rates set in stone, finishing the “Inspection, Testing & Commissioning” unit this year guarantees you draw the first 3.95 % uplift as a graded operative, not a trainee.
- Add Green-Tech Tickets
EV-charger work already commands £250–£300 labour per 7 kW domestic install. When baseline hourly pay goes up, premium niches go up-plus. Elec Training’s three-week EV-Skills Bootcamp and five-day Battery-Storage lab bolt directly onto an NVQ logbook.
- Secure Vendor Credentials
Developers signing long-term O&M contracts want KNX Partner, CEDIA or Tesla-approved installer status. Higher JIB rates raise tender costs, so extra badges help justify your day-rate.
5 | What About Employers and Main Contractors?
- Budget Forecasting – Build 4–5 % annual labour upticks into bid models now; clients will push back harder later if increases look like surprises.
- Safety Investment – The deal also bumps weekly sick pay. Investing in advanced safety training (arc-flash PPE, LV rescue) reduces lost days and insurance excess, offsetting wage inflation.
- Talent Pipeline – Sponsor apprentices through condensed Skills-Bootcamp blocks. The 2 % wage rise for trainees is cheap insurance against future shortages.
6 | Training Windows and Funding
- Skills Bootcamp Grants still cover up to 100 % of green-tech upskilling fees for eligible learners—but many schemes close before the next fiscal year begins.
- Interest-Free 12-Month Plans at Elec Training mean you can start Level 3 or EV courses in September 2025, complete by summer 2026, and meet the first pay-rise threshold as qualified staff.
7 | Key Take-Aways
- 3.95 % January 2026 uplift is locked in; compounding rises total nearly 13 % by 2028.
- Finish NVQ Level 3 by mid-2025 to feel the full benefit as a graded operative.
- Stack green-tech certificates—higher base pay multiplies premium niche earnings.
- Employers: bake wage inflation into bids now; train and retain to dodge future scarcity costs.
The electrician’s pay packet is on an upward trajectory, but only those with current qualifications and specialist skills will capture the maximum gain. Book your next module, log that portfolio evidence, and be ready when the 2026 rate sheet lands—more pounds per hour for exactly the same 60-minute circuit test. Power up your future before the pay wave hits.
