How Much Can You Make as an Electrician? The 2026 UK Salary Guide
- Last reviewed:
- Updated June 2026 with current JIB rates, regional salary data, and specialist earning projections.
Table of Contents
If you’re looking or searching for how much electricians make, then there is a likelihood you’re at the start of your career or doing the initial research before a career change.
Not sure how to become an electrician? We got you covered with our 2026 guide.
| Region | Expected Range (Annual) |
|---|---|
| London (Inside M25) | £27,500 – £28,000 |
| South East / M4 Corridor | £26,500 – £27,800 |
| North West (Manchester) | £26,000 – £27,500 |
| Midlands (Birmingham) | £25,500 – £27,000 |
| Scotland (SJIB Central) | £25,500 – £26,800 |
| Yorkshire & North East | £24,800 – £26,200 |
| Wales & SW England | £24,784 – £26,000 |
| Northern Ireland | £24,784 – £25,500 |
*No experience beginner roles.
Electrician’s wages can normally be split into 4 sections, beginner, advanced, qualified and specialist. Two other caveats to consider are regional differences and employment status (self-employed vs employed).
Average UK Electrician Salary 2026
Let’s start with the basics:
- Beginner: £24,784 – £28,000
- Advanced: £28,000 – £33,000
- Qualified: £39,100 – £46,000
- Specialist: £44,000 – £65,000+
*Please note the data excludes apprenticeships.
** 37.5 Hours/Week
Regional Variations in Electrician Salaries
Across the UK we see regional differences from beginner to full qualified, these can impact income massively.
Self-Employed vs. Employed Divide
Now the third biggest difference we see in the sector is employed vs self-employed.
What Other Factors Can Determine an Electrician’s Earning Potential?
Work Flexibility
Small changes equalling massive differences.
- JIB rules indicate that a working night shift must be paid a premium of +33%, this could top up your wage from £39,156 to over £52,000 for the exact same number of hours by incorporating night shifts into your working hours.
- Overtime all adds up, its common for the industry to pay anything between 1.5x and 2x, doing 5 hours a week could potentially increase your income by £7800 a year.
Additional Responsibility
- Senior/manager roles – JIB rates directly reflect enhancements as you progress into supervisory roles. Overseeing a small team of 2–5 people could increase your hourly wage by £1–£1.50.
- Site Supervisors can typically see an increase between £4000 to £7000 a year, also its not unheard of a company laptop, vehicle and company perks at this level.
- Project Manager this may require additional training or qualifications, but if you decide to make the jump salaries can range from £55,000 to £75,000 plus.
Transferable Experience
I don’t think this is highlighted enough, but we get direct feedback from our employer partners (120+ across the UK) and our employment managers, that a lot of transferable skills exist that potential sparkies are not aware of. The most common ones overlooked are:
- Other trade experience – carpentry, bricklaying, general construction and plumbing.
- Customer Service – especially in roles that are customer facing.
- Office skills – as you progress into more specialist roles these skills become so valuable especially when looking at project management roles, smart homes and data centres.
Is Becoming an Electrician a Wise Career Move?
It’s hard to be impartial especially as we train electricians, but what we can look at is the last 5-year industry trends and demands and furthermore forecast the next 5 years, this will give you a more balanced approach.
That is the projection for the next 5 years, please note the next 3 years the rate has been fixed to steady rapidly expanding wages in the sector, also take into consideration this is the minimum with a majority of employers paying above the base rate due to workforce shortages.
As you can see, a perfect storm is being created:
- Stretched workforce which 9,365 electricians short (2026)
- Above inflation raise in 2024
- Three-year JIB pay deal locks operative rises at 4–5% a year through 2028, despite shortage pressure
- Companies ignoring the cap and paying what they claim to be market rate
This data does not take into consideration the unprecedented growth of ai, and AI data centre infrastructure.
So, all in all, I would say it’s a good time to train to become a fully qualified electrician.
Experience and Qualifications
You need both, you can’t become a fully qualified electrician without experience, all four routes in the UK involve getting on the tools.
The other side of the coin, you can have 5, 10, 15 years’ experience on the tools but you still need a qualification to be recognised as a fully qualified electrician (Experienced Worker Qualification).
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Apprenticeship Wages
This has a whole section by itself, as its more suited to younger learners i.e. 16-21, due to the salary constraints.
Please note if you’re a 21+ Apprentice the second year you should be paid the national living wage (£12.71).
Apprentice rates are confirmed to go up by 2% in 2027 and 3% in 2028.
Most career changes would struggle to survive on an hourly wage of £8.16 for a year, hence why a lot opt for the faster and more feasible route as outline in the Fast Track Diploma.
What Is the Average Salary of an Electrician Compared to Other Trades?
Each one below is based on 2026 data and being fully qualified. [1]
(keep this table below but make it look better)
| Trade | Average Annual Salary | Typical Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £42,500–£54,000 | £300–£500 |
| Plumber / Gas Engineer | £38,000–£48,000 | £320–£480 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | £33,000–£44,000 | £240–£360 |
| Bricklayer | £30,000–£42,000 | £240–£320 |
| Plasterer | £28,000–£39,000 | £220–£300 |
| Painter & Decorator | £26,000–£35,000 | £180–£280 |
The 5 Year Gap
*Projected increase based on 2026 data.
Electrician comes out on top, the data is massively supported by government policy and the drive to net zero.
How to Super Charge Your Income as an Electrician
Once you’re fully qualified there are multiple avenues to increase your earning potential, this section is for anyone who wants to know the 3-year, 5 year and 10-year plan.
Career Progression Opportunities for Electricians
Where is the money? Or where it the stability, career progression all depends on what is your key driving factors, money, security, travel, or a combination of them all.
Electrician Salary Based on Specialisation
The no-brainer add-ons that add another arm to your earning potential with continued growth projected for the next 5-10 years.
EV Charge Point Installer
Average yearly wage of £45,000 – £65,000, that works out to be a daily rate of between £300 – £450.
The push to net zero is in full swing, this is a nice little add on with minimal time training needed (5 days needed for the C&G 2921-34 Domestic & Commercial EV Charging Installation Course).
Solar PV & Battery Storage
Average yearly wage of £48,000 – £60,000, that works out to be a daily rate of £300 – £400.
With energy prices going through the roof, the UK is consistently looking at more renewable options, solar and battery has been the go-to for UK homeowners for several years now.
The two courses you would need are Small Solar Photovoltaic Systems (2922) and Small Electrical Energy Storage Systems 2923.
Inspection & Testing
Average yearly wage of £42,000 – £55,000, that works out to be a daily rate of £300 – £400.
Since 2020, every privately rented property in England has needed a valid EICR every five years. From 1 May 2026, the same requirement extends to existing social housing tenancies in England — and the original 2021 wave of EICR certificates is now hitting its five-year renewal point at the same time. Two demand spikes landing in the same year.
The course you need to be able to do this is C&G 2391-52 Electrical Inspection & Testing Course.
Demand for all three is set to rise sharply, and it’s down to one regulatory change.
From 1 October 2026, the updated Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) requires every electrician carrying out EICRs, EV charge point installs, solar PV, or battery storage work to hold an individual Level 3 qualification plus two years of recorded experience in that work category.
The old model — where a single Qualified Supervisor could sign off the work of a whole team of less-qualified operatives — no longer applies. Each electrician must now be individually qualified and individually competent.
What that means in practice: from October 2026, the pool of electricians legally allowed to carry out the three highest-growth jobs in the trade shrinks overnight. If you hold the right Level 3 qualifications (2391-52, 2921-34, 2922 and 2923), you’re on the right side of that shift. If you don’t, you’re locked out of the work that’s paying £300–£450 a day.
The Other Big Four
| Specialisation | 2026 “Top Tier” Potential | Additional Training / Certification Required |
|---|---|---|
| Data Centre (AP) | £72,000 | AP (Authorised Person) LV/HV, C&G 2391, & Site-Specific UPS/Generator Certs |
| Industrial / PLC | £68,000 | PLC Programming (Siemens S7/Allen Bradley), & Industrial Control Wiring (C&G 2396) |
| HV Specialist | £65,000 | DNO Authorisation, HV Jointing Level 4, & SSSTS/SMSTS |
| Smart Home | £58,000 | Manufacturer Training (Lutron, Loxone, Control4), & Home Networking (CEDIA) |
Data Centre Electricians focus on:
- Preventive Maintenance
- Continuous System Monitoring
- Critical Infrastructure Testing
Industrial & PLC Electricians focus on:
- Safety System Integration
- Control Panel Wiring
- Automated System Maintenance
HV Specialist Electricians focus on:
- Substation Maintenance
- Implementing Safe Systems of Work
- HV Cable Jointing & Termination
Smart Home Electricians focus on:
- Climate & Energy Management
- Whole-Home Integration
- Smart Security & Access Control
Electrician Work That Rewards Travel
Depending on your situation will determine if this is suitable for you. If your happy to travel and work shifts (normally 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 12 hours a day). Then offshore electrician work is for you.
Just be aware it’s not for the faint hearted. I have worked with people that have worked offshore, and it’s hard and more dangerous than domestic work.
With the extra responsibility, comes extra pay:
| Offshore Specialism | Average Annual Salary (Projected 2026) |
|---|---|
| Wind Turbine Technician | £48,000–£65,000 |
| Platform Electrician (Oil/Gas) | £55,000–£75,000+ |
Please note the following are essential to work offshore.
Oil and Gas Companies Require:
- BOSIET (CA-EBS)
- MIST
- CompEx
- OEUK Medical
Wind Turbine Companies Require:
- GWO BST
- CompEx
- OEUK Medical
Please do your research as these courses can set you back 1000s.
Becoming Self-Employed or Starting a Limited Company
This all depends on where you are in the journey, If you’re at the start of your journey, here’s what we’ve found helps most when securing your first electrician’s mate role.
- ECS Electrical Labourer Card
- Register with HMRC as Self Employed
- Register with the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Normally our students have their 2365-02 and 18th edition at this stage.
We are aware of employers taking on mates without these qualifications, it’s just harder.
The reason why this helps you getting your foot through the door is based on the reduced risk for potential employers, giving you a 3-day subby contract allows them to see your work ethic and work experience with minimal risk.
Years ago individuals at this stage would set up their own company and employ themselves so they could complete their 2357 NVQ this loophole was quickly shut down.
If you’re fully qualified, then other options do come into play. (please contact an accountant to cover this in greater detail). Below is some general guidelines:
| Business Milestone | Status | Decision Factor |
|---|---|---|
Stage 1: Electrician’s Mate (sole trader) | ECS Card, no prior experience | Get on site as a subcontractor (subby). |
Stage 2: Domestic Sparky (sole trader) | Profit £20k–£45k | Lower admin costs than a company. |
Stage 3: Expanding Business (Company) | Profit £50,000+ | Corporation Tax (19%) becomes more efficient than 40% Income Tax. |
Stage 4: Moving to Commercial (Company) | Working with commercial clients | Many companies mandate an LTD for liability and insurance. |
Stage 5: High-Risk Work (Company) | EV, Industrial, HV, Data Centres | Need to separate personal assets from business. |
So you are now fully qualified and decided to set up on your own, how do you generate work, how do you price it, and what are some of the issues you will run into.
Ensuring a Good Reputation = Sustained Demand
Years ago, all you needed was a good reputation and a premium listing in the yellow pages and that gave you all the work you needed.
I don’t believe much has changed. You still need the two above but in a different way.
How consumers judge a business reputation has evolved, it has moved from word of mouth to digital, here are a few sites that are essential as a tradesman for reputation management:
- Checkatrade
- Google maps
- TrustPilot
- Nextdoor
Secondary factors:
- Social Media presence
- Past work examples
- Video testimonials
- Website
Yellow pages premium has changed to google ads, meta ads, paper ads, offline marketing. To cover all the options would take another 5/10 articles, at this stage I would recommend doing more research on what could work for you and also what your comfortable doing, for me due to my background, I would focus on google maps and organic.
Get the above right, and your company will flourish and your income/profit will match.
Responding to Emergency Call-outs
This is a strange one, over the years I know electrical companies that only want to do this kind of work, and then I know some that would not touch it with a bargepole.
I can see both sides, some want steady work between 9-5, Monday to Friday, whilst other companies thrive within the chaos and unpredictability.
Electricians’ Emergency Hourly Rate
The table below shows the earning potential, its split into regions and what I would call the three-tier pricing.
- Green Zone – Normal working hours
- Amber Zone- Social Emergency Hours
- Red Zone – Dead Zone Hours
| Region | Green Zone (09:00 – 17:00) | Amber Zone (17:00 – 22:00) | Red Zone (22:00 – 06:00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & M25 | £120 (1st hr) / £84ph | £180 (1st hr) / £126ph | £264 (1st hr) / £168ph |
| South East / Commuter | £96 (1st hr) / £72ph | £144 (1st hr) / £108ph | £216 (1st hr) / £144ph |
| Midlands & North West | £78 (1st hr) / £60ph | £120 (1st hr) / £90ph | £180 (1st hr) / £120ph |
| North East & Scotland | £72 (1st hr) / £54ph | £108 (1st hr) / £78ph | £168 (1st hr) / £108ph |
| Wales & South West | £72 (1st hr) / £54ph | £102 (1st hr) / £78ph | £144 (1st hr) / £108ph |
Over the last two years we have seen a growth of companies offering a 10-minute diagnostic video call option (normally done over what’s app).
How it works:
- Client deposits £20-£30 (normally done via credit card charge)
- Company facetimes client to diagnose issue
- If the issue is resolved the company keeps the deposit
- If the issue needs more investigation, the call out fee is charged and electrician organised
Clients prefer this model due to lower initial costs, also acts as a funnel for bigger jobs for the company.
Pricing on the Job (POA)
I have seen companies lose money due to this, data from 2025 and early 2026 shows that 80% of customers want some kind of base line [2]. I feel at this point its also a good filtering system, nothing worse than going to price a job and the client thinks they can get a full house rewire for £1000.00.
So, let’s play it safe:
- A two bedroom rewire from £3,900
Sounds better than:
- A two bedroom rewire (POA)
Data backs this up.
Electricians’ Pricing Recommendations
Hands down this is the most difficult part to write, prices vary massively depending on the regions you operate, also being VAT registered influences pricing [3].
Common Electrical Jobs and Their Average Costs
| Job Description | Typical Price Range | Average Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Double Socket (Added to existing circuit) | £80 – £150 | 1 – 2 Hours |
| Replacement Consumer Unit (RCBO/SPD type) | £500 – £850 | 4 – 6 Hours |
| EICR Safety Certificate (2–3 Bed House) | £150 – £250 | 3 – 4 Hours |
| EV Home Charger Installation (Standard) | £850 – £1,350 | 3 – 5 Hours |
| Fault Finding (Initial diagnostic call-out) | £100 – £250 | 1 – 2 Hours |
| Light Fitting Swap (Like-for-like) | £50 – £100 | 1 Hour |
| Outdoor Security Light (Supply & Fit) | £150 – £280 | 1 – 2 Hours |
Please note the above does not include vat [4].
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References
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By Charanjit Mannu
Director, Elec Training
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