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How much does an electrician earn in the UK?
The short answer is: it depends on where you are in your career and what kind of electrical work you do.
The UK Government's National Careers Service currently gives electricians a broad salary range of around £26,000 for someone starting out to £45,000 for an experienced electrician.
That is useful as a general guide, but it is not a pay scale. Electrical jobs advertised by employers can be lower or higher than those figures.
£26,000
National Careers Service starter figure.
£45,000
National Careers Service experienced figure.
How pay changes as you gain experience
Your pay will normally change as you learn more and become able to carry out more work without help.
Apprentice
Mate / Improver
Qualified Electrician
Experienced / Supervisor
If you're already working towards becoming qualified, our NVQ Level 3 Electrical Qualification Guide explains the practical qualification route in plain English.
Employed vs self-employed electrician
Going self-employed can mean earning more, but the amount you charge customers is not the same as the amount you personally keep.
Employed electrician
Self-employed electrician
What you charge isn't what you earn
If a self-employed electrician charges £1,000 for a job, that doesn't mean they have personally earned £1,000. Materials, fuel, tools, insurance, tax and other business costs may still need to come out of that money. If you subcontract on construction work, our CIS guide for electricians explains how deductions are taken before you are paid.
What about contract and site work?
On construction projects, electricians are often paid by the hour or by the day instead of receiving a yearly salary.
There isn't one national day rate. The amount can change from project to project depending on where the job is, what level of electrician is needed, the hours and how difficult the work is.
Mate
Usually supports electricians on site while building practical experience.
Improver
Has more electrical experience and can normally take on more installation work.
Electrician
A qualified electrician can usually apply for a wider range of contract jobs.
Supervisor / specialist
Jobs involving more responsibility, testing or specialist work can pay more.
How much can electricians charge for work in people's homes?
There isn't a fixed UK price list. Even two jobs with the same name can cost very different amounts.
Electrical safety inspection (EICR)
This is a check of a property's electrical installation. A small flat can cost less than a large house because there may be fewer circuits and less to inspect and test.
Consumer unit replacement
Price depends on the size of the installation, the equipment being fitted and whether any other electrical problems are found.
Full property rewire
A small flat and a large house are completely different jobs. Property size, number of sockets and lights, access, finish and how much work is involved all affect the final price.
Fault finding and small jobs
Some faults are found quickly. Others can take hours to trace. Call-out charges, location and out-of-hours work can also change the price.
What affects how much an electrician earns?
Two electricians with the same job title can earn very different amounts.
Where you work
Your qualifications
Type of job
Your experience
Extra useful skills
Hours & conditions
How can an electrician earn more?
There isn't one magic qualification that suddenly gives you a certain wage. Higher pay normally comes from a mixture of becoming qualified, gaining experience and taking on work that carries more responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
About the pay figures in this guide
The £26,000–£45,000 employed salary range comes from the UK Government's National Careers Service electrician profile. Actual electrical jobs can pay less or more.
The £8.00 apprentice rate shown above is the statutory apprentice minimum from April 2026 where that rate applies. Age and stage of apprenticeship can mean a higher legal minimum applies.
We deliberately do not publish fixed UK day rates or fixed prices for rewires, EICRs and other domestic work because these can vary heavily by location, property size and the work involved.
Last reviewed 5 August 2026