How Much Do Electricians Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to electrician salaries in the UK for 2026. Employed vs self-employed pay, apprentice wages, specialist electrical work rates, regional differences, and how to increase your earning potential.
·4 min read
Electricians are among the highest-paid tradespeople in the UK, with strong demand driven by housing growth and the green energy transition. Here’s what electricians actually earn across different roles and settings.
Employed Electrician Salaries
By Experience Level
Level
Salary Range
Apprentice (Year 1)
£14,000-£17,000
Apprentice (Year 2-3)
£17,000-£24,000
Newly qualified
£26,000-£32,000
Experienced (3-5 years)
£32,000-£40,000
Highly experienced (5-10 years)
£38,000-£45,000
Supervisor / foreman
£42,000-£55,000
Contracts manager
£48,000-£65,000
JIB Recommended Pay Rates (2025/26)
The Joint Industry Board (JIB) sets recommended pay rates for the electrical industry.
Grade
Hourly Rate
Annual Equivalent
Electrician (standard)
£18.06
£35,200
Approved Electrician
£19.49
£38,000
Technician
£20.59
£40,100
Senior Technician
£21.66
£42,200
Based on standard 37.5-hour week, before overtime
By Employer Type
Employer
Typical Salary
Domestic installer
£28,000-£38,000
Commercial contractor
£32,000-£45,000
Industrial
£35,000-£50,000
Local authority / housing
£30,000-£38,000
Facilities management
£32,000-£42,000
Data centre / specialist
£40,000-£60,000
Self-Employed Electrician Earnings
Day Rates
Level
Day Rate
Annual Equivalent
Newly qualified
£180-£250
£36,000-£50,000
Experienced
£220-£350
£44,000-£70,000
Specialist
£280-£450
£56,000-£90,000
London/South East
£300-£500
£60,000-£100,000
Annual figures assume 200 working days
Typical Job Rates
Job
Typical Charge
Replace a consumer unit (fuse board)
£600-£1,200
Full house rewire (3-bed)
£3,500-£6,000
Install new ring main
£400-£800
Add a socket / light point
£80-£200
Install outdoor lighting
£200-£600
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
£150-£300
PAT testing (per item)
£1-£3
EV charger installation
£800-£1,500
Solar panel electrical work
£500-£1,500
Running Costs (Self-Employed)
Cost
Annual Estimate
Van (finance/running costs)
£4,000-£8,000
Tools and equipment
£1,000-£4,000
Insurance (public liability + professional indemnity)
£500-£1,500
Part P scheme membership (eg. NICEIC, NAPIT)
£400-£700
Accountant
£500-£1,200
Phone/admin
£600-£1,200
Marketing/website
£500-£2,000
Test equipment calibration
£200-£500
Total typical overheads
£8,000-£20,000
Specialist Electrician Salaries
Specialising in high-demand areas significantly boosts earning potential.
Specialism
Self-Employed Earnings
Premium vs General
EV charger installer (OZEV approved)
£40,000-£70,000
+15-30%
Solar PV installer
£38,000-£65,000
+10-25%
Data/network cabling
£35,000-£55,000
+10-20%
Fire alarm specialist
£35,000-£55,000
+10-20%
Commercial electrician
£40,000-£65,000
+15-25%
Industrial electrician
£42,000-£70,000
+20-30%
Smart home / automation
£38,000-£60,000
+10-25%
High voltage (HV) electrician
£45,000-£75,000
+25-40%
Building services engineer
£45,000-£70,000
+20-35%
EV Charger Installation — Growing Opportunity
The shift to electric vehicles is creating huge demand for qualified EV charger installers.
Factor
Details
Typical job price
£800-£1,500 per charger
Time per install
3-6 hours
Jobs per week (busy)
5-8
Required qualification
18th Edition + EV charging course
OZEV installer registration
Required for government grant work
Market growth
30%+ year-on-year
Regional Salary Differences
Region
Employed
Self-Employed Day Rate
London
£38,000-£52,000
£320-£500
South East
£34,000-£45,000
£270-£400
South West
£30,000-£38,000
£220-£320
East of England
£32,000-£42,000
£240-£360
West Midlands
£30,000-£38,000
£220-£320
East Midlands
£28,000-£36,000
£200-£300
North West
£30,000-£38,000
£210-£320
Yorkshire
£28,000-£36,000
£200-£300
North East
£27,000-£34,000
£190-£280
Scotland
£30,000-£38,000
£210-£320
Wales
£28,000-£35,000
£200-£290
Northern Ireland
£26,000-£34,000
£190-£270
How to Become an Electrician
Qualification Routes
Route
Duration
Cost
Level 3 Apprenticeship (EAL/C&G)
3-4 years
Earn while learning
Level 3 Diploma (college)
2-3 years
Free (16-18) or £5,000-£10,000
Accelerated adult course
12-26 weeks
£5,000-£15,000
AM2 assessment (end-point)
1-2 days
£500-£800
18th Edition (BS 7671)
1-2 weeks
£250-£400
Essential Qualifications
Qualification
Purpose
Level 3 NVQ / EAL Diploma
Core competence
18th Edition Wiring Regulations
Current standards knowledge
AM2 Assessment
End-point practical assessment
Part P Competent Person Scheme
Self-certify domestic work (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA)
ECS Card (gold)
Site access — Qualified Electrician card
Inspection & Testing (C&G 2391)
Required for EICR work
Worth Adding
Qualification
Value
EV charger installation
High demand, good income
Solar PV installation
Growing market
Fire alarm (BS 5839)
Specialist niche
Emergency lighting
Common add-on work
Data cabling
Business/commercial work
Career Progression and Earnings
Stage
Years in Trade
Typical Earnings
Apprentice
Years 1-4
£14,000-£24,000
Newly qualified (employed)
Years 4-6
£26,000-£34,000
Experienced (employed)
Years 6-10
£34,000-£45,000
Self-employed (building up)
Years 5-8
£36,000-£55,000
Established self-employed
Years 8+
£48,000-£70,000+
Specialist (EV, solar, commercial)
Years 10+
£55,000-£80,000+
Running own business (staff)
Years 12+
£75,000-£130,000+
Electrician vs Other Trades
Trade
Employed Average
Self-Employed Average
Electrician
£35,000-£42,000
£40,000-£65,000
Plumber
£30,000-£40,000
£35,000-£55,000
Gas Engineer
£32,000-£42,000
£40,000-£65,000
Carpenter
£28,000-£36,000
£32,000-£48,000
Bricklayer
£30,000-£38,000
£35,000-£50,000
Electricians typically earn near the top of trade salaries