Average salary for an electrician in the UK

Electrician salaries in the UK vary, depending on experience, whether you’re employed or self-employed, region, specialism, and hours worked. As of mid-2025:

  • The average wage for electricians (hourly) is around £22.20-£22.30 per hour across the UK. Indeed+2Indeed+2
  • In London, rates are a bit higher: approx £23.47 per hour. Indeed
  • Annually, for full-time employed electricians, typical earnings are in the region of £30,000-£38,000, depending on experience and region. NimbleFins+2UKTaxCalculators.co.uk+2

Salary by Experience Level

The amount an electrician earns increases with experience:

  • Apprentice / Trainee: At the start, electricians generally earn around £18,000 to mid-£20,000 annually. NimbleFins+1
  • Early / Junior Qualified: Once fully qualified and with a couple of years of experience, salaries tend to rise into the high £20,000s up to low £30,000s. NimbleFins+1
  • Mid-Career / Experienced: With more years, special skills, or working in demanding areas (e.g. commercial work, emergency callouts, supervisory roles), electricians might earn £32,000-£40,000+ annually. Elec Training+2NimbleFins+2
  • Senior / Specialist / Supervisory Roles: In the upper bracket, or for those who run their own businesses or specialise (e.g. industrial, high voltage, project management), earnings can go above £40,000-£45,000+, especially with overtime, bonuses, or high day rates. NimbleFins+2Salary.com+2

Regional Variations

Where you work in the UK makes a difference.

  • London & the South East usually offer higher hourly rates and salaries, due to cost of living, demand, and often more complex work. For example, London averages around £44,000-£45,000 per year for electricians in some salary data sources. Salary.com+1
  • Other regions like Wales, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber tend to have lower averages — in the low £30,000s. NimbleFins+1
  • Also, rural areas or places with lower demand can pay less; dense urban areas generally pay more.

Employment Type: PAYE vs Self-Employed

How you are employed affects the take-home and gross income:

  • Employed electricians (PAYE) will often have more stable hours, benefits (holiday, pension), and less risk, but less flexibility. Their salary tends to cluster around the averages above. Indeed+1
  • Self-employed contractors or “sparkies” can often charge higher hourly or day rates. Their earnings can be higher, especially when doing specialised or urgent work, managing their own contracts, etc. But they also have additional costs: tools, transport, insurance, business overheads, possibly periods without work. Elec Training+1

Day Rates and Hourly Rates for Private / Contract Work

If working contract or self-employed, rates are often expressed per hour or per day rather than as a salary.

  • Typical day rates might range from £250-£400+ depending on complexity and location. electriciansaround.co.uk+1
  • For simpler work, hourly rates may be in the £35-£60 per hour range (or more in London/specialised work) for non-emergency standard jobs. electriciansaround.co.uk
  • Emergency or out-of‐hours work, or specialist jobs (industrial, high risk) command even higher rates. electriciansaround.co.uk+1

Other Factors That Affect Salary

Here are some variables that influence how much an electrician can expect to earn:

  1. Qualifications & specialisms – e.g. someone with certifications in inspection & testing, high voltage, industrial installations, EV charger installation might earn more.
  2. Overtime, call-outs, emergency work – doing out-of-hours or urgent jobs brings premium rates.
  3. Travel & location costs – working in London or high cost-of-living areas often gives a premium.
  4. Tools, vehicle, overheads – especially self-employed ones must subtract tools, transport, insurance, business expenses.
  5. Reputation, client base, business ownership – a self-employed electrician with steady clients and good reputation can do better than just the base wage, but takes more risk.

Summary

Putting it together:

  • Entry-level electricians (apprentice or newly qualified) can expect £18,000-£25,000 annual salary.
  • Mid-career electricians often earn £30,000-£38,000, depending on region and experience.
  • Senior, specialist, or self-employed electricians can push that up to £40,000-£50,000+, especially in London or in high demand sectors.
  • Hourly wages average around £22/hour for UK wide, perhaps slightly higher in London and some high-cost regions.
  • Contract / day-rate work may exceed these averages, but costs and risks are higher.