Electrician Pay UK 2026/27
Electrician earnings are strong across UK trades, with self-employment and low-carbon installation work often delivering the highest rates. Certification level and region make a large difference to take-home potential.
At a Glance
- Apprentice / Improver Electrician£1,493 / moof £20,000 gross a year
- Qualified Electrician (NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds)£2,573 / moof £38,000 gross a year
- Approved Electrician / Supervisor / Self-employed£3,293 / moof £50,000 gross a year
Electricians are among the UK's best-paid trades, especially for self-employed practitioners and those delivering EV charging, solar PV, and heat-pump-related installations.
JIB national rates from 5 January 2026 put an approved electrician at £21.19/hour with their own transport (about £41,300/year on the standard 37.5-hour week), while self-employed electricians in London and the South East often charge £50–£80/hour for domestic work.
Core qualifications remain the ECS route plus 18th Edition Wiring Regulations competency.
Electrician Salary Breakdown UK 2026/27
The table below shows typical electrician salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any gross salary figure to open it in the calculator.
| Level | National Gross | National Take-Home | Monthly (National) | London Gross | London Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / Improver Electrician | £20,000 | £17,921 | £1,493 | £25,000 | £21,521 |
| Qualified Electrician (NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds) | £38,000 | £30,881 | £2,573 | £48,000 | £38,081 |
| Approved Electrician / Supervisor / Self-employed | £50,000 | £39,521 | £3,293 | £65,000 | £48,258 |
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2026/27
Like all UK workers, electricians salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2026/27 tax year:
| Up to £12,570 | 0% (Personal Allowance) |
| £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% (Basic Rate) |
| £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% (Higher Rate) |
| Above £125,140 | 45% (Additional Rate) |
| Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| £12,570 – £50,270 | 8% |
| Above £50,270 | 2% |
| - | - |
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
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Pension, region, student loan, State Pension age
Explore your finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence, using the pay figures above.
Financial independence
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you stop working at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms, that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- You may be able to retire earlier - try adjusting the retirement age field
Where your £3,167 a month goes
- Essentials£1,750
- Everything else£500
- Tax and NI£549
- Pension£158
- Left to invest in your ISA£209
Projected wealth
Estimated income over 50 years, in today's money, with a 5% annual return and 0.35% yearly platform and fund fees.
Projected pension
Your pension pot over 31 years at three growth rates, after 0.35% fees, in today's money.
Calculations
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £3,040
- Invested annual surplus = £2,513
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included