How Much Can I Earn As An Electrician?

What’s one of the first questions you’re going to ask yourself when considering electrical training? It’s most likely ‘how much can I earn as an electrician?’ As well as wanting a job you’ll enjoy, earning enough to support yourself and your family is also an incredibly important aspect. As a beginner in any career, you won’t go in at the top of a pay range straight away. Learning a new skill can also mean a temporary pay cut for some. However, retraining as an electrician means that you have a skill that can take you into a variety of positions, both employed and self-employed.

What Does The Training Involve?

Our courses are designed to cater to a variety of people, from beginners with no experience to time-served electricians. Our class sizes are small and tutors with years of industry experience deliver the training. We currently offer two electrical courses for beginners.

Our Domestic Electrical Installer Award is ideal for those looking to take to their first step in the industry with the goal of working in domestic properties. Through a combination of theoretical and practical training, students earn their DEI as well as 18th Edition Wiring Regulations qualifications.

Alternatively, our NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training is for those looking to become installation electricians. Throughout the course, students complete centre-led training and work with on-site to gain invaluable experience. You’ll undertake an AM2 assessment which on completion means you can apply for your ECS Gold Card. Throughout your training, Options Skills will be on hand to help and support you.

What Will I Be Trained To Do?

Training to become an installation electrician will include a variety of aspects of electrical work. Health and safety, installation and wiring, circuits and 18th Edition wiring regulations are just some of what you will learn. As an installation electrician, you will be able to work unsupervised on installation, commissioning and the maintenance of low voltage electrical and electronic devices.

How Much Can I Earn As An Electrician?

How much you earn as an electrician will depend on your level experience and location. Newly-qualified electricians working for an employer can expect a starting salary of between £19,000 – £22,000 per annum. As your experience increases, so will your wage. Additionally, earnings vary depending on where you’re based/working. For example, the average electrician’s salary in London is around £36000. Earnings can vary greatly, but the average is around £32,500. (Source: TotalJobs)

Should I Be Employed Or Self-Employed?

Again, this is entirely dependent on your level of skill and experience. A newly-qualified electrician would have a more stable income working for an employer, to begin with. As experience level and reputation grows, many electricians find themselves opting to work on a self-employed basis.

As a self-employed electrician, you can set your own rate of pay, choose your working hours and what jobs you take on. However, holiday and sick pay aren’t paid and earnings may fluctuate each month.

Employment offers a steady rate of pay and regular working hours, with holiday and sick pay paid as per your contract. When working for a company, you’ll have less say in the jobs you undertake and less flexibility.

Both options have their pros and cons and you may find you need to try both out to find which style of working works best for you.

Interested In Becoming An Electrician?

If working as an electrician is something you’re considering, check out our NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training page. For more information, call us on 0800 802 1306, or fill in our online contact form to request a callback.