One of the most important reasons for going through your Construction NVQ and CSCS Card that will get you to a specific construction career is the opportunity to do something you like. Passion is no doubt important in any career. However, whether having passion for a job means never having to work a day in your life (a popular cliche), is a debate that is unlikely to end any time soon.
But no matter how passionate one might be about a particular construction career such as that of an electrician, it will not count for much if it does not put food on the table, pay the bills and cover the kids’ tuition fees.
Factors that determine an electricians salary
So how much do electricians in the UK earn. Like any other vocation, it depends on a number of factors – location, experience, academic qualification, professional credentials (NVQ and ECS Card level), level of responsibility and the employer. For electricians fresh out of school or college, the pay will also be governed by the minimum wage laws in the UK. Starting salaries for entry level electricians will inevitably be low but rise as one acquires the relevant Electrical NVQs and experience.
On location, electrician jobs in the large cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham will pay more than similar jobs in small towns and rural areas.
The general pay range for an electrican
Overall, pay for UK electricians may be as low as £11 per hour with majority of UK electricians earning between £11 and £20 per hour during normal working hours. Few experienced electricians make below £20,000 per annum.
Self employed electricians are more likely to make more than employed electricians since they are not tied down by company pay categories. This of course all depends on how well they market their service and the opportunities in the place they work.
Unsurprisingly, electrical engineers and electrical maintenance engineers will earn substantially more than ordinary electricians. The median pay for such engineers with moderate experience and working in large cities like Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and London can be as high as £30,000 per annum.