Question 1

What are the current JIB pay rates for electricians?

Accepted Answer

The JIB agreed a multi-year wage settlement covering 2025-2028. As of January 2026, the nationally agreed basic hourly rates are approximately 18.32 pounds for an Electrician, 19.75 pounds for an Approved Electrician, and 21.17 pounds for a Technician. These rates apply to directly employed JIB-graded operatives and are updated each January. Many employers pay above the JIB minimum, particularly in London and the South East.

Question 2

How do I calculate a sustainable day rate as a self-employed electrician?

Accepted Answer

Start with your target annual income after tax, then add all business overheads (van, insurance, tools, calibration, accountant, phone, training, holidays, pension). Divide the total by the number of billable days you can realistically achieve — typically 200-220 per year after holidays, sickness, admin, and quiet periods. For example: 50,000 pounds target income plus 18,000 pounds overheads equals 68,000 pounds divided by 210 billable days equals approximately 324 pounds per day.

Question 3

How much do electrician rates vary by region?

Accepted Answer

Rates vary significantly across the UK. London commands the highest rates at 42-50 pounds per hour or 280-380 pounds per day, driven by high demand and high living costs. The South East follows at 38-48 pounds per hour. Rates decrease further from London, with the North East and Northern Ireland at the lower end at 22-30 pounds per hour. Scotland and Wales sit in the middle. Regional variation of 40-60% between the highest and lowest areas is typical.

Question 4

What is the difference between CIS and PAYE for electricians?

Accepted Answer

Under PAYE, your employer deducts income tax and National Insurance before paying you, and you receive employee benefits such as holiday pay, sick pay, and pension contributions. Under CIS (Construction Industry Scheme), you are self-employed and the contractor deducts 20% tax at source (or 30% if not registered) — you are responsible for your own National Insurance, pension, insurance, and holiday pay. CIS rates appear higher than PAYE because they do not include these hidden costs.

Question 5

What is the difference between markup and margin?

Accepted Answer

Markup is calculated on the cost price: if materials cost 100 pounds and you apply a 25% markup, you charge 125 pounds. Margin is calculated on the selling price: if you sell at 125 pounds and your cost was 100 pounds, your margin is 20% (25/125). Electricians typically apply a 15-25% markup on materials. Understanding the difference matters for quoting — a 25% markup equals only a 20% margin.

Question 6

Should I charge extra for emergency and out-of-hours work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Industry standard is a minimum call-out fee of 80-150 pounds plus an hourly rate that is 1.5 to 2 times your normal rate for evenings and weekends. Bank holidays typically command double time. Make your emergency pricing clear and transparent upfront — customers accept premium rates for genuine emergencies when they know the cost before you arrive. Some electricians charge a fixed diagnostic fee that is deducted from the repair cost if the customer proceeds.

Grade	Jan 2025	Jan 2026	Jan 2027	Jan 2028
Electrician	17.62	18.32	19.05	19.81
Approved Electrician	18.99	19.75	20.54	21.36
Technician	20.36	21.17	22.02	22.90

Qualification Level	Route	PAYE Hourly	CIS Day Rate	Notes
Level 2 (Mate / Improver)	NVQ Level 2	12-15	120-160	Working towards full qualification
Level 3 (Electrician)	NVQ3 + AM2	16-22	180-260	Fully qualified, can work unsupervised
Approved Electrician	NVQ3 + AM2 + BS 7671 + experience	19-26	220-320	Can sign off installations
Technician / Inspection	NVQ3 + 2391 + BS 7671	22-30	260-380	Can inspect, test, and certify
Specialist (Fire / Data / HV)	Additional specialist qualifications	25-40	300-450	Premium for niche expertise

Region	Hourly Rate	Day Rate	Key Factor
London (Zone 1-3)	42-50	300-380	Highest demand and cost of living
London (Outer)	38-47	280-350	Strong demand, lower overheads than central
South East	38-48	260-340	Commuter belt premium, high property costs
South West	32-42	230-300	Seasonal variation in tourist areas
East of England	34-44	240-310	Cambridge corridor pushes rates higher
Midlands	30-40	220-290	Competitive market, good demand in cities
North West	28-38	200-270	Manchester/Liverpool higher, rural areas lower
North East	24-34	180-250	Lower cost base supports lower rates
Scotland	30-40	220-290	Edinburgh/Glasgow higher, Highlands lower
Northern Ireland	22-30	170-230	Lowest UK rates, smaller market

Overhead	Annual Cost	Notes
Van (lease/purchase, fuel, insurance, maintenance)	5,000-8,000	Largest single overhead
Public liability insurance	300-600	2M or 5M cover
Tools and test equipment	1,000-2,000	Replacement, repair, and calibration
Competent person scheme (NICEIC/NAPIT/ELECSA)	300-600	Annual registration fee
Accountant and bookkeeping	500-1,200	Tax return, VAT return, advice
Phone, software, and admin	500-1,000	Invoicing, scheduling, CRM
Training and CPD	300-800	Courses, qualifications, BS 7671 updates
Holidays (lost earnings)	4,000-7,000	25 days at your day rate
Sickness provision	1,000-2,000	Income protection or self-funded reserve
Pension contributions	2,000-5,000	8-15% of income recommended

Job	Price Range	Typical Duration	Notes
Additional socket (back-to-back)	80-120	1-2 hours	Simplest socket addition
Additional socket (new spur, chased)	120-200	2-4 hours	Includes chasing and making good
New lighting point (chased)	100-180	2-3 hours	Standard ceiling rose or downlight
Consumer unit upgrade (10-way RCBO)	450-700	4-6 hours	Notifiable — includes Part P
Full rewire (3-bed semi)	3,500-5,500	5-8 days	First and second fix, CU, testing, certification
EICR (3-bed house)	180-280	2-4 hours	Periodic inspection and report
Fault finding	50-80/hr	Variable	Charge per hour with minimum call-out
EV charger installation	800-1,200	4-6 hours	Includes earthing and CU modifications
Bathroom fan installation	150-250	2-3 hours	Including timer, ducting, and isolation
Outdoor socket installation	150-250	2-4 hours	IP66 rated, RCD protected
Smoke alarm system (mains-linked)	300-500	3-5 hours	Interlinked to BS 5839-6 Grade D
Full kitchen rewire	600-1,200	2-3 days	All circuits, worktop sockets, appliance connections

Electrician Rates & Pricing (UK)

JIB Multi-Year Wage Settlement (2025-2028)

Qualification Hierarchy and Rates

Regional Rate Summary

CIS vs PAYE Comparison

Calculating Your Sustainable Day Rate

Domestic Job Pricing Benchmarks

Emergency and Out-of-Hours Premiums

Frequently Asked Questions