Electrician salary and day rates in the UK (2026 benchmark)
Headline salary figures hide a big spread. Here is how employed pay, subcontract day rates and take-home pay really compare.
Updated 2026-10-04
Employed electricians
Approved and qualified electricians on JIB grades typically earn in the mid-£30k to mid-£40k range before overtime, with travel time, van and pension on top. London weighting and shift work push this higher.
Self-employed and subcontract day rates
Indicative subcontract day rates sit around £200–£350 depending on region, sector and specialism. Testers, EV installers and commercial fit-out electricians are at the top of the range.
- · Domestic subbie: roughly £200–£260/day
- · Commercial/industrial: roughly £240–£320/day
- · Inspection & testing specialist: roughly £260–£350/day
Day rate is not take-home
A £250 day rate paid through an umbrella company, CIS or your own limited company produces very different net pay. Holiday, pension, insurance, tools and gaps between contracts all come out of it. Use the Certi Payroll calculator to compare your real take-home.