jobfacts

Electrical and electronics technicians

SOC 2020 3112

Electrical and electronics technicians perform a variety of miscellaneous technical support functions to assist with the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical and electronic systems.

Also calledElectronics engineering technicianElectronics maintenance technicianElectronics technicianCraft technicianAssistant cable testing engineerTechnicianand 12 more titles
Typical full-time pay£35,1002025 Provisional
People in the job20,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month688↑ 12%on last year · 231st of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time electrical and electronics technicians earn, 2025
£35,100 typical£26,800lowest 20%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less than£26,800
25%£27,900
Median£35,100
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £35,100
South East!£31,700
South West!£31,500
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £35,100
South East£31,700 (small sample)
South West£31,500 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £37,500
  • 2024 £38,800
  • 2025 Provisional£35,100
↓ 6.4% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 688 jobs for electrical and electronics technicians are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026728
Jul 2026603
Jun 2026597
May 2026651
Apr 2026678
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026612
Jan 2026687
Dec 2025445
Nov 2025836
Oct 2025955
Sept 2025779
Aug 2025813
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 2025730
Apr 2025742
Mar 2025661
Feb 2025688
Jan 2025603
Dec 2024369
Nov 2024511
Oct 2024566
Sept 2024659
Aug 2024620
Jul 2024705
Jun 2024661
May 2024777
Apr 2024780
Mar 2024678
Feb 2024755
Jan 2024904
Dec 2023713
Nov 2023725
Oct 2023739
Sept 2023730
Aug 2023773
Jul 2023839
Jun 20231,042
May 2023960
Apr 2023785
Mar 20231,065
Feb 20231,034
Jan 20231,159
Dec 2022975
Nov 20221,186
Oct 20221,100
Sept 20221,079
Aug 20221,100
Jul 20221,210
Jun 20221,039
May 20221,082
Apr 2022882
Mar 20221,155
Feb 20221,054
Jan 20221,052
Dec 2021951
Nov 2021842
Oct 2021894
Sept 2021790
Aug 2021807
Jul 2021865
Jun 2021744
May 2021854
Apr 2021768
Mar 2021901
Feb 2021534
Jan 2021679
Dec 2020551
Nov 2020630
Oct 2020582
Sept 2020492
Aug 2020509
Jul 2020500
Jun 2020493
May 2020370
Apr 2020583
Mar 2020757
Feb 2020982
Jan 2020976
Dec 2019703
Nov 2019878
Oct 2019962
Sept 2019867
Aug 2019820
Jul 20191,232
Jun 20191,067
May 2019934
Apr 2019674
Mar 2019753
Feb 2019785
Jan 2019831
Dec 2018531
Nov 2018687
Oct 2018693
Sept 2018708
Aug 2018688
Jul 2018778
Jun 2018923
May 2018865
Apr 2018776
Mar 2018825
Feb 2018662
Jan 2018790
Dec 2017636
Nov 2017782
Oct 2017803
Sept 2017735
Aug 2017672
Jul 2017737
Jun 2017948
May 2017775
Apr 2017812
Mar 2017956
Feb 2017810
Jan 2017928
Is there a shortage of electrical and electronics technicians?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthUsual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
30%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for science, engineering and production technicians, which includes electrical and electronics technicians. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London175
Windsor and Maidenhead44
South Gloucestershire39
Bristol, City of32
Manchester31
Rushcliffe28
Birmingham28
Fife27
Melton27
Newark and Sherwood27
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where electrical and electronics technicians are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 28 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Philippines, China, ranking it 167th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of electrical and electronics technicians
n/p
34%!
25%!
21%!
17%!
3%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3434% (small sample)
35–4425% (small sample)
45–5421% (small sample)
55–6417% (small sample)
65+3% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!31%
Higher education below degree!14%
A levels or equivalent!43%
GCSEs or equivalent!12%
Other qualifications!8.2%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent31% (small sample)
Higher education below degree14% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent43% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent12% (small sample)
Other qualifications8.2% (small sample)

Main employers: electrical installation (10%), defence activities (7.5%), hospital activities (6.1%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
31%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 43%
Apprenticeships
1
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
2 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in electrical and electronic engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

College

You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed in this job.

Relevant courses include:

  • electrical and electronic engineering
  • electronic systems engineering
  • T Level in Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
  • T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You can apply for a place on an apprenticeship to start as a trainee, for example:

  • Engineering and Manufacturing Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

You might do a Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to work in the service and repair of production line machinery or robotics.

You can also train to be an electronics technician in the Army.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More about this route
Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

  • have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • are in care or have been in care
  • are in prison or have been in prison

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You'll find career opportunities in many industries, including:

  • power generation
  • advanced manufacturing
  • robotics
  • medical technology
  • aerospace
  • defence
Further information

You can find out more about training and careers in engineering from Tomorrow's Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for electronics engineering technician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job
Level 3About 2 years

Non-destructive technologies technician

You gain
Level 2 NDT Dye penetrant testing (non-complex) or; Level 2 NDT in Magnetic particle inspection (non-complex) or
Leads to
British Institute for Non- Destructive Testing is licensed by the Engineering Council for registration
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Engineering, manufacturing, processing and control​T Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings
  • sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data
  • plans installation methods, checks completed installation for safety and controls or undertakes the initial running of the new electrical or electronic equipment or system
  • diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment
  • visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of electrical and electronic systems and equipment
  • interprets and reviews technical drawings

Skills

  • adjust engineering designs
  • design electric power systems
  • maintain electrical equipment
  • troubleshoot
  • wear appropriate protective gear
  • resolve equipment malfunctions
  • abide by regulations on banned materials
  • align components
  • apply health and safety standards
  • apply soldering techniques
  • assemble electrical components
  • assist scientific research
  • ensure material compliance
  • fasten components

Knowledge

  • electrical power safety regulations
  • electric generators
  • power engineering
  • design drawings
  • electrical discharge
  • electrical engineering
  • electrical equipment components
  • electrical testing methods

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, engineering and technology associate professionals, a group of 11 jobs that includes electrical and electronics technicians.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 4.9%about 34,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035228,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.