jobfacts

Electrician

Electricians and electrical fitters — SOC 2020 5241

Electricians and electrical fitters assemble parts in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment, and install, maintain, and repair electrical plant, machinery, appliances and wiring.

Also calledElectrical fitterElectrical technicianInstallation electricianElectrical engineerLighting technicianGafferand 111 more titles
Typical full-time pay£39,6002025 Provisional
People in the job193,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month4,600↑ 2.9%on last year · 35th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time electricians earn between £32,300 and £49,100 a year.

What full-time electricians earn, 2025
£39,600 typical£24,500lowest 10%£32,30025%£49,10075%£57,800top 10%
Middle half (£32,300–£49,100)
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£24,500
Lowest 20% earn less than£30,000
25%£32,300
Median£39,600
75%£49,100
Top 20% earn more than£51,900
Top 10% earn more than£57,800
Many (32%) of electricians work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed electricians earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median £39,600
South East£42,700
North West£42,400
Yorkshire and The Humber!£41,800
London!£40,900
West Midlands£40,400
East Midlands£39,800
Scotland!£38,000
East of England!£37,600
South West£37,000
Wales!£34,700
North East!£29,500
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £39,600
South East£42,700
North West£42,400
Yorkshire and The Humber£41,800 (small sample)
London£40,900 (small sample)
West Midlands£40,400
East Midlands£39,800
Scotland£38,000 (small sample)
East of England£37,600 (small sample)
South West£37,000
Wales£34,700 (small sample)
North East£29,500 (small sample)
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £35,900
  • 2024 £38,600
  • 2025 Provisional£39,600
↑ 10% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 4,600 jobs for electricians 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 20264,970
Jul 20264,959
Jun 20264,156
May 20264,279
Apr 20265,039
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20264,287
Jan 20265,212
Dec 20252,616
Nov 20254,705
Oct 20255,024
Sept 20255,277
Aug 20254,918
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20255,890
Apr 20254,512
Mar 20254,889
Feb 20255,535
Jan 20254,371
Dec 20242,201
Nov 20243,701
Oct 20244,314
Sept 20244,811
Aug 20244,773
Jul 20245,403
Jun 20244,790
May 20245,632
Apr 20245,628
Mar 20244,156
Feb 20244,252
Jan 20245,479
Dec 20233,646
Nov 20233,862
Oct 20233,470
Sept 20233,865
Aug 20234,402
Jul 20234,919
Jun 20236,856
May 20235,889
Apr 20235,194
Mar 20236,192
Feb 20235,965
Jan 20236,831
Dec 20224,583
Nov 20225,956
Oct 20226,059
Sept 20225,675
Aug 20226,278
Jul 20226,162
Jun 20225,636
May 20225,524
Apr 20224,419
Mar 20225,350
Feb 20224,645
Jan 20225,191
Dec 20214,416
Nov 20214,231
Oct 20214,546
Sept 20214,485
Aug 20214,582
Jul 20216,166
Jun 20215,279
May 20216,879
Apr 20216,558
Mar 20217,331
Feb 20214,119
Jan 20214,686
Dec 20203,433
Nov 20203,776
Oct 20203,900
Sept 20203,466
Aug 20203,101
Jul 20202,616
Jun 20202,177
May 20201,600
Apr 20202,332
Mar 20204,462
Feb 20205,046
Jan 20204,529
Dec 20193,220
Nov 20194,188
Oct 20194,392
Sept 20194,048
Aug 20194,255
Jul 20195,420
Jun 20194,446
May 20194,007
Apr 20192,934
Mar 20193,935
Feb 20193,732
Jan 20194,559
Dec 20182,547
Nov 20183,378
Oct 20183,663
Sept 20183,790
Aug 20183,761
Jul 20183,844
Jun 20183,486
May 20183,496
Apr 20183,390
Mar 20183,987
Feb 20183,756
Jan 20184,677
Dec 20172,597
Nov 20173,924
Oct 20173,757
Sept 20173,974
Aug 20174,695
Jul 20174,441
Jun 20175,182
May 20174,646
Apr 20174,158
Mar 20175,197
Feb 20174,229
Jan 20174,835
Is there a shortage of electricians?
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 advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
57%against 27% for all jobs
DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,887
Manchester302
Birmingham296
Bristol, City of261
Glasgow City223
Leeds191
Cambridge166
Westmorland and Furness160
Reading150
Oxford138
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where electricians are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 132 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from Philippines, Croatia, Belgium, ranking it 91st 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 electricians
18%
25%
22%
18%
14%
4.2%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–2418%
25–3425%
35–4422%
45–5418%
55–6414%
65+4.2% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent9.5%
Higher education below degree9%
A levels or equivalent64%
GCSEs or equivalent12%
Other qualifications!3.5%
No qualifications!1.2%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent9.5%
Higher education below degree9%
A levels or equivalent64%
GCSEs or equivalent12%
Other qualifications3.5% (small sample)
No qualifications1.2% (small sample)

Main employers: electrical installation (35%), repair of household appliances and home and garden equipment (11%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (7.4%), engineering activities and related technical consultancy (3.3%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
9.5%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 64%
Apprenticeships
13
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
8 months to 4½ years
typically
T Levels
4
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Self-employed
32%
of people in the job

Routes in

Electrician

You can get into this job through:

College

You could start a college course to get some of the technical knowledge and skills that may help you get onto an apprenticeship, or find a trainee position with a company.

Courses include:

  • electrical installation
  • electronic and electrical engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

Even with a qualification, you will still need practical experience in the workplace, along with further on-the-job training, to become fully qualified.

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 to do an apprenticeship with an electrical company, such as:

  • Installation and Maintenance Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Domestic Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are open to all ages.

You can also train to become an electrician through an apprenticeship in the armed forces.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

If you've worked as an electrician and do not yet have a level 3 qualification, you may be able to get your skills and experience recognised through the Experienced Worker Assessment.

There are 2 assessment routes available, with one requiring at least 3 years' experience and the other needing 5 years.

Apply directly

You may be able to get a job as an electrician if you've got experience and relevant qualifications from a related career, for example in building services or electrical engineering.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

It's very important to check what training courses are offering before signing up. Electrical Careers give advice on how to choose the right training and qualifications to become a qualified electrician.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become an electrician from:

  • Electrical Careers
  • Go Construct

You can also get more information about working in solar energy from Solar Careers UK.

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

Electrical engineer

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree or degree in electrical or electronic engineering. You may also be able to get into this career with a degree in:

  • electromechanical engineering
  • building services engineering
  • applied physics
  • aeronautical engineering
  • mechatronics

Look out for courses that offer work experience opportunities during your studies, such as:

  • internships
  • sandwich course placements
  • Easter and summer vacation schemes

These can give you an advantage when applying for jobs or graduate training schemes. Your university careers service can help you to find opportunities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree

College

You could do a higher national certificate or diploma in electrical and electronic engineering at college before looking for a trainee engineer position with a company.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship, for example:

  • Electrical or Electronic Technical Support Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
  • Electro-Mechanical Engineer Level 6 Apprenticeship, which can lead to professional certification

These apprenticeships take up to 5 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start as an electrical engineering technician and do training on the job to become an engineer.

Apply directly

You can apply for jobs if you've got qualifications and several years' experience in a related area of engineering, for example electronics or power generation.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Many courses and apprenticeships aimed at specific industries, such as aerospace, energy and defence, include electrical engineering as part of their training. It's worth looking into these as another route to becoming a qualified electrical engineer.

Further information

You can find more details about careers in the electrical industry from The Institution of Engineering and Technology and Electrical Careers.

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

Lighting technician

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • performing arts (production)
  • lighting design
  • lighting and performance technology
  • technical theatre
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could complete a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge needed in this role.

Subjects include:

  • production arts - technical theatre
  • electrical installation
  • T Level in Media, Broadcast and Production
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 may be able to start as a trainee in this job by applying for an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Creative Industries Production Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Installation and Maintenance Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Audio Visual Technician Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could qualify as an electrician and then get practical experience in production lighting, with a stage company.

Volunteering

You can look for volunteering experience with:

  • lighting equipment hire companies
  • theatres or concert venues
  • amateur theatre
  • student or community film projects

You can search for film and TV companies to approach for experience through media business listing services like PACT and The Knowledge.

Other routes

You may be able to get training through one of the new entrant training schemes offered by broadcasters. For example:

  • BBC Careers
  • Channel 4 Production Training Scheme
  • ITV Careers

You could also take short courses in production skills run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

It's a good idea to build up a portfolio of your work so you can show potential employers. This could be on social media, showcasing productions you've worked on.

Pay for lighting technicians can vary, depending on where you work and the type of contract you have. For example, if you're on a tour or production, you might be paid a weekly rate. If you're employed by a venue, you may receive an annual salary.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a lighting technician from ScreenSkills and Get Into Theatre.

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

Smart meter installer

You can get into this job through:

College

You could do a college course which can be useful when applying for a trainee job.

Courses include:

  • electrical Installation
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
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 could start your installation career by doing a Duel Fuel Smart Meter Installer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

This takes a minimum of one year and 2 months to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Apply directly

You can apply directly to energy companies for trainee smart meter installer jobs.

Experience and qualifications in gas or electricity installation will be useful, though this is not always essential. Employers will often give on-the-job training to the right person.

Some employers might ask for GCSEs, including maths and English, or equivalent qualifications, and good customer service skills.

You can find out more about careers in the energy industry through Energy & Utilities Careers & Jobs.

What you’ll need

  • have a full driving licence
  • pass background checks

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for smart meter installer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Solar panel installer

You can get into this job through:

College

You’ll usually need an electrical qualification to work as an installer.

You could do a college course to get some of the technical knowledge and skills that may help you get onto an apprenticeship, or to find a trainee installer position with a company.

Courses include:

  • electrical installation
  • electronic and electrical engineering
  • electrical wiring regulations (18th edition)
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

You may also need to complete a short course on the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, depending on your experience and any existing qualifications you hold.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an installation or construction company, such as:

  • Building Services Engineering Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Installation and Maintenance Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
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

Work your way up

You could start as an installation labourer, working with qualified installers, and do training on the job with the support of your employer.

If you’re a qualified electrician you could take a short training course in the installation and maintenance of small solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This would allow you to fit solar panels and connect them to a building's electrical mains network.

You could take solar PV training to fit solar panels to buildings if you’re a qualified roofer. You'll still need to work with an electrician to connect the panels to a building’s power system.

Check with training providers to find out about the courses they offer and which might be best for you.

Apply directly

You could apply directly for jobs if you have experience and qualifications in electrical installation and maintenance.

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Career tips

You can demonstrate that you work to industry quality standards by applying to have your installation skills recognised through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

You can also extend this to other renewable technologies, like solar heating, battery storage and heat pumps, if you work in those areas.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a solar panel installer from:

  • Solar Careers UK
  • Electrical Careers

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for solar panel installer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

13 for this job
Level 3About 3 years

Domestic electrician

You gain
Electrotechnical in dwellings qualification
Leads to
This apprenticeship standard is recognised by the Joint Industry Board as conferring eligibility for recognit…
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 3½ years

Engineering fitter

You gain
Choose one of the following qualifications: 1) Advanced Manufacturing Engineering…
Leads to
IET
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 4½ years

Installation and maintenance electrician

You gain
Electrotechnical Apprenticeship Qualification
Leads to
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 3½ years

Marine electrician

You gain
City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Marine Construction, Systems Engineering and…; City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Marine Electrical Engineering (Advanced) – with the…
Details on Skills England
Level 2About 8 months

Dual fuel smart meter installer

You gain
IGEM IG/1 Supplement 3 Certification; Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)
Leads to
Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM)
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 2½ years

Building services engineering technician 2022

You gain
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Building Services Engineering; Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Building Services Engineering
Leads to
Engineering Council
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 3½ years

Mechatronics maintenance technician

You gain
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge) or Pearson…
Leads to
Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)
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
Design, surveying and planning for constructionT Level3
Building services engineering for constructionT Level3
Engineering, manufacturing, processing and control​T Level3
Maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturingT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines drawings, specifications and wiring diagrams to determine the method and sequence of operations
  • selects, cuts and lays wires and connects to sockets, plugs or terminals by crimping, soldering, brazing or bolting
  • cuts, bends and installs electrical conduit
  • assembles parts and sub-assemblies using hand tools and by brazing, riveting or welding
  • installs electrical plant, machinery and other electrical fixtures and appliances such as fuse boxes, generators, light sockets etc.
  • examines electrical plant or machinery, domestic appliances and other electrical assembly for faults using test equipment and replaces worn parts and faulty wiring

Skills

  • operate soldering equipment
  • troubleshoot
  • wear appropriate protective gear
  • maintain electrical equipment
  • apply soldering techniques
  • repair battery components
  • apply health and safety standards
  • install electrical and electronic equipment
  • perform test run
  • read standard blueprints
  • replace defect components
  • use technical documentation
  • write records for repairs
  • fasten components

Knowledge

  • electricity
  • electronics
  • mechanics
  • electrical wiring plans
  • battery components
  • battery chemistry
  • battery fluids

Suits people who like

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

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades, a group of 23 jobs that includes electricians.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 6.5%about 72,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035338,000including 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.