What is your hourly rate as a self employed electrician? (2023)

[HappyHippyDad]

I did a poll last year on exactly this.

Below I have pasted what I wrote in thread last time so there is a degree of similarity. We can then see if we have changed out prices much (again, bit of fun, not accurate)

pasted...

I thought I would start a poll to see 'roughly' what the average hourly rate is for self employed electricians?

To keep it as simple as possible, forget about any 'first hour' rate you may or may not charge and just go for your rate after that.

I realise this isn't going to cover lots and lots of scenarios (quotes, domestic, commercial, location etc etc), but it's just for a bit of amusement and perhaps along the way we'll gain a very rough idea of an electrician's hourly rate.

It will be anonymous so please do answer honestly

 

[littlespark]

After 3 votes, I think I can tell which vote was from a London based spark or nearby.

 

[buzzlightyear]

After 3 votes, I think I can tell which vote was from a London based spark or nearby.

Looks that way, dick turpins electrical.

 

[Dustydazzler]

...any decent Sparks in London / the SE will be £70+

ain't worth being in business / having the stress of being in business in the capital for anything less

 

[pirate]

It's unlikely to be 100%accurate, but it is a very interesting question.
I, being retired, won't get out of my bed for a small hourly rate. This is partly because I don't do much work anyway, do a fair amount of pro bono stuff, and set my charge according to the ability to pay of the client and how nice they are.
This is why I am permanently broke!

 

[Dustydazzler]

.. a bit like a topic I made in the Arms about NB saying it costs £150 a week just to be in business is to simplistic

its like taking a industry standard 8 hour day So is saying you charge £50 per hour / £400 per every day, it is just way to simplistic

some days I might actually only get to do 4 hours actually chargable work due to traffic / parking issues / access to jobs issues etc

if I only charged say £25 p/h I would barely make £100 that day which just wouldn't even be worth getting in the van

you need to charge high to make sure every hour 'on the job' actually counts and when I am sat in 2 hours traffic the next job is actually worth getting the tools out the Van

 

[James]

It's unlikely to be 100%accurate, but it is a very interesting question.
I, being retired, won't get out of my bed for a small hourly rate. This is partly because I don't do much work anyway, do a fair amount of pro bono stuff, and set my charge according to the ability to pay of the client and how nice they are.
This is why I am permanently broke!

I know the problem, I don’t do domestic work but can be a bit of a sucker when it comes to the elderly or genuine single mums in need.
thankfully being self employed means I don’t have to explain to the boss why todays profits are in the region of minus £500 every now and then.

 

[James]

.. a bit like a topic I made in the Arms about NB saying it costs £150 a week just to be in business is to simplistic

its like taking a industry standard 8 hour day So is saying you charge £50 per hour / £400 per every day, it is just way to simplistic

some days I might actually only get to do 4 hours actually chargable work due to traffic / parking issues / access to jobs issues etc

if I only charged say £25 p/h I would barely make £100 that day which just wouldn't even be worth getting in the van

you need to charge high to make sure every hour 'on the job' actually counts and when I am sat in 2 hours traffic the next job is actually worth getting the tools out the Van

With domestic type work people are only willing to pay for your time on site.
everyone thinks you are there to rip them off.
therefore yes, you have to ramp up the hourly rate to cover all the non chargeable work like traveling and waiting etc.

I find the industrial customers that want me 1 or 2 hundred miles away from base are happy to accept that there will be a £300 to £500 bill for turning up in the first place and any electrical work is extra.

 

[pirate]

Purely by amazing coincidence, I visited a job today where the lady wanted A light repositioned, the switch also repositioned, and there was a "dangling" 2 gang switch which switched 2 lights, and had absolutely no back box, merely the switch face plate and a totally open back. All fairly straightforward. Oh, and another light that doesn't work...oh, and while you are here, these kitchen downlights don't work...
The kitchen was an easy fix, 5 minutes.
The rest? Well, I only went to appraise the job as it was a "charity" one to move a light and its switch. However, they are in a basement with 4' headroom, need my hard hat so I don't scar my scull, the second light is in an extra basement with 3' clearance and the whole installation is DIY hell!
The kitchen one is free.
The original repositioning is free.
The extra light, rewiring of the dangerous switch and removal of a badly damaged cable will have to be charged,especially as I will be bent double on my knees for a couple of hours. However, it's the same old story...you see stuff that is potentially dangerous and can't help but want to make it safer, but doing it for nothing, in awkward condidtions...
But she's a widow and helpless...
No! Very nice house, all the accoutrements of a good lifestyle. I will do the original job FOC as it was a referral from the Men's Shed charity, but the extras I will charge out at a good rate. I won't take the money, it will go to the Shed, but I'm not a lackey!
I hate it when people have so much money yet want to screw down every job to the minimum.
I know I will make nothing personally from this job, but if she asks me back for other work it will be at full rate, and that will be £100/hour.
I'm worth it for the time I take and the care I take. She'll pay that to have her hair or nails done. Maybe more to have her dog groomed.
Charity, yes, the first time...but using me for other work...no way.
Poor people add a bit on...
Wealthy people are poor payers and query everything...
Very wealthy people go on recommendation and pay whatever you ask without question...it's a club, and if you come well recommended they are happy to pay provided you do a good job. That also results in many more jobs.
Conclusion?
Do work for ordinary folks and get satisfaction and recommendations...
Do work, if you can get it, for "old money" and be well paid and treated politely...and get even more lucrative jobs from their friends...
Do work for middle-rich ----ers and expect to get complaints, delays in getting paid and being bad-mouthed because they simply think you are dross and not worthy of them...
That is why I am happy being retired, and only work when I want to work...but there are lessons for everyone here...you should be valued!

 

[diditrain]

Purely by amazing coincidence, I visited a job today where the lady wanted A light repositioned, the switch also repositioned, and there was a "dangling" 2 gang switch which switched 2 lights, and had absolutely no back box, merely the switch face plate and a totally open back. All fairly straightforward. Oh, and another light that doesn't work...oh, and while you are here, these kitchen downlights don't work...
The kitchen was an easy fix, 5 minutes.
The rest? Well, I only went to appraise the job as it was a "charity" one to move a light and its switch. However, they are in a basement with 4' headroom, need my hard hat so I don't scar my scull, the second light is in an extra basement with 3' clearance and the whole installation is DIY hell!
The kitchen one is free.
The original repositioning is free.
The extra light, rewiring of the dangerous switch and removal of a badly damaged cable will have to be charged,especially as I will be bent double on my knees for a couple of hours. However, it's the same old story...you see stuff that is potentially dangerous and can't help but want to make it safer, but doing it for nothing, in awkward condidtions...
But she's a widow and helpless...
No! Very nice house, all the accoutrements of a good lifestyle. I will do the original job FOC as it was a referral from the Men's Shed charity, but the extras I will charge out at a good rate. I won't take the money, it will go to the Shed, but I'm not a lackey!
I hate it when people have so much money yet want to screw down every job to the minimum.
I know I will make nothing personally from this job, but if she asks me back for other work it will be at full rate, and that will be £100/hour.
I'm worth it for the time I take and the care I take. She'll pay that to have her hair or nails done. Maybe more to have her dog groomed.
Charity, yes, the first time...but using me for other work...no way.
Poor people add a bit on...
Wealthy people are poor payers and query everything...
Very wealthy people go on recommendation and pay whatever you ask without question...it's a club, and if you come well recommended they are happy to pay provided you do a good job. That also results in many more jobs.
Conclusion?
Do work for ordinary folks and get satisfaction and recommendations...
Do work, if you can get it, for "old money" and be well paid and treated politely...and get even more lucrative jobs from their friends...
Do work for middle-rich ----ers and expect to get complaints, delays in getting paid and being bad-mouthed because they simply think you are dross and not worthy of them...
That is why I am happy being retired, and only work when I want to work...but there are lessons for everyone here...you should be valued!

Wise words in pirates post. This is the mindset you need.