What is your hourly rate as a self employed electrician?

[HappyHippyDad]

I do like chatting about prices!

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.

 

[telectrix]

used to be around the £35 mark for small jobs, £25 for if several hours. nowadays. beign reiiant on pension for necessities like beer and smokes, got to be closer to £60 to keep me in the style that i amm accostomed to.

 

[littlespark]

I’m £35 an hour any number of hours, although I might knock a bit off if it’s a full day.

Your poll is misleading as some people charge more for the first hour than subsequent.

When I’m doing a quick smoke detector job with the battery units, the hourly rate comes in at £50 as I charge the customer Screwfix retail prices for the detectors. (Buying them in cheaper, off course)

 

[suffolkspark]

After a bit of chatter on here a few months ago I went from £30 to £40. Still as busy as I was, still new and returning customers, I charge quarterly after the first hour, and all material is +20%. I'm not vat registered. I charge travel time at the same rate, but try to tie together local jobs.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Hourly Vs Price is always an interesting debate

I feel hourly works best for me as most jobs are 1/2 day unless its a board change then I allow 1 full day (8 hours) , Some jobs might be 2 or 3 days but then I lean more towards a 'Price'

But on bigger jobs the 'Price' guys will do better as if they allow say 6 days and finish in 4 , effectively they get 2 days money for nothing.

Another example is my brother-in-law is a landscaper and doing fencing his makes a killing on installing on 'Price per bay' (per panel). He reckons on a decent fixed price fencing job he can walk away with £900 in his pocket for 1 days work if every thing goes to plan with no mess ups.
That is serious money and way more than he would get charging say £50 per hour labour.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I’m £35 an hour any number of hours, although I might knock a bit off if it’s a full day.

Your poll is misleading as some people charge more for the first hour than subsequent.

When I’m doing a quick smoke detector job with the battery units, the hourly rate comes in at £50 as I charge the customer Screwfix retail prices for the detectors. (Buying them in cheaper, off course)

See my OP regarding first hour and how this is for a bit of amusement and clearly not going to be accurate.

 

[LukeD]

£65 for call out and a hour . £45 for each hour after

 

[Dustydazzler]

Just seen this ad in my local paper , domestic electrician (also offers IT solutions like adding data points) £60 per hour

 

[R-fur]

Depends on the market as well, domestic is always a bit lower than industrial or nich markets.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Depends on the market as well, domestic is always a bit lower than industrial or nich markets.

Upper end domestic is on par with commercial / industrial , lower end domestic / handyman wiring is less as every tom dick and harry does it...

 

[littlespark]

See my OP regarding first hour and how this is for a bit of amusement and clearly not going to be accurate.

You expect me to read a whole post at that time on a Sunday morning?

 

[ipf]

After a bit of chatter on here a few months ago I went from £30 to £40. Still as busy as I was, still new and returning customers, I charge quarterly after the first hour, and all material is +20%. I'm not vat registered. I charge travel time at the same rate, but try to tie together local jobs.

Seems you'll be getting close to the 85k vat threshold, then?

 

[LukeD]

Seems you'll be getting close to the 85k vat threshold, then?

THink twice before hitting the threshold. Its a one way street .

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Standard hourly rate is £50+VAT but do charge more for first hour etc...
Majority of my work is priced jobs fitting ev chargers based on the £50+VAT per hour figures.

 

[123]

Just seen this ad in my local paper , domestic electrician (also offers IT solutions like adding data points) £60 per hour

Plus VAT?

 

[ipf]

THink twice before hitting the threshold. Its a one way street .

Agree.....go back down to £30....

 

[Deleted account]

£50 per hour, but a day was £250 which works out at about £32 ish per hour.

however, off site workload reduces this down to a lot less than this.

 

[suffolkspark]

Seems you'll be getting close to the 85k vat threshold, then?

I only do 35 hrs per week as have kids so take a lot of time off for school holidays and loose quite a few hours per week for school runs, net profit was 46k ish last year and I turned over 65k ish, so with the 25% increase in wages I should still be safe

 

[123]

THink twice before hitting the threshold. Its a one way street .

With folk charging £30/£40 an hour and well above, and the cost rises in materials, that freeze on VAT threshold at £85k gets all the tougher to stay under.

 

[123]

I only do 35 hrs per week as have kids so take a lot of time off for school holidays and loose quite a few hours per week for school runs, net profit was 46k ish last year and I turned over 65k ish, so with the 25% increase in wages I should still be safe

£30 to £40 is a 33⅓% increase. VAT threshold is also over a rolling 12 months, not just tax years. Just saying.

 

[suffolkspark]

£30 to £40 is a 33⅓% increase. VAT threshold is also over a rolling 12 months, not just tax years. Just saying.

Oh yea our outgoings are really low so I'll just take a month off if I get near and sit in the garden

 

[123]

Oh yea our outgoings are really low so I'll just take a month off if I get near and sit in the garden

Just make sure it's July/August rather than Jan/Feb

 

[Markyd]

£50 per hour or £350 for a full day 8hrs

 

[Dustydazzler]

So judging by this survey , it looks like the average per hourly rate is somewhere in the £40-50 ball park.
Which is about £350 per day , which I would hazard a guess is probably bang on the national average what a decent self deployed sparks should be charging.

 

[JBW175]

Just had someone try knock me down on my price for the first hour, as they said the job would only take me 10 minutes…

 

[Dustydazzler]

Just had someone try knock me down on my price for the first hour, as they said the job would only take me 10 minutes…

Tell them to do it themselves as you have more important things to do with your time

 

[JBW175]

Tell them to do it themselves as you have more important things to do with your time

I wouldn’t budge on the price. Told him I’m running a business, not a charity.

 

[littlespark]

Just had someone try knock me down on my price for the first hour, as they said the job would only take me 10 minutes…

Interesting.

Someone phoned me last night, RCD had tripped. Fridge and boiler off.
I said I couldn’t come out on a Sunday evening… had had a drink with my dinner, but I’d come Monday morning after putting off my planned job.

When I got there, it was obvious to see it was their rather large light fitting that had caused the problem… Brass thing with loads of arms, and a lamp holder on the ends…

Took it down, made the cables safe as they said they would buy a new fitting, and they could do without a ceiling light. RCD reset fine.

The customer himself last night thought one of the arms looked a bit crooked, so tried to turn it himself….. which cut through the inner insulation of the flex which was showing at the top of the fitting…. Wish I’d taken a photo now.


Which brings me to a dilemma.
Do I charge my usual 35 an hour, which covers my travelling there and back, or up it to 50…. As it was putting off another job this morning?
I will be asked back to put up the new fitting, no doubt.

 

[JBW175]

Interesting.

Someone phoned me last night, RCD had tripped. Fridge and boiler off.
I said I couldn’t come out on a Sunday evening… had had a drink with my dinner, but I’d come Monday morning after putting off my planned job.

When I got there, it was obvious to see it was their rather large light fitting that had caused the problem… Brass thing with loads of arms, and a lamp holder on the ends…

Took it down, made the cables safe as they said they would buy a new fitting, and they could do without a ceiling light. RCD reset fine.

The customer himself last night thought one of the arms looked a bit crooked, so tried to turn it himself….. which cut through the inner insulation of the flex which was showing at the top of the fitting…. Wish I’d taken a photo now.


Which brings me to a dilemma.
Do I charge my usual 35 an hour, which covers my travelling there and back, or up it to 50…. As it was putting off another job this morning?
I will be asked back to put up the new fitting, no doubt.

I suppose it all depends on what you’re happy with, and can charge up there?

Like you said, you’ll likely get return business from him and he’ll no doubt recommend you to others.

 

[Risteard]

So judging by this survey , it looks like the average per hourly rate is somewhere in the £40-50 ball park.
Which is about £350 per day , which I would hazard a guess is probably bang on the national average what a decent self deployed sparks should be charging.

It would be interesting to see what the averages are more locally, but I suspect this wouldn't be easy to find out.

 

[littlespark]

I suppose it all depends on what you’re happy with, and can charge up there?

Like you said, you’ll likely get return business from him and he’ll no doubt recommend you to others.

I went up a bit to £40. New customer, doesn’t know what I was previously, and I can introduce the 40 to other jobs as I go.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I went up a bit to £40. New customer, doesn’t know what I was previously, and I can introduce the 40 to other jobs as I go.

I think £40-50 per hour is pretty much a 'standard' pricing for trades especially in the SE , possibly £60-90 the nearer you approach London

£I think £40-50 per hour is pretty much a 'standard' pricing for trades especially in the SE , possibly £60-90 the nearer you approach Londo

In Surrey £50 per hour is an 'easy sell' to old and new customers in my area , plumbers , sparks , gardeners , painters will all quote this kind of hourly figure. Infact if you quoted less, imo people would get suspicious that you are 'too cheap' and not very good

 

[ipf]

I wouldn’t budge on the price. Told him I’m running a business, not a charity.

NICEIC are part of a charity.........they don't hold back, price wise.

 

[pirate]

I only do small jobs, so it's either £50, or £100 depending on the time involved. If it's an all-day job it's £50/hour...but charity jobs are FOC for lamp replacement or very minor fixes. Most of those jobs the clients make a donation to the charity. I'm in a different position to most as I don't have to work daily, but I get no complaints if I charge £100 to put in a new socket etc. The folks round here are well-off.

 

[catdog1121]

Interesting.

Someone phoned me last night, RCD had tripped. Fridge and boiler off.
I said I couldn’t come out on a Sunday evening… had had a drink with my dinner, but I’d come Monday morning after putting off my planned job.

When I got there, it was obvious to see it was their rather large light fitting that had caused the problem… Brass thing with loads of arms, and a lamp holder on the ends…

Took it down, made the cables safe as they said they would buy a new fitting, and they could do without a ceiling light. RCD reset fine.

The customer himself last night thought one of the arms looked a bit crooked, so tried to turn it himself….. which cut through the inner insulation of the flex which was showing at the top of the fitting…. Wish I’d taken a photo now.


Which brings me to a dilemma.
Do I charge my usual 35 an hour, which covers my travelling there and back, or up it to 50…. As it was putting off another job this morning?
I will be asked back to put up the new fitting, no doubt.

So I do a strange thing which I have not seen people do, I charge for normal hours at least £35 per hour but have a minimum charger of £60, so if I am there 10mins its £60, if I am there 2hrs its £70, rather than a higher first hour rate. If I am there only 10mins then I normally say ill knock it down to £50 which customer tend to like...

Roofers seem to be charging around £80 to fix one roof times, they seem to be just sticking them back on with some kind of adhesive in a tube... My neighbour had to call out someone to clear their drains, £120+VAT took the guy less than an hour..

I find people seem to recognise a minimum fee better than a higher first hour fee, don't know why but it works for me..

 

[JBW175]

NICEIC are part of a charity.........they don't hold back, price wise.

I’m with NAPIT; and nor do they…

 

[LukeD]

So I do a strange thing which I have not seen people do, I charge for normal hours at least £35 per hour but have a minimum charger of £60, so if I am there 10mins its £60, if I am there 2hrs its £70, rather than a higher first hour rate. If I am there only 10mins then I normally say ill knock it down to £50 which customer tend to like...

Roofers seem to be charging around £80 to fix one roof times, they seem to be just sticking them back on with some kind of adhesive in a tube... My neighbour had to call out someone to clear their drains, £120+VAT took the guy less than an hour..

I find people seem to recognise a minimum fee better than a higher first hour fee, don't know why but it works for me..

The initial call out charge must be made .Its NOT the time on the Job .Its making yourself available for that time . I have once had a car pick me up as I was on the wrong side of 1 x bottle of wine. But I still got stuck in and helped the customer resolve a crisis at 2 am . he paid me £250 cash for 3 hours work and we have always been cool about things .

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I went up a bit to £40. New customer, doesn’t know what I was previously, and I can introduce the 40 to other jobs as I go.

So you moan about my silly thread, then up your wages straight after

 

[littlespark]

Not me moaning….

Anyhoo… about time my price went up… covers the diesel going up.

 

[Markyd]

I also found that by upping the hourly rate.you get better customers and less wasters

 

[Dustydazzler]

I also found that by upping the hourly rate.you get better customers and less wasters

As i like to be called ' reassuringly expensive'

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

£50 per hour or £350 for a full day 8hrs

8 hrs!! Im self employed. Dont leave until 8am. Go to suppliers, maybe a quote. Arrive on job 9/9.30 pack up at 4 if not before .

 

[scootknew]

£50 callout minimum 1st hour and go from there, more if job entails more expertise, long travel, fault finding if 2 or 3 electricans already been there., difficult customer lol

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Well, I'm a bit surprised by the results so far, not hugely, but a bit.

I thought I would be closer to the top at £45 p/hour, but there are a significant amount of people chargering higher than that.

Again, I realise this is an extremely inaccurate poll, missing out many, many factors, but it does perhaps give an indication.

So far there are 40 responders, based on that we have the following averages.

Mean average hourly rate = £41.40 - £45.40 (based on all the £60+ rates being exactly £60, so actual average is going to be a little higher)

Modal average hourly rate = £35 - £39

Median average hourly rate = £40 - £44.

 

[Dustydazzler]

As I said , I think £50 per hour would be pretty much the national average if you rang any self deployed , plumber , sparks , painter or tiler etc. Which on average would be around the £350 per day mark.

It is expensive being self employed , and you get no holiday pay and no pay if you are laid up with an injury or illness

My wife is free lance in the fitness and training industry and their rates are similar to ours yet they have significantly lower over heads then trades do

 

[LukeD]

I also found that by upping the hourly rate.you get better customers and less wasters

so much this....charge cheap they think you are nothing special .

 

[Dustydazzler]

so much this....charge cheap they think you are nothing special .

Exactly , if you are cheap you come across as a bit of a chancer / diy handyman type

I had a customer (very wealthy area) wanted some downlights in the bathroom and some other lights putting up etc
I said it was about a full days work and asked if they wanted a written estimate stating my rates etc
They answered 'no , dont worry , just do the job , you came highly recommended from a friend and we will pay what ever you charge '
I was a bit taken back as they just trusted me to do the job without knowing if I was £50 ph or £250 ph , I got on with it and emailed over my bill that evening for 1 day as agreed plus materials. I did my normal rate and a tiny mark up on gear supplied.
Paid the next morning.

 

[scootknew]

not to mention ive just passed a BP garage today at 1.69 p/l for diesel!

 

[catdog1121]

not to mention ive just passed a BP garage today at 1.69 p/l for diesel!

Ive just visited my mortgage advisor to extend my mortgage.. Well ive almost got an empty tank now..

 

[Dustydazzler]

One petrol station in London was on social media as they were charging £1.99 for a litre of diesel this morning

All getting a bit silly now , £2 a litre is a joke imo

Government needs to cap fuel prices and quickly