Electrician apprenticeships
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An electrician apprenticeship can help you kick start your career in the trades industry.
If you’re a bright spark who wants to take control of their career, forge your own path and embrace a job where every day is different, then a job as an electrician is perfect for you.
Forget about boring desk jobs and break away from the old-fashioned 9am-5pm hours. Instead, start a rewarding career that lets you work at all kinds of locations, earn a great salary and complete hands-on work that makes a massive impact to people, businesses and communities.
Electricians help to power everything that you encounter throughout your day, from the socket you use to charge your phone, the traffic lights you use when you cross the road, to the trains, buildings and technology you use in everyday life. The world as we know it couldn’t function without electricians, and we actively need more bright young people like you to help keep the UK moving forwards.
There are lots of great ways to start a career as an electrician, but often the most popular choice is to complete an apprenticeship, so you can earn whilst you learn. This means that, unlike university or school, you get paid whilst you learn how to be an electrician through on-the-job training.
This electrician apprenticeships guide has all the information you need to work out if a career as an electrician is the right option for you. As well as activities to help you test your skills and help with finding an apprenticeship.
What does an electrician do?
Electricians play an important role in construction and home repair, helping to install, maintain and fix electrical systems. This could be on a construction site, a business building or at a person’s home.
Electricians install new electrical equipment, as well as playing a crucial role in inspecting, testing and maintaining electrical systems to ensure they’re safe. Some electricians might do tasks like checking if traffic light systems are working properly, whilst others might be working with renewable technology. Electricians do such a variety of roles and help homeowners, businesses and the public with all kinds of power-based support. It’s a rewarding career choice that offers lots of opportunity for a varied work life and progression.
How much does an electrician earn?
An electrician salary can range from £18,000 – £42,000 per year, depending on the level of experience.
However, a career as an electrician offers even more earning potential when electricians go self-employed and set up their own businesses. This is known as becoming a sole trader or business owner.
How much does an electrician apprentice earn?
The average apprentice wage to start with is at least £5.28 per hour if you’re aged 18 or under, or you’re aged over 18 but still in the first year of your apprenticeship. After this, your wage can increase alongside National Minimum Wage rates, however many employers also choose to enhance apprenticeship pay depending on how long you’ve been doing your apprenticeship.
How much does an electrician apprentice earn per hour?
| Age | Hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Aged 18 and under | £5.48 |
| Aged 19-20 | £7.49 |
| Aged 21-22 | £10.18 |
| Aged 23+ | £10.42 |
What does an electrician's salary mean in real terms?
Based on a salary of £42,000 a year, an electrician would earn £2,715 per month after tax.
Earning potential and salary information can sometimes be overwhelming when it’s just a number, so we’ve explored what a top electrician salary would look like against day to day spending.
From festival tickets to takeaways, we’ve compared what a top monthly salary looks like against some everyday lifestyle costs.
If Burger King is more your thing, then that’s fine – £2,715 could get you 362 Big Whopper meals. Either way, you’ll have plenty of chances to decide whether McDonald’s or Burger King is better.
*Based on a Big Mac meal costing £4.99 and a Big Whopper meal costing £7.49
Fancy heading to the UK’s top festival next year?
No problem, as £2,715 is the equivalent of 8 monthly tickets to Glastonbury, so you can take all your mates.
*Based on standard Glastonbury tickets costing £340 including booking fee.
Fancy seeing the latest Marvel film or are you more of a Barbie fan?
Enjoy both, as a top electrician monthly salary of £2,715 is the equivalent of 100 IMAX cinema visits – including popcorn and a drink.
That’s effectively 3 cinema trips a day, every day, for a month.
*Based on peak Odeon IMAX cinema tickets costing £18.95 + £7.60 for a large popcorn and drink.
The monthly salary of an electrician is double the average rent in the UK. Rent prices vary across the UK, but this gives an indication of affordability.
*Based on the average monthly rent in the UK of £1,037 outside of London.
How can an electrician apprenticeship help me start my career?
An electrician apprenticeship can help you kick start your career by enabling you to learn on the job, and get paid whilst doing it. Apprentices learn all the key skills they need to perform a job as an electrician whilst earning a salary. So, unlike university or higher education, apprentices earn money whilst they learn. At the end of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices will have all the credentials and qualifications they need to be a fully qualified electrician. This means they’re more employable and can even go on to set up their own companies or work for themselves.
Skilled tradespeople are in huge demand – we need nearly one million new workers in the industry to help keep up with demand. So, now is the perfect time to start an apprenticeship to become an electrician, as you’ll never run out of opportunities to grow your career.
How long can it take to do an electrician apprenticeship?
It can take 3-4 years on average to complete an electrician apprenticeship programme. Check out the timeline below to see the different stages of completing an apprenticeship.
How can Checkatrade's Get In programme help me start my electrician career?
Checkatrade’s Get In programme can help you find an electrician apprenticeship through our Jobs Board, meaning it will be easier for you to find the right opportunity for you.
We’re actively looking for more young people aged 16-25 who want to take charge of their career and make it as an electrician. Simply register and submit your CV to get access to tonnes of employers who are looking for ambitious young people just like you.
Apply for an electrician apprenticeship
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Employers looking for an apprentice can easily find you, and together, you’ll start your apprenticeship journey.
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Employers looking for an apprentice can easily find you, and together, you’ll start your apprenticeship journey.
Find your employer & apprenticeship
Employers looking for an apprentice can easily find you, and together, you’ll start your apprenticeship journey.
How do I know if a career as can an electrician is right for me?
If you want a career where you’re not tied to a desk, you have a variety of different hands-on tasks to complete each day and you can earn as much as double the average salary in the UK, then a career as an electrician could be right up your street.
Like any tradesperson role, a career as an electrician is great for people who enjoy doing tasks by hand, like fixing and building things. So, if you have an interest in DIY projects, love making 3D models or enjoy building your own computers and systems, then you could already have the right skills and attitude to make it as an electrician.
Problem-solving is also a key part of the role, as you’ll need to be able to look at how current electrical systems are working to spot any problems and see how they can be fixed. But don’t worry, an apprenticeship will help you fine tune these skills.
It can be hard to know which career is right for you, so check out some of the resources below to explore the key skills electricians need to be successful.
Get In The Game: explore life as an electrician
We’ve explored the skills electricians need and the skills they have through the lens of gaming. Based on popular gaming styles, we’ve created gaming characters that show the kinds of strengths and skills electrician apprenticeships need to make it in the ‘game’ of a career as an electrician.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Explore the information below to find out.
Volt
- 5,000,000 Coins
- Gold level rarity
- Electrician
Ready to power up? With electricity at their fingertips, this character promises sparks will fly.
Volt has the power to pump currents of energy into any location, tool or person.
Strong problem solving skills and the ability to use your initiative will be needed to play this character, as well as the ability to work well with your hands and use tools safely.
With the potential to light up any situation, Volt is an essential part of any team.
Volt is a gold level rare character.
How rare is Volt?
5,000,000 Coins
If you needed in-game currency to buy a character like Volt, you’d need the maximum value to buy them. That’s because the skills Volt brings are top of their game. In real life, electricians have to go through a long process to qualify to make sure they have all the skills they need to be a success.
Gold level rarity
Volt is a gold level rare character, because there aren’t enough characters like them in the trades ‘game’. In real life, there aren’t enough electricians in the industry. So we need more players like Volt, and like you, to take on electrician roles in the UK.
Electrical power control
From manipulating currents to supercharging those around them – Volt is a key character that powers the trades ‘game’. In the real world, electricians also play an important central role. They power buildings, machines and vehicle that keep day to day life moving. The world as we know it couldn’t function without them.
What skills does Volt have that an apprentice electrician needs to have?
Volt is a good example of the kinds of skills an electrician apprentice will need to have naturally, as well as the skills that will develop through your apprenticeship.
Natural skills
These are skills you will naturally have or be interested in using.
Skills you develop
These are skills you will develop during your apprenticeship.
Test your skills with this electrician scenario game
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Coming soon: interactive video content
Try your hand at Volt’s electrician skills with our interactive video content. Coming soon.
Which character suits you?
Are you a problem-solver like Volt or do you like fixing things with your hands like Chip?
Take our quiz to find out which tradesperson role matches your personality.
What's it like being an electrician in real life?
"I love being able to do something different and be somewhere different every single day, from domestic work to industrial. My apprenticeship set me up to be able to do it all.”
Lauren shares how growing up around family DIY projects sparked her intrigue in a career as an electrician, and how her apprenticeship unlocked her potential.
Read more about young people in trades careers
From how to get started in your trades career to tips on creating a CV and writing a cover letter, get all the best advice to launch your trades career from the experts at About Apprenticeships.
‘My apprenticeship set me up to do it all’ – Lauren shares how a family interest sparked her electrician career
‘A-Levels aren’t the only option’ – Rachel shares how her passion for practical skills led to a plumbing career
Get In the know
From creating your covering letter and CV, to preparing and nailing your apprenticeship interview. You’ve got this.
Join the movement
We’re actively looking for young people like you to help us build a better future.
The UK is facing a major skills shortage. We need tens of thousands more plumbers, electricians, joiners, and other tradespeople – and we’re looking to find bright, new apprentices to help plug the gap.
We’re looking for young people aged 16 to 25 who want to take control of their own futures.