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Electrician salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an electrician is $113,900 per annum, before tax, up $24,100 since 2018.
Pay depends heavily on the sector you work in and the agreement you're employed under. Many electricians are covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award or a site enterprise agreement, which set overtime, penalty rates and travel allowances. Mine sites, industrial maintenance and large construction projects generally pay more than residential service work, and once you hold your own licence and run your own business, your income depends on the work you win.
Roles that pay more than electrician
The largest typical pay rise is $32,100 a year, moving into Auto Electrician.
- Auto Electrician+$32,100/yr
- Electrical Engineer+$18,900/yr
How to negotiate a higher electrician salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time electrician salary is $113,900; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Electricians are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Reading plans and specifications and Hand and power tool work tend to command a premium over general electrician experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Auto Electrician pays a typical $32,100 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Electrician salary questions
How much do electricians earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an electrician is $113,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is electrician pay rising or falling?
The median electrician salary is up $24,100 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than electrician?
Auto Electrician pays a typical $32,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to electrician.