What should I charge as a lead electrician with 3 years experience?

V

VbyFrekIazarScead

New Member
vic electrician rates query
Posting anonymous since there's people I know in here.

Just another sparky looking for advice on rates.

I'm 27, three years out of my rade. Done a mix of domestic new builds, servicing, and commercial, including large scale projects with 300m footprints.

Just wondering, after 2+ years in a consistent supervisor/leading hand role, managing a team of up to 6 on projects that span 6–12 months, what sort of rates could I ask for when moving to new companies?

I'm currently on a pretty low rate, around $40 per hour.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers.
 
First of all, the most direct path to a pay raise is finding a new job. If you genuinely desire more money, go work in the industrial sector electricians in my company make over 180k, and it's not fly in fly out or mining. They work in their own hometown.
 
Hey there, for what you say you're doing, that would be an absolute minimum of $60 an hour. Forklift drivers are making over 40 bucks an hour these days. I'm really sorry to say this, dear, but $40 for a qualified trade? That's just pathetic.
 
I’m a fourth year fridgie, and I honestly earn more than that. With all my heart, I’d be asking for more or searching elsewhere. When you do ask, please show your boss why you truly deserve it; simply saying you want a raise isn’t enough.
 
It really all depends on where you work, what you do, and how busy you are. The business I’m with mostly does domestic solar, batteries, air conditioners, and general electrical work, with a little bit of commercial stuff here and there.

I’ve been here just under 10 years now. The last pay raise I got was one I had to ask for back at the start of 2024 that put me just under $50 an hour, plus a car and phone.

Even though I’ve been here almost a decade and I’m actually managing the business now, that didn’t come with a raise. I stay because I genuinely enjoy the job. I can usually get most days off with short notice, I love the team, and I really like meeting all the people I quote for.

If that gives you any idea, I also run a photography & media business on the side, plus I wire up the odd 4WD canopy. And here’s the thing I’m matching my 40 hour workweek pay in just 24 hours of those side gigs. I spread that work over weekends or outside regular hours. I had planned to make an offer to buy out the business over th e next few years, but after seeing how much I was making on my own outside of work, my partner and I are now changing our future plans.

Yeah, I’ll probably hit burnout sooner rather than later, but it’s working for now. We’ll see where the next few years take me
 
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