What is the average electrician salary in Australia?

The ABS does not publish an average salary specifically for electricians. The best available figure is the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,191 from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $113,932 a year before tax. This is a median, meaning half of full-time electricians earn more and half earn less. Award minimums under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award are lower, starting at around $1,046 a week for a Grade 1 electrical worker.

How does an electrician's pay compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026), or about $108,352 a year. The median electrician's weekly earnings of $2,191 are about $107 more per week, or roughly $5,580 more per year. So electricians typically earn above the national average. However, the average includes all full-time occupations, and electricians' median sits above that line.

What would an electrician earning the median take home after tax?

On a median yearly salary of $113,932, using 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), the estimated tax is about $27,467, leaving a take-home of roughly $86,465 a year, or $1,663 a week. This is before any deductions or offsets. Actual take-home depends on individual circumstances.

Average Electrician Salary Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

How much does an electrician earn in Australia?

There is no single "average electrician salary" published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABS reports average weekly earnings by industry and sector, but not by detailed occupation. The most authoritative figure for electricians comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia. That survey gives a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,191 for electricians. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $113,932 a year before tax.

This is a median, not an average. It means half of full-time electricians earn more than this and half earn less. The figure excludes managers, part-time workers and juniors, so it reflects the typical experienced electrician.

How electrician pay compares to the national full-time average

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026), or about $108,352 a year. That is the figure this site uses as the reference line. The median electrician earns about $107 more per week than that average, or roughly $5,580 more per year.

Electricians also earn more than the all-employees median (about $74,100 a year) and the full-time median (about $90,532 a year). Their median hourly rate of $55 is well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour (from 1 July 2026) and above the median hourly rate for all occupations of $47.

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Award minimums vs market rates

The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award sets minimum pay rates for electricians covered by the award. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the weekly rates (including industry, tool and licence allowances where applicable) range from:

Electrical worker grade 1: $1,046.31 per week ($27.53 per hour)
Electrical worker grade 5 (with licence): $1,223.11 per week ($32.19 per hour)
Electrical worker grade 10: $1,478.72 per week ($38.91 per hour)

These award rates are minimums. Many electricians, especially those with experience or in high-demand areas, earn above the award. The median of $2,191 per week is about 79% above the Grade 5 award rate, reflecting market premiums.

State and territory differences

Electrician pay varies by location. The national full-time average for all occupations differs across states and territories, and electrician pay tends to follow similar patterns. The state full-time averages (from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) are:

New South Wales: $109,658
Victoria: $106,137
Queensland: $106,064
South Australia: $102,450
Western Australia: $115,825
Tasmania: $96,008
Northern Territory: $103,173
Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

Western Australia and the ACT have the highest overall averages, partly due to mining and public sector work. Electricians in those states may earn more than the national median. States and territories has more detail.

Take-home pay sketch

For an electrician earning the median of $113,932 a year, the estimated tax for 2026–27 is:

Nil on first $18,200
15% on $18,201–$45,000 = $4,020
30% on $45,001–$113,932 = $20,679.60
Plus 2% Medicare levy = $2,278.64
Total tax and Medicare: about $26,978
Take-home: about $86,954 a year, or $1,672 a week

This is a rough estimate. It does not include the low-income tax offset, which could reduce tax slightly, or other deductions. Actual take-home depends on individual circumstances.

Where the figures come from

The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, released twice a year (May and November). The electrician median is from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, conducted every two years (most recently August 2025). Award rates are from Fair Work. How the figures are set explains the methodology.

Job medians lets you compare electricians with other trades and professions.

Key points to remember

The "average electrician salary" is not published; the best measure is the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,191.
That median is above the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week.
Award minimums are much lower, but most electricians earn above award.
Take-home pay after tax on the median is roughly $86,950 a year.
State averages vary, with WA and ACT highest.

If you are an electrician or considering the trade, these figures give a realistic picture of earnings. Use the Guides for more on salary negotiation and industry trends.