Electrician salary: a year, a week, and an hour
If you are an electrician or considering the trade, you probably want to know how the pay stacks up against the national full-time average. This page reads the same figure as a yearly salary, a weekly amount, and an hourly rate on a 38-hour week, then shows the distance from the line.
The national full-time average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes the national full-time adult ordinary-time average twice a year. In May 2026, that figure was $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as its benchmark. Men’s full-time ordinary-time average was about $113,412 a year; women’s about $100,594. The all-employees median (including part-time) was about $74,100 a year, while the full-time median was about $90,532.
Where electrician pay sits
The ABS does not publish a specific average for electricians. The most authoritative source for minimum pay is the **Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) from Fair Work. From 1 July 2026, the award sets minimum weekly rates for electrical workers across ten grades. An electrician’s all-purpose rate includes the minimum rate, industry allowance, tool allowance, and, if applicable, an electrician’s licence allowance. For a **Grade 5 electrical worker with all allowances (including the licence allowance, the weekly rate is $1,223.11 a week (about $32.19 an hour). That works out to roughly $63,596 a year – well below the national full-time average of $108,352.
However, many electricians earn above the award. Enterprise agreements, enterprise agreements, or individual contracts often pay significantly more. In high-demand states like Western Australia (full-time average about $115,825 a year) or the Australian Capital Territory (about $119,090), experienced electricians often command above the national average. The ABS state full-time averages show that even the lowest state average (Tasmania, about $96,008) is still above the award minimum for a Grade 5 electrician.
Reading the same figure as a year, a week, and an hour
The Average line tool on this site lets you enter a yearly salary before tax. The page then shows the weekly amount and the hourly rate on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the full-time average. For example, if you earn $63,000 a year, you are about $45,352 below the line. If you earn $108,352, you are exactly on the line.
How the figures set
The national average is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. The medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025. The minimum wage is from Fair Work from 1 July 2026: $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, about $52,255 a year. Award minimums rose 4.75% from that date. The tax brackets for 2026–27: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above. Medicare levy 2% before reductions.
State and territory averages
If you are comparing electrician pay across Australia, the state full-time averages vary. New South Wales full-time average about $109,658; Victoria about $106,137; Victoria about $106,137; Queensland about $106,064; South Australia about $102,102,450; Western Australia about $115,825; Western about $115,825; Tasmania about $96,008; Northern Territory about $103,173; Australian Capital about $119,090. These are full-time adult ordinary-time averages, not electrician-specific figures.
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Electrician salary FAQs
What is the average electrician salary in Australia?
The ABS does not publish a specific average for electricians. The best available benchmark is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Many electricians earn above the award minimums, but actual salaries vary by grade, location, and experience.
What are the minimum award rates for an electrician?
Under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, minimum weekly rates (from 1 July 2026) range from $1,004.90 for Grade 1 to $1,415.00 for Grade 10. An electrician with a licence (Grade 5 including allowances) gets at least $1,223.11 a week, or $32.19 an hour. These are minimums; many enterprise agreements or individual contracts pay more.
How does an electrician salary compare to the national median?
The full-time median salary in Australia is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). An electrician on the award minimum (Grade 5 with licence) earns about $63,596 a year, which is below the median. However, experienced electricians in high-demand areas often earn well above the median, sometimes exceeding the national full-time average.