What factors can move a high voltage electrician's pay above the average?

Overtime, shift penalties, and allowances such as the electrician's licence allowance can significantly boost weekly earnings. Working in states with higher average earnings, such as Western Australia ($115,825 full-time average) or the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090), may also lift pay. Experience, specialised high voltage qualifications, and working on major infrastructure projects can push earnings well above the award minimum.

What tax would a high voltage electrician earning near the national average pay?

For the 2026–27 income year, a high voltage electrician earning $108,352 (the national full-time average) would fall into the 30% tax bracket ($45,001 to $135,000). The tax on that income would be about $24,088 plus the 2% Medicare levy ($2,167), leaving around $82,097 after tax. Actual tax depends on deductions and offsets.

High voltage electrician salary: How it compares to the national average

Q: How does a high voltage electrician salary compare to the national average?

The ABS does not publish a specific average for high voltage electricians. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 a year). The highest minimum award rate under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award for an electrical worker grade 10 is $1,478.72 per week, which is about $605 below the national average. However, many high voltage electricians earn above the award rate through enterprise agreements, overtime, and allowances.

High voltage electrician salary and the national average

There is no single published average salary for a high voltage electrician in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not break down earnings by such a specific occupation. However, we can compare the award minimums for electrical workers to the national full-time average to understand where this pay typically sits.

The national full-time average

According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 a year on a 38-hour week. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses to compare any salary.

For context, the full-time median (the middle point of all full-time earnings) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year, based on ABS Employee earnings, August 2025.

Award minimums for electrical workers

The Fair Work Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 sets minimum rates for electrical workers. The award includes classifications from grade 1 to grade 10, with higher grades reflecting greater skill and responsibility. The rates include industry allowance, tool allowance, and where applicable, an electrician’s licence allowance.

For the highest classification shown in the award (electrical worker grade 10, including all allowances), the weekly minimum is $1,478.72, or $38.91 per hour. That is about $605 per week below the national full-time average. Even the lowest grade (grade 1) pays $1,046.31 per week, which is about $1,037 below the average.

These are minimum rates. Many high voltage electricians are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay significantly more. Overtime, penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, and allowances for working at heights or in confined spaces can also lift weekly earnings above the award minimum.

What would move pay above or below the average?

Several factors determine whether a high voltage electrician earns above or below the national average:

Overtime and penalties: The award pays overtime at time-and-a-half for the first two hours and double time thereafter on weekdays, with higher rates on weekends and public holidays. Regular overtime can easily push weekly earnings above $2,083.70.
Location: State averages vary. Western Australia has a full-time average of $115,825, while Tasmania is $96,008. Working in a high-paying state or on a remote project can increase pay.
Specialisation and experience: High voltage work often requires additional licences and training. Electricians with specialised skills in transmission, substations, or renewable energy projects may command higher rates.
Industry: The award covers electrical contracting, but some high voltage electricians work in mining, utilities, or construction, where enterprise agreements may offer higher base rates.

How the figures are set

The national average comes from the ABS survey of employers, collected twice a year (May and November). The award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual wage reviews. For 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, but most electrical workers are covered by the award, not the national minimum.

For more detail on how these figures are determined, see How the figures are set.

State comparisons

If a high voltage electrician works in a state with a higher average, they are more likely to earn above the national line. For example:

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

These are averages across all full-time workers, not just electricians, but they give a sense of regional pay levels.

Conclusion

While no precise average exists for high voltage electricians, the award minimums are below the national full-time average. However, with overtime, allowances, and experience, many high voltage electricians likely earn at or above the average. To see where your own salary sits, Place a salary on the line and compare it to the national figure.