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Quick answer: In the UK an electronic and electrical engineering college course is one route into electrician work. It gives you knowledge, but you still need workplace experience to qualify. The National Careers Service puts electrician pay at £26,000 a year for starters and £45,000 for experienced workers. Apprentices earn at least £8 an hour from April 2026, which rises after the first year for those aged 19 and over.
Pay and course facts
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician salary, starter | £26,000 a year | National Careers Service |
| Electrician salary, experienced | £45,000 a year | National Careers Service |
| Apprentice minimum rate from April 2026 | £8 an hour | GOV.UK |
| National Living Wage, 21 and over, from April 2026 | £12.71 an hour | GOV.UK |
| Engineering course as a route | Electronic and electrical engineering is listed as a college course for this job | National Careers Service |
| Typical working week | 37 to 45 hours | National Careers Service |
Picking between the two
- If you want to wire, test and repair installations, aim for a Level 3 electrician apprenticeship.
- If you want design or engineering roles, a college engineering course is a start, but add workplace experience.
- Compare pay using the official range rather than job adverts alone.
- Remember that electricians can progress into electrical project design, estimating and site supervision.
Practice for the AM2 assessment
This page covers the route into the trade. For the assessment itself, our main page is the UK electrician exam guide: the NET AM2 family, City & Guilds 2382 (BS 7671), the wiring regulations and the official links in one place.
Try the free UK electrician practice test in your browser. The questions are original and benchmarked on the public NET AM2 outline and BS 7671. The one-time UK exam pack unlocks every UK question and a printable PDF version, with no subscription.
FAQ
Does an electrical engineering course pay more than an apprenticeship?
During study you are usually unpaid, while an apprentice is paid at least £8 an hour. Pay after qualifying depends on the job you move into.
Can an engineering graduate work as an electrician?
The National Careers Service says people with experience and qualifications from related careers, such as electrical engineering, may be able to apply directly.
Is £45,000 the maximum?
It is the experienced figure the National Careers Service quotes. Supervision, design or self-employment can pay differently.
Sources
- National Careers Service: Electrician job profile
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
Page updated: 2026-09-30. Figures were read from the linked official pages on 2026-09-30. Career routes and building rules here are for England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own careers services, and the ECS card in Scotland is handled by the Scottish JIB.
About the author: Tsai, creator of Tsai Electro, moved from an office job into electrical and MEP field work in Taiwan and holds Taiwanese indoor wiring and water piping technician certificates. Tsai has not trained or worked as an electrician in the UK, so every UK rule on this page links to the official page that publishes it.
