If you’re thinking about becoming an electrician, plumber or builder, one of the first questions you’ll ask is:
How much can I actually earn?
The answer depends on your trade, experience, location and whether you’re employed or self-employed.
As a broad guide, employed electricians, plumbers and builders can earn around £28,000–£45,000 a year, while experienced self-employed tradesmen can potentially generate £40,000–£60,000+ in annual revenue depending on their day rate, workload and business costs.
But there’s an important distinction to understand:
What you charge isn’t necessarily what you earn.
A tradesman charging £300 a day might generate £60,000 in annual revenue, but vehicle costs, tools, insurance, downtime, holidays, tax and other expenses can reduce the amount they actually take home.
In this guide, we’ll look at realistic earnings for electricians, plumbers and builders in the UK and explain what those figures actually mean in the real world.
However, there’s one important thing most salary guides don’t explain…
High earnings don’t automatically mean high profits.
Many tradesmen earn impressive day rates but still struggle financially because they don’t understand business costs, tax and cash flow.
In this guide we’ll look at realistic earnings for electricians, plumbers and builders, before explaining what those figures actually mean in the real world.
If you want a broader view of earnings across the industry, see
What Is a Good Income for a Tradesman in the UK?
| Trade | Typical employed earnings | Typical self-employed day rate | Example annual revenue* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £32,000–£45,000 | £250–£350 | £50,000–£70,000 |
| Plumber | £30,000–£40,000 | £200–£350 | £40,000–£70,000 |
| Builder | £28,000–£38,000 | £180–£300 | £36,000–£60,000 |
*Example annual revenue assumes around 200 chargeable working days. It is not personal income or profit and does not account for expenses, tax, holidays or downtime.
Electrician Earnings in the UK
Electricians are often among the higher-paid trades due to the technical skills and qualifications required.
Qualified electricians working in commercial, industrial or renewable energy sectors often earn considerably more than domestic installers. Many experienced self-employed electricians also increase their income by specialising in areas such as EV charger installations, solar PV or inspection and testing.
Typical employed earnings:
£32,000 – £45,000 per year
Specialist electricians (commercial, industrial, renewables) can earn more.
Self-employed electricians:
£250 – £350 per day
Example:
- £300/day × 200 chargeable days = £60,000 annual revenue
- That is revenue, not profit or take-home pay.
But remember:
That’s not profit
You still need to deduct costs and tax — something many trades overlook, explained in
Why So Many Tradesmen Are Busy But Still Broke
Plumber Earnings in the UK
Plumbing offers similar earning potential.
Typical employed earnings:
£30,000 – £40,000 per year
Specialist plumbers (gas/heating):
Higher earnings potential
Self-employed plumbers:
£200 – £350 per day
Rates depend on:
- Skill level
- Type of work
- Location
Gas, heating and specialist plumbing work can command higher rates than general plumbing, particularly where additional qualifications and specialist skills are required.
Self-employed plumbers also need to remember that their day rate represents business revenue, not personal income.
Builder Earnings in the UK
“Builder” covers a wide range of roles.
Typical employed earnings:
£28,000 – £38,000 per year
Self-employed builders:
£180 – £300 per day
Earnings can increase significantly when:
- Managing projects
- Running teams
- Taking on larger jobs
Builders can also have very different business models. Someone working alone on small jobs will have a very different income potential from a contractor managing employees, subcontractors and larger projects.
This is one reason average salary figures can be misleading when comparing self-employed tradesmen.
Which Trade Has the Highest Earning Potential?
There isn’t one trade that is guaranteed to be the highest earner. Income varies enormously depending on experience, specialisation, location and whether you’re employed or running your own business.
As a general guide, electricians and specialist heating or gas engineers often have strong earning potential because of the technical skills and qualifications involved.
Builders can also earn considerably more as they move into project management, larger contracts and running teams.
The important point is that your trade is only part of the equation.
The tradesmen earning the most usually:
- Price work correctly
- Keep overheads under control
- Win repeat customers
- Run their business efficiently
- Understand their actual profit
That’s why a successful builder can potentially out-earn an average electrician.
This is explored in more detail in Why Some Tradesmen Earn £30k and Others Earn £100k.
The Impact of Self-Employment
Self-employment increases earning potential, but also responsibility.
You must manage:
- Expenses
- Tax
- Insurance
- Gaps between jobs
This is where many tradesmen struggle.
High day rates don’t guarantee strong income
See:
How Many Days a Year Do Tradesmen Actually Work
Revenue vs Take-Home Pay
This is where most people misunderstand trade earnings.
Example:
- £60,000 revenue
- Minus costs + tax
Real take-home is much lower
For example, a self-employed electrician charging £300 per day might invoice around £60,000 a year. But what does £300 a day actually mean once you account for costs, downtime and tax? We break down the real numbers in The Truth About £300 a Day (It’s Not What You Think).
After allowing for:
- Vehicle costs
- Tools
- Insurance
- Accountancy fees
- Holidays
- Pension contributions
- Income tax
- National Insurance
their actual personal income could be closer to £35,000–£45,000, depending on their business costs.
The exact figure will vary significantly depending on business expenses, working days, pension contributions and tax position.
If you don’t plan for this, it leads to financial pressure — see
Why Tradesmen Struggle With Cash Flow
Location and Demand
Location plays a major role in earnings.
- London & South East → higher rates
- Other regions → slightly lower rates
But:
Higher income often means higher living costs
So real outcomes can be similar.
Experience and Reputation
Income grows with:
- Experience
- Skill level
- Reputation
Tradesmen who:
- Deliver quality work
- Build strong referrals
Can charge more and stay busy
The Real Difference: Business Skills
The biggest difference in earnings isn’t trade.
It’s business ability
Key factors:
- Pricing correctly
- Managing costs
- Controlling cash flow
Understanding your break-even point is equally important, because it tells you the minimum amount your business needs to earn before making a profit. Try our Tradesman Break-Even Calculator to work yours out.
Your day rate also needs to reflect your real business costs. See How to Calculate Your Day Rate as a Self-Employed Tradesman to work out what you should actually be charging.
If pricing is wrong, income will always be limited.
Start here:
How to Price a Job Properly (Step-by-Step)
And avoid common mistakes:
Tradesman Pricing Mistakes That Cost Thousands
What Most People Get Wrong
People often focus on:
Day rate
But ignore:
- Working days
- Expenses
- Tax
- Downtime
This creates unrealistic expectations.
Earnings only make sense when you understand the full picture
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electricians earn more than plumbers?
On average, electricians often earn slightly more, particularly in commercial and industrial work. However, experienced gas engineers and heating specialists can earn similar or even higher incomes.
Can builders earn over £100,000?
Yes, although it’s important to distinguish between £100,000 turnover and £100,000 personal income.
Builders running successful businesses with employees or subcontractors can exceed £100,000 turnover, although profit will depend on overheads and business management.
If you’re interested in what it would actually take for a tradesman to reach £100,000 a year, see How to Make £100k a Year as a Tradesman — The Real Numbers.
How much does a self-employed electrician earn?
A self-employed electrician might charge around £250–£350 per day, although rates vary by location, experience and type of work. At £300 per day for 200 chargeable days, that would be £60,000 in annual revenue before business costs and tax. Actual personal income will be lower.
Which trade has the highest day rate?
Specialist electricians, heating engineers and experienced contractors often command the highest day rates, but profitability depends on much more than the amount charged each day.
Is it better to be employed or self-employed?
Self-employment usually offers greater earning potential, but it also brings greater financial risk and responsibility.
Final Thoughts
Electricians, plumbers, and builders can all earn strong incomes in the UK.
But:
Income alone doesn’t tell the full story
The tradesmen who earn the most long-term:
- Price properly
- Understand their numbers
- Manage money effectively
Because in most cases:
The problem isn’t earning
It’s what happens after you earn it
Once that’s fixed:
Income turns into profit — and profit turns into wealth
f you’re trying to work out what a genuinely good income looks like for your situation, What Is a Good Income for a Tradesman in the UK? is a useful next step. And if you’re aiming for a much higher income, How to Make £100k a Year as a Tradesman — The Real Numbers works through the numbers in detail.
The goal isn’t simply to earn more. It’s to keep more of what you earn and turn that profit into long-term financial security.
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