Let's all get out our payslips and have a frank conversation about our salaries - because we can! The government recently removed secrecy bans to give employees more transparency and information about their workplaces and salary expectations. It means that now, you can have an open conversation with your colleagues about their remuneration and how it compares to yours. And we think that's fantastic!
Maybe you're an electrician with concerns that your employer isn't paying you your worth. Maybe you're an employer seeking new electricians but can't find anyone willing to work for what you're offering. Whatever the case, we've done the research and have up-to-date electrician salary data for you to peruse. So, without further ado, let's go through average electrician salary brackets and see how your pay pack stacks up.
Some Electricians Earn More
Speciality electricians get paid more. But you already knew that. Industrial and maintenance electricians get paid top dollar, as do those who install solar panels. And if you're a lineman or working in the mines? Your pay is off the chart! But for the sake of clarity and transparency, we're focusing our electrician salary statistics on regular sparkies.
What Is The Average Electrician Salary In Australia?
According to the latest Australian census, the average electrician salary is $87,750 per year, which equals around $45 per hour. Those numbers depend significantly on experience; entry-level electrical jobs start at $73,125 per year, up to the most experienced electricians who make up to $131,625 per year.
What Is The Average Electrician Salary In New Zealand?
The average electrician in New Zealand can expect to earn $84,454 per year, which equals around $41 per hour. Like their Aussie counterparts, New Zealand sparkies' wages range is dependent on experience, where an entry-level electrician earns an average salary of $61,224, and the most experienced earns an average salary of about $103,874.
How Much To Pay Your Electrical Employees
When starting an electrical business, deciding how much to pay your electricians is tricky. While it's vital to pay competitive rates, it's also important not to overpay your staff and run your business into the ground. Deciding how much to pay your electricians requires a lot of research. You'll need to look into the following:
- Your legal requirements regarding wages and awards
- How much your competitors are paying
- The rising cost of living vs the rising costs of supplies
- The risks associated with the kind of work your company performs.
Balancing these factors is tough, but the risk of losing good staff at best and litigation at worst is undoubtedly worth the time and care.
Related: If you're having trouble paying wages and completing timesheets, read more about electrician payroll software here.
But maybe you're not an employer; maybe you're here because you're not sure if your boss is paying as much as you're worth. We've compiled a few tips to help you ask for a pay rise.
How To Ask For A Pay Rise
Few things in life are as nerve-racking as asking for a pay rise. You'll undoubtedly be wondering how your boss with take the conversation, and whether, if it all goes wrong, it'll put you in the bad books.
Well, let's be clear off the bat and state that there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for a pay rise. If you feel that your value within the company is not equal to what you're being paid, having a calm, adult conversation about it shouldn't be a problem.
If you feel that your electrician salary isn't enough, here are some points to consider:
- Tell your boss about the positive aspects of the job and what you're most proud of.
- Talk about how long you've been with the company and describe your achievements.
- Get to the point and state it clearly - don't leave room for ambiguity.
- Use phrases such as, "I would appreciate you taking the time to consider," rather than, "I think I deserve".
- Provide statistics about similar jobs and their electrician salary.
- Tell your manager that you know they need time to consider, and leave it at that.
Your boss might be a little thrown by the conversation, so allowing them time to digest is essential. But if you can have this conversation in a frank, calm manner, you'll still be able to maintain a friendly working relationship even if they say no.
Time Poor
Processing payroll, managing wage awards, and calculating overtime are some of the most challenging administrative tasks of running a business. If you're having trouble, why not ask for help?
Business software designed with trade businesses in mind can automate your administration. Particularly, features for electricians can help record timesheet data and calculate wages without manual input, freeing up administration time for other tasks. Simply set up your standard award rates (including overtime, apprentice rates, and site allowance), overheads, and margins, and the software can apply the conditions and calculate the costs for you. You can actually click here to request a demo if you want to see what it's all about.
But we digress. The point we want to instil is that the topic of earning potential for electricians is tricky to define because there are so many factors that influence your pay. Whether you're here to learn more about electrician salary because you think you're not earning enough or because you can't find sparkies to work for what you're offering, researching similar jobs to see what they're paying is a great first place to start.
Good luck on your next hiring round, or the meeting with your boss to discuss a pay rise! Remember to refer back to the tips we’ve covered in this guide if you’re ever unsure about the average electrician salary in Australia and New Zealand, we’ll keep it periodically updated.
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