Electrician vs Plumber UK: Which Pays More? (2026 Comparison)
Electricians earn £33,500 vs plumbers at £31,900 on average. Full 2026 comparison of training costs, salaries, job demand, daily work, and future career growth in both trades.
Electrician vs Plumber: An Honest Comparison
Quick verdict
Electricians earn slightly more on average (£33,000–£38,000 vs £30,000–£35,000 for plumbers) and have stronger long-term demand thanks to EV charging, solar PV, and smart home technology. Plumbers earn well too, especially with gas qualifications, but face uncertainty around the 2035 gas boiler phase-out. Both trades offer excellent self-employment prospects.
Choosing between a career as an electrician or a plumber is one of the most common decisions facing anyone considering the trades. Both are skilled, well-paid professions with strong demand across the UK. Both offer excellent self-employment opportunities and genuine job security.
This guide provides an honest, side-by-side comparison of the two careers — covering training routes, costs, earning potential, daily work, and long-term outlook. There is no wrong answer here, but there are real differences that may make one trade a better fit for your goals and interests.
Training Routes and Timelines
Both trades require formal training and qualifications. The timelines are similar, but the qualification structures differ.
Electrician training
- ✓City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation (14-16 weeks)
- ✓City & Guilds 2365 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation (16-20 weeks)
- ✓18th Edition Wiring Regulations (2382) — 2-day intensive course
- ✓Inspection and Testing (2391) — 5-day course
- ✓Total taught course time: approximately 8-12 months
- ✓NVQ Level 3 (2357) for full qualification and ECS Gold Card
Plumber training
- ✓Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Heating (college or private provider)
- ✓Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Heating
- ✓Unvented hot water systems qualification (for cylinders)
- ✓Gas Safe registration (ACS assessments) if working with gas
- ✓Total training time: approximately 18-24 months
Key difference
Electricians follow a more structured, regulation-heavy pathway with mandatory qualifications at each stage. Plumbing training is more varied, with the gas qualifications being optional but highly recommended for earning potential.
Training Costs Compared
The cost of training for both trades is broadly similar when using private training providers. College-based routes may be cheaper but take significantly longer.
Electrician training costs
- ✓Level 2 Diploma: 2,000 to 3,500 pounds
- ✓Level 3 Diploma: 2,500 to 4,000 pounds
- ✓Combined Level 2 and 3 package: 4,000 to 6,500 pounds
- ✓18th Edition course: 300 to 500 pounds
- ✓2391 Inspection and Testing: 600 to 1,000 pounds
- ✓Total: approximately 5,000 to 10,000 pounds
Plumber training costs
- ✓Level 2 NVQ Diploma: 2,000 to 4,000 pounds
- ✓Level 3 NVQ Diploma: 2,500 to 4,500 pounds
- ✓Unvented hot water: 300 to 600 pounds
- ✓Gas Safe ACS assessments: 1,000 to 2,500 pounds
- ✓Total: approximately 5,000 to 10,000 pounds
Both trades cost roughly 5,000 to 10,000 pounds for the full suite of qualifications through a private training provider. Payment plans and ELCAS funding (for ex-military) are available for both.
Salary and Earning Potential
Both trades offer strong earning potential, particularly for self-employed workers. Electricians hold a slight advantage in average earnings.
Employed salaries
- ✓Electrician average salary: 33,000 to 38,000 pounds per year
- ✓Plumber average salary: 30,000 to 35,000 pounds per year
- ✓Electrician specialist roles (EV, data centres): 40,000 to 65,000 pounds
- ✓Gas engineer roles: 32,000 to 40,000 pounds
Self-employed day rates
- ✓Electrician: 200 to 400 pounds per day
- ✓Plumber: 180 to 350 pounds per day
- ✓EV charging specialist: 300 to 500 pounds per day
- ✓Gas engineer with boiler work: 250 to 400 pounds per day
The earning gap widens as electricians specialise. EV charging, solar PV, data centre work, and testing and inspection all command premium rates that have no direct equivalent in plumbing. See our electrician salary guide for detailed breakdowns.
Job Demand and Skills Shortage
Both trades face significant skills shortages across the UK. However, the drivers of demand differ, and the outlook for each trade over the next decade is shaped by different forces.
Electrician demand
- ✓UK needs an estimated 200,000+ additional electricians by 2030 for net zero targets
- ✓EV charging infrastructure requires tens of thousands of qualified installers
- ✓Solar PV installations have tripled since 2020
- ✓Data centre construction pipeline worth over 20 billion pounds
- ✓Every new home needs full electrical installation
Plumber demand
- ✓Strong demand for bathroom and kitchen installations
- ✓Central heating maintenance and boiler replacements remain steady
- ✓New-build housing drives consistent demand
- ✓Emergency call-out work provides year-round income
- ✓Gas boiler ban from 2035 creates uncertainty for gas-focused plumbers
The 2035 factor
The government has confirmed that no new gas boilers will be installed in new-build homes from 2025, with a full ban on new gas boiler installations planned for 2035. Plumbers who rely heavily on gas work will need to diversify into heat pumps and renewable heating. Electricians, by contrast, benefit directly from this transition.
What the Work Is Actually Like
The day-to-day work in each trade is quite different. Understanding what you will actually be doing matters as much as the salary figures.
Electrician daily work
- ✓Installing and wiring consumer units, circuits, and accessories
- ✓Testing and inspecting existing electrical installations
- ✓Fault-finding and diagnosis using test equipment
- ✓Reading technical drawings and wiring diagrams
- ✓Working to detailed regulations (BS 7671)
- ✓Paperwork: certificates, schedules of test results, EICRs
Plumber daily work
- ✓Installing and repairing pipework, taps, and sanitary ware
- ✓Fitting bathrooms and kitchens
- ✓Central heating installation and maintenance
- ✓Boiler servicing and repairs (if Gas Safe registered)
- ✓Emergency leak repairs and call-outs
- ✓Working with copper, plastic, and lead pipework
Electrical work tends to be more technical and regulation-focused, with a greater emphasis on testing and compliance. Plumbing is more physically demanding, with heavier lifting and more time spent in awkward spaces. Both require excellent problem-solving skills.
Future Outlook: 2026 and Beyond
This is where the two trades diverge most significantly. Both have strong near-term demand, but the long-term trajectory favours electricians.
Why the future favours electricians
- ✓EV charging infrastructure is a multi-billion pound growth market
- ✓Solar PV and battery storage installations are accelerating
- ✓Heat pump installations require electrical connections (new work for electricians)
- ✓Data centres, smart buildings, and automation all need electrical expertise
- ✓The UK net zero 2050 target drives long-term structural demand
Plumber adaptation
Plumbing is not going away — properties will always need water and heating systems. But the shift from gas to electric heating means plumbers will need to adapt. Many are already retraining in heat pump installation, which sits at the crossover between plumbing and electrical work.
For anyone choosing between the two trades today, electricians have a broader range of growth opportunities and are better positioned for the technology-driven changes ahead. You may also want to compare electricians vs gas engineers. That said, plumbing remains a solid, well-paid career with genuine job security.
Related Course
Level 2 Diploma (2365)
Start your electrician training — view upcoming course dates
Crossover Opportunities
It is worth noting that the two trades are not mutually exclusive. Some tradespeople hold qualifications in both, and the overlap is growing.
- ✓Heat pump installations require both plumbing and electrical skills
- ✓Bathroom and kitchen refits often involve both trades
- ✓Property maintenance roles value multi-skilled operatives
- ✓Some electricians add plumbing skills (and vice versa) to offer complete renovation services
- ✓The building services sector increasingly values cross-trade competence
If you are drawn to both trades, consider starting with one and adding the other over time. Our guide to whether electrician is a good career covers why most professionals find it more practical to become fully qualified in one trade first before branching out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electricians or plumbers earn more?
Is it harder to become an electrician or a plumber?
Which trade has better job security in the long term?
Can you be both an electrician and a plumber?
Which trade is better for self-employment?
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