Electrical apprentices sit under their own award, and it includes something no other trade gets: a licence allowance paid to you from your first year. Here are the actual Fair Work minimums as at 1 July 2026.
What an electrical apprentice earns
Legal minimums under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award (MA000025), for apprenticeships started after 1 January 2014.
| Stage | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year — did not complete Year 12 | $622.72 | $16.39 |
| 1st year — completed Year 12 | $682.76 | $17.97 |
| 2nd year — did not complete Year 12 | $742.79 | $19.55 |
| 2nd year — completed Year 12 | $802.84 | $21.13 |
| 3rd year | $862.87 | $22.71 |
| 4th year | $1,006.97 | $26.50 |
These already include the industry allowance, tool allowance and the electrician’s licence allowance. That last one is specific to this trade — it runs from $20.15 a week in first year up to $33.04 in fourth year, and it’s baked into the figures above rather than paid separately.
Adult apprentices jump to near-qualified money fast
An adult apprentice — 21 or over at the start — gets $982.95 a week ($25.87 an hour) in first year, then $1,098.29 a week from second year all the way through.
Read that again, because it’s unusual. From your second year you’re on more than a fourth-year junior apprentice earns. For career changers, electrical is one of the two or three strongest financial propositions in the Australian trades.
Your training costs are reimbursed
This award requires your employer to reimburse your training fees and prescribed textbook costs, and to cover excess travel costs for block release training. There’s also a travel time allowance paid daily, from $4.35 for a first-year junior up to $7.56 for an adult apprentice.
A lot of apprentices never claim these. They’re entitlements, not favours, and they add up over four years.
Fourth year is lower than you’d expect
Worth being straight about: at $1,006.97, a fourth-year electrical apprentice earns less than a fourth-year plumber ($1,099.48) or carpenter ($1,102.13). The electrical award steps up more gradually in the final year.
That reverses sharply on qualification. A licensed electrician sits on the electrical worker grade 5 rate and above, and the licence and nominee allowances push qualified earnings well past most construction trades. The apprenticeship is the lean part, not the career.
Licensed in every state, and heavily regulated
Electrical work is licensed everywhere in Australia, with no exceptions and no low-value threshold. Unlicensed electrical work is a criminal offence, not a compliance issue, because the failure mode is electrocution or fire. Your licence is issued by your state regulator after you complete your qualification and a capstone assessment.
Where it goes after you qualify
Electrical branches wider than most trades: industrial and PLC work, instrumentation, data and communications, solar and battery installation, high voltage, rail and mining. Mining and high voltage in particular pay substantially above the award. The nominee allowance of $102.96 a week applies if you’re the licensed nominee for a contracting business.
Your qualification
The trade qualification is UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician, typically four years, followed by a capstone assessment before licensing.
How to check your exact rate
Confirm your minimum with the Fair Work Pay Calculator, and check whether you qualify for adult apprentice rates — the difference is large enough to be worth verifying. The Fair Work Ombudsman helpline is 13 13 94.
FAQ
How much does a first-year electrical apprentice get paid?
From 1 July 2026, $622.72 a week without Year 12 or $682.76 with it, under MA000025 — $16.39 and $17.97 an hour. Adult apprentices get $982.95.
What is the electrician’s licence allowance?
An allowance unique to this award, paid from first year, running $20.15 to $33.04 a week for junior apprentices. It’s already included in the rates above.
Does my employer have to pay my TAFE fees?
Under this award, yes — training fees and prescribed textbooks are reimbursable, along with excess travel to block release.
Why do electrical apprentices earn less than plumbers in fourth year?
The electrical award steps up more gradually late in the apprenticeship. Qualified electricians then earn strongly, particularly with licence and nominee allowances.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Rates were correct at 1 July 2026 and change annually. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
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