Electrican & Electrical Engineer Pay

sideways83

What are the hourly rates for a:

-Electrican just out of his time,
-Electrican out of his time with 2years,
-Electrical engineer just out of college.

All outside of Dublin. With the current economy it seems Electricans are very well paid? Are they better paid that Electrical engineers? When I say engineers I mean newly qualified or with 1 or 2 years experience.

Thanks for any helpful comments in advance.

Paul_Mc1988

sideways83 wrote:

What are the hourly rates for a:

Apprentice electrician
1st year 6.53 per hour
2nd year 9.55 per hour
3rd year 13.80 per hour
4th year 16.99 per hour

Qualified electrician
21.77 per hour when first qualified which goes up to 22.56 after 5 years. Basically goes up a few cents each year.

Paul_Mc1988

Paul_Mc1988 wrote:

Qualified electrician 21.77 per hour when first qualified which goes up to 22.56 after 5 years. Basically goes up a few cents each year.

Essentially 46k a year. Added advantage it you get paid when you are learning during the four years.

I've qualified as an electrician and have an electrical engineering degree also. Engineering would be a handier (office) job. Pay would be 28k per year after college and could rise to 70+ with a masters and chartership but its a long slog to get up that high in my opinion.

On a side note a trade was the best thing I ever did even thought I left trade but that was more resession related and the chance of a free degree at the time which stopped me from going back.

sideways83

Thanks for that. Does it make sense for an electrical engineer out of college with a year to be telling a qualified electrician what to do and still be getting less than him. Not knocking Electricans,some are very intelligent and have a lot more knowledge than a lad out of college. The engineer signing off on his work and he on a lot less regardless of experience

mycro2013

sideways83 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Does it make sense for an electrical engineer out of college with a year to be telling a qualified electrician what to do and still be getting less than him. Not knocking Electricans,some are very intelligent and have a lot more knowledge than a lad out of college. The engineer signing off on his work and he on a lot less regardless of experience

It's the same across all trades, the lads on the floor are making more than the engineers above them in most instances. This boils down to the power of the Union.

What lets down the engineering profession is the lack of a strong representation body to set down a clear wage structure. In most instances an engineer has to negotiate their own pay rises whereas trades have their terms defined by the Union and are paid hourly Vs a salary.

sideways83

That’s true.it seems a bit wrong a Electrican could serve his trade go to college for 4 years and still only be on €20 a hour. Trades are in a good place at the minute