How Much Does an Electrician Cost in Australia? (2026 Rates)

An electrician in Australia charges roughly $90 to $160 an hour, plus a call-out fee of $80 to $150. Small jobs like a new power point are $150 to $300 all up. A switchboard upgrade is $1,200 to $3,500. Here is what the common jobs cost and how to keep the bill sensible.

All prices are typical 2026 metro ranges and include GST. Regional rates are often a little lower but may attract travel charges.

Electrician rates at a glance

Common electrical job prices

Install a power point: $150 - $300

A single new GPO near an existing circuit. Double power points, USB-C outlets or long cable runs push it toward the top of the range. Adding several at once is much cheaper per point than doing them one at a time.

Switchboard upgrade: $1,200 - $3,500

Old ceramic fuse boards are the usual reason. The price depends on the number of circuits, whether RCDs (safety switches) need adding to every circuit, and whether the mains or meter also need work. If the switchboard has asbestos backing, add removal.

Safety switch (RCD) installation: $200 - $500

Per circuit, on an existing switchboard. Safety switches are mandatory on new circuits everywhere in Australia and are required on all circuits in rental properties in Queensland and Victoria.

Light fitting replacement: $100 - $250 each

Downlights, pendants and oyster lights. Replacing a whole room of halogen downlights with LED is often quoted per fitting, with a lower rate per unit for a batch.

Ceiling fan installation: $200 - $400

Where a light already exists. New wiring or a switch adds to this.

EV charger installation: $1,200 - $2,500

For a 7kW single-phase home charger, excluding the charger. Three-phase, long cable runs or a switchboard upgrade at the same time push it higher.

Fault finding: $150 - $400

Diagnosing why a circuit keeps tripping or why half the house has no power. Charged at the hourly rate. The fix is separate.

Smoke alarm installation: $120 - $250 per alarm

Hardwired, interconnected alarms. Queensland’s rules require interconnected photoelectric alarms in all homes being sold or leased, and every home by 2027.

What pushes electrical prices up

• Access. Double-storey homes, tight roof spaces and slab floors all add time.
• Old wiring. If the electrician finds rubber-insulated or degraded wiring, the job changes.
• Materials. Brand-name fittings and switches cost more than standard ones. Ask for the brand being quoted.
• Compliance paperwork. Every job must come with a certificate of electrical safety. If a quote seems too cheap, ask whether it includes this.
• Multiple small jobs on one visit are far cheaper than separate call-outs. Batch them.

Getting a fair quote

1. Describe the job in detail - number of points, rooms, what exists now. Photos of the switchboard help enormously.
2. Get two or three quotes for anything over $500. Post the job once and let local electricians price it rather than calling around.
3. Check the licence. Every state has an online register. An unlicensed operator can’t issue the compliance certificate, and your insurance may not cover their work.
4. Ask for a fixed price. Most standard jobs can be quoted fixed. Keep hourly for genuine fault-finding.

Electrician vs handyman

A handyman can change a light bulb, install a battery-powered smoke alarm or assemble a light fitting that plugs in. Anything that involves connecting to fixed wiring - a new fitting, a switch, a power point - must be a licensed electrician. No exceptions, and no “he’s a mate who used to be a sparky.”

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