What should I charge for electrical work?

A self-employed electrician prices against real overhead — a license, a stocked van, test equipment, bonding, and liability insurance — long before a billable hour. Build each bid from your labor and materials plus a markup that covers that overhead, and add a service-call fee so small jobs still pay.

Price a job the way contractors actually do it: add up what the job costs you, then add a markup for your overhead and profit. Fill in your numbers — your bid updates as you type.

What this job costs you

Materials & supplies ($) — your cost for everything you'll buy for this job

Other direct costs ($) — fuel, equipment rental, disposal fees, permits

Your labor

Not sure what to charge for your time? Employed electricians earn a median of about $30.38/hr (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A self-employed labor rate is typically higher — roughly $45–$60/hr (about 1.5–2×) — because it also has to cover self-employment tax, the benefits an employer would otherwise pay, and the hours that cannot be billed.

Hours this job will take

Your hourly labor rate ($) — what your time is worth per hour; e.g. $45–$60

Hired help ($) — paid to a helper or subcontractor; leave blank if solo

Your markup — overhead & profit

This is where your business actually makes money. Industry standard is roughly 20–30% overall for contractors; solo operators often need the higher end to cover insurance, tools, truck, admin time, and slow weeks. Adjust to fit your business.

Markup on your costs (%)

Materials & supplies	$0
Your labor (0 hrs × $0)	$0
Hired help	$0
Other direct costs	$0
Your costs (subtotal)	$0
Markup (30% — overhead & profit)	$0
Bid price	$0

Pricing method and standard percentages from contractor-industry sources (Angi, Buildern, NAHB): overall contractor markup 20–30%, materials markup 7.5–35%, labor markup 25–50%, recommended profit margin 15–25%. A markup is a percentage of your costs; the resulting margin (share of the bid that's profit) is lower — both are shown above. These are general benchmarks, not a guarantee for your market.

What your markup has to cover

The markup in your bid covers the costs no single job shows. For electrical work, your overhead typically includes the work van and fuel, license renewals and continuing education, liability insurance and bonding, test and hand tools, materials stock, permit fees, and scheduling and invoicing software. None of that appears on one job, but all of it is paid out of the markup added to every job. Published contractor guidance (Angi, NAHB) puts a typical overall markup at 20–30%.

Be realistic about your hours

Pulling permits, supply-house runs, quoting, and inspection wait time are unbillable — most solo electricians bill 28–34 of a 45-hour week. Price off billable hours and add a service-call fee for small jobs so a quick fix across town still pays.

Electrician pricing FAQs

How much do self-employed electricians charge per hour?

Solo electricians commonly charge $75–$150/hr depending on region and license level, with service calls often quoted flat-rate. Shop and commission overhead at a larger company push customer-facing rates higher; as a solo operator you can sit mid-range and keep far more of it.

Should I charge a service-call or trip fee?

Yes — a flat call-out fee ($75–$150, scaled by distance) covers the drive and diagnosis and keeps small jobs profitable without inflating your hourly rate for everyone. Some apply it toward the work if the customer proceeds.

Do I need a license and permit for electrical work?

Yes. Electrical work is licensed in every state, and most jobs beyond simple device swaps require a permit and inspection. Carry liability insurance and a bond, factor license and permit costs into your expenses, and price so they are covered.