Electrician apprenticeship salary: award rates versus the national minimum wage

What is an electrician apprenticeship salary?

An electrician apprenticeship salary is the minimum weekly pay an apprentice electrician receives under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (the Electrical Award). This award covers most electricians in the contracting industry. The salary is not a single figure – it depends on the apprentice’s age, when they started, their year of apprenticeship, and whether they completed Year 12. The award sets an all-purpose rate that already includes industry allowance, tool allowance and the electrician’s licence allowance, so the apprentice gets a single weekly amount that applies to overtime, leave and public holidays.

Awards versus the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255. That gives a salary index of 48.2 (where 100 is full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352). But an electrician apprentice does not necessarily earn the national minimum wage. The Electrical Award has its own apprentice rates, which are often lower in the first year but climb as the apprentice gains skills.

For example, a first-year junior apprentice who started after 1 January 2014 and did not complete Year 12 receives $622.72 per week under the award. That annualises to about $32,381, giving an index of just 30. That is well below the national minimum wage index. By the fourth year, the same apprentice earns $1,006.97 per week, annualised $52,362, index 48.3 – almost identical to the national minimum wage index. A junior apprentice who completed Year 12 starts higher at $682.76 per week (index 33) and reaches the same fourth-year rate.

Adult apprentices (21 or over when they start) have a different structure. Their first-year rate is $982.95 per week (index 47), and from the second year onward they earn $1,098.29 per week (index 53). That is above the national minimum wage index, reflecting their age and experience.

How the salary index works

The salary index compares a yearly gross wage to the national benchmark of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. An index of 100 means the wage equals the benchmark. The national minimum wage sits at 48.2. Most electrician apprentices sit between 30 and 53, meaning they earn roughly one-third to one-half of the average full-time adult wage. This is typical for apprenticeships, where lower pay is offset by structured training and future earning potential.

Junior rates and the award

The national minimum wage order sets junior percentages for employees under 21 not covered by an award. For example, a 16-year-old gets $12.51 per hour. But the Electrical Award overrides those percentages with its own apprentice rates. The award’s junior apprentice rates are based on a percentage of the Electrical Worker Grade 5 rate (which is $1,119.10 per week) plus allowances. The percentages are 50% for first-year (did not complete Year 12), 60% for second-year, 70% for third-year, and 82% for fourth-year. Those who completed Year 12 get 55% in the first year and 65% in the second year. The allowances add a fixed amount each week.

Allowances and super

The weekly all-purpose rate already includes the tool allowance ($20–$33 per week depending on year) and the electrician’s licence allowance (proportional). Other allowances like travel, fares, and block release training are paid as incurred. On top of the wage, employers must pay superannuation at 12% from 1 July 2026. That is not included in the salary index calculation, which uses gross wages only.

State and industry context

While the Electrical Award is a national award, actual pay can vary by state and employer. The states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. Some employers pay above award rates to attract apprentices. The industries page shows that the mining industry index is 154.7, but electrical apprentices in mining may be covered by different enterprise agreements.

Tax and take-home pay

For a first-year apprentice earning $32,381, the estimated tax (2026–27 rates, including 2% Medicare levy) would be about $2,757, leaving a take-home of roughly $29,624. A fourth-year apprentice earning $52,362 would pay about $6,857 in tax, taking home $45,505. These are estimates and ignore HELP repayments or other deductions.

Where to find current rates

The pay guides on the Fair Work Ombudsman website provide the latest award rates. The Electrical Award pay guide effective from 1 July 2026 is available from. The award itself is on. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has a library page explaining the weekly all-purpose rate for apprentices in the Electrical Award.

Summary

An electrician apprenticeship salary under the award is a structured minimum that starts low and rises to near the national minimum wage by the fourth year. It is set by the award, not the national minimum wage, and includes key allowances. The salary index shows these wages range from about 30 to 53, reflecting the training phase of the career. For anyone considering an electrical apprenticeship, the award rates provide a clear minimum, but actual pay may be higher depending on the employer and location.