What does electrical cost in Australia?
Electrical work typically costs between $60 and $15,000 in Australia in 2026, across 17 common kinds of job. Below: the price of each, how it changes by state, and the licence, wage and compliance rules that set the floor.
Reviewed September 2026 by the Blue Collar News Services editorial team. 7 sources are linked on this page, all government, standards or industry bodies. Indicative prices, not quotes, and not legal advice. How we research prices
Electrical prices by job
Typical GST-inclusive ranges for a standard residential job. Each link opens the full guide for that job.
| Job | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance & Oven Wiring | $120–$500 | per job |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | $120–$400 | per job |
| Data & Network Cabling | $150–$1,500 | per job |
| Downlight Installation | $60–$150 | per job |
| Electrical Fault Finding 24/7 | $120–$500 | per job |
| Emergency Electrician (24/7) 24/7 | $150–$800 | call-out |
| EV Charger Installation | $800–$2,500 | per job |
| Home Battery Installation | $6,000–$15,000 | per job |
| House Rewiring | $3,000–$15,000 | per job |
| LED Lighting Upgrade | $200–$1,500 | per job |
| Power Point Installation | $120–$400 | per job |
| Safety Switch Installation | $150–$500 | per job |
| Smoke Alarm Installation | $100–$600 | per job |
| Solar Panel Installation | $4,000–$12,000 | per job |
| Solar Panel Repair | $150–$2,000 | per job |
| Switchboard Upgrade | $800–$2,500 | per job |
| TV Antenna Installation | $150–$600 | per job |
What sets electrical prices in Australia
The rules and figures behind the numbers, each with its source. Checked September 2026; rules and award rates change, so confirm with the authority before relying on one.
In NSW any electrical wiring work must by law be done by, or under the supervision of, a licensed electrician, and the licence applies regardless of the cost of the work, unlike general building work where the threshold is $5,000.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In NSW the electrician must lodge a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work no later than seven days after testing, and from 1 July 2026 it must go through the BCNSW eCert portal. On the spot fines of up to $1000 apply for each certificate not supplied, and you can ask for an emailed copy.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In Victoria every electrical installation job must come with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. For non-prescribed work such as lights and power points the copy arrives within 30 days, and the contractor may charge you the certificate purchase cost plus a handling fee they set.
Source: energysafe.vic.gov.au
Under the Fair Work pay guide for the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award, effective 1 July 2026, an electrical worker grade 5 with the electrician's licence allowance has a minimum rate of $32.19 an hour, and $64.38 an hour on Sunday.
Source: calculate.fairwork.gov.au
In NSW, residential work over $5,000 including GST needs a written contract, work over $20,000 needs a large-job contract and Home Building Compensation cover, and the deposit is capped at 10 per cent of the contract price.
Source: nsw.gov.au
In the ABS Producer Price Index for inputs to house construction, electrical equipment rose 7.4 per cent in the June 2026 quarter and 12.1 per cent over the year, the fastest rising input listed (released 31 July 2026).
Source: abs.gov.au
In Victoria, prescribed work such as consumer mains, switchboards, earthing systems and solar or battery installs must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector before connection, with the certificate issued within 16 calendar days. Lights and power points skip this step.
Source: energysafe.vic.gov.au
Electrical cost by state
The trade’s cheapest and dearest job, adjusted for each capital city. Regional prices can sit outside these.
| State | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $70–$17,250 |
| Victoria | $65–$16,800 |
| Queensland | $65–$15,750 |
| Western Australia | $65–$16,500 |
| South Australia | $60–$14,700 |
| Tasmania | $60–$15,300 |
| Northern Territory | $65–$16,800 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $65–$16,200 |
How we work these prices out
The ranges are indicative, not quotes. They reflect the spread of prices Australian businesses typically quote for each job in capital cities, reviewed September 2026, GST-inclusive, for a standard residential job with reasonable access. The state table applies a cost index for each capital to the national range. Where a rule or rate is stated above, it comes from the source shown; we do not copy figures from other quote websites.
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FAQs
Why do electrical prices vary so much between jobs?
The range on this page covers 17 different kinds of electrical work, from small repairs to large installations, so the spread is wide. Within one job the price moves with size, access, materials and urgency. A tradie who has seen the job can quote it; a page cannot.
Do these prices include GST?
Yes. Every figure here is GST-inclusive and assumes a standard residential job with reasonable access. A written quote from a licensed business must also show whether GST is included.
Why is electrical dearer in some states?
Labour rates, licence requirements, insurance thresholds and the cost of getting materials to site all differ by state, and metro rates run above regional ones. The state table applies a cost index for each capital city to the national range; regional prices can sit outside it.
How do I get an exact price?
Get two or three written quotes from licensed local businesses and compare them like for like. You can do that here for free: tell us the job and independent electrical businesses covering your area come back to you with quotes.
Sources
Every rule and rate on this page comes from one of these. Checked September 2026. We link the page we read, not a homepage, so you can see the figure yourself.
- nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/categories-of-work
- nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/compliance-and-regulation/electricians/electrical-compliance-requirements
- energysafe.vic.gov.au/certificates-electrical-safety/certificates-electrical-safety-consumers
- calculate.fairwork.gov.au/Download/AwardSummary?awardCode=ma000025&fileType=pdf
- nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/preparing/contracts
- abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/producer-price-indexes-australia/latest-release
- energysafe.vic.gov.au/certificates-electrical-safety/obligations-and-guidelines/prescribed-and-non-prescribed-work