Summary
- Verify the licence or scheme registration before booking.
- Notifiable work must be certified — keep the paperwork.
- Compare quotes on identical written scopes, not headline rates.
- Deposits above 25% before work starts are a warning sign.
Quick answer
Only hire an electrician who is licensed in your state (US) or registered with a recognised competent-person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT (UK). Expect $75–150 per hour in the US and £45–90 per hour in the UK, plus a call-out fee. Always get a certificate for the completed work.
Verify the credential first
United States. Licensing is at state — sometimes city — level. Ask for the licence number and check it on the state licensing board's website. Journeyman and master electrician are different licences; larger jobs and permits normally require a master or a licensed contractor.
United Kingdom. Most domestic work in England and Wales falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. A registered electrician can self-certify notifiable work; an unregistered one cannot, which leaves you to pay the council for a building-control inspection. Check the registration number on the scheme's own register.
Work you should never do yourself
What electrical work costs in 2026
| Job | US (USD) | UK (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out / first hour | 100–200 | 60–120 |
| Add a socket or outlet | 130–300 | 90–180 |
| Replace a light fitting | 100–250 | 70–150 |
| Consumer unit / panel upgrade | 1,300–4,000 | 500–1,000 |
| EV charger installation | 800–2,200 | 800–1,500 |
| Full rewire, 3-bed home | 8,000–20,000 | 3,500–7,000 |
Prices exclude sales tax in the US and VAT in the UK. Emergency and out-of-hours call-outs typically carry a 50–100% surcharge.
How to compare quotes properly
Paperwork you should receive
Keep these. Insurers and buyers' solicitors ask for them, and a missing certificate can stall a sale.