Where in the world are the highest paid electricians?

Have you ever dreamed of taking your hard earned qualifications away from our fair shores to find your fortune in sunnier climes?

If not, an infographic new infographic from Electrical Direct may get you thinking.

Compiling research from sources around the globe, the infographic paints a bleak picture for British electricians who are paid significantly less than their counterparts around the globe.

While Brtish electricians earn, on average, £30,500 per annum, our American cousins will earn $52,910 (£41,481). This is just slightly less than 'electrical engineers' in Germany, who average out at €48,652 (£42,782).

You have to fly a little further around the globe to reach the big bucks. The average salary for a spark in Australia averages out at $81,536 (£48,631), an appealing prospect for anyone who wants to swap their local industrial estate with Bondi beach.  The highest on the list is Japan, which averages out at  ¥7,073,175 (£49,992).

Obviously, the cost of living in these countries has to be factored in (living in Tokyo is likely to be significantly higher than living in Bristol), so you may want to do your own research before sending your boss your notice and booking a ticket! 

Regional differences

Not surprisingly, electricians in London have the highest average salary in Britain (£36,028) but other cities like Bristol (£32,669), Portsmouth (£32,364), Brighton (£32,058) and Glasgow (£32,058) are not that far behind.

However, regional variation within larger countries has a significant impact on its average. This is especially true in the USA. An electrician in, predominantly rural, North Carolina,  will earn $39,640 (£31,077). However, electricians in New York and Illinois are looking at salaries of $70,680 (£55,413) and $70,430 (£55,217) respectively. It's not just the states with the big cities that have the highest salaries though. Electrical Direct's research found that electricians in Alaska can earn $72,030 (£56,471), so if you are chasing the dollars in the USA you may want to wrap up warm!

Superior trade?

The infographic also compares the average electrician's salary to that of a plumber and carpenter in each of these countries. From looking at the findings on the infographic it's pretty clear that electrician is the superior trade all over the world!

Check out the full infographic here.