The short answer
What's The Damage puts Perth electricians at $84 to $160 an hour, typically $105, including GST (updated October 2026). Dr Sparky in Perth publishes from $140 an hour in business hours and from $210 after hours, and NIXON in Bunbury and Busselton charges fault finding at $150 + GST per 30 minutes after the first 45 (checked 12 October 2026). Most electricians add a call-out or minimum charge, so a short job costs more per hour than a long one. For work that can be scoped in advance, ask for a fixed-price quote.
Published electrician rates in WA
Few electricians in the South West publish an hourly rate. These are the published figures we found, from Perth and from one business working in Bunbury and Busselton:
Published electrician hourly rates
| Rate | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (low / typical / high) | $84 / $105 / $160 an hour incl. GST | What's The Damage?, Perth |
| Call-out or service fee (low / typical / high) | $52 / $115 / $160 incl. GST | What's The Damage?, Perth |
| Hourly rate, business hours | From $140 an hour | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Hourly rate, after hours | From $210 an hour | Dr Sparky Electrical, Perth |
| Fault finding after the first 45 minutes | $150 + GST ($165) per 30 minutes | NIXON, Bunbury and Busselton |
Prices as published, checked 12 October 2026. What's The Damage's Perth figures were updated October 2026 and include GST. Dr Sparky's page (updated 28 May 2026) doesn't say whether its hourly rates include GST. NIXON's terms were last modified 19 January 2026.
The range is wide because the rates aren't like for like. Some include the first part of the job in a call-out fee, some bill in blocks, and some quote GST separately. The call-out fees guide covers the call-out side and after-hours rates.
How charging by the hour actually works
A call-out or minimum charge comes first
Most electricians charge for turning up. NIXON's terms set a service charge of $99 + GST within 15 km of its branch, and a minimum fault-finding call of $220 + GST that includes 45 minutes to diagnose the fault. A ten-minute job still costs the minimum.
Time is billed in blocks
After the minimum, time is often charged in blocks rather than by the minute. NIXON charges fault finding in 30-minute blocks of $150 + GST after the first 45 minutes. Ask how time is rounded before work starts.
Materials are extra
The hourly rate covers labour. Cable, power points, breakers and fittings are added on top, so ask whether materials will be itemised.
Travel can be charged
NIXON's terms add travel costs outside its 15 km area. Busselton, Vasse and Dunsborough jobs can fall inside or outside a business's area depending on where it's based, so ask whether travel is in the price.
After hours costs more
Dr Sparky publishes from $140 an hour in business hours and from $210 after hours. If a job can wait until a weekday, it usually costs less.
What a short job can cost
Using NIXON's published terms, by our arithmetic: a fault that takes 45 minutes to find costs the $220 + GST minimum ($242). If it takes 75 minutes, that's the minimum plus one 30-minute block, $370 + GST ($407). Parts and any repair time are on top. That's why a clear description of the fault before the visit can save money: it helps the electrician bring the right parts and spend less time diagnosing.
Group small jobs into one visit
A list of small jobs done in one visit shares a single call-out and minimum charge. Write them all down, room by room, before you ask for a quote. See home electrical work for the kinds of jobs that group well.
Hourly rate or fixed price?
WA Consumer Protection says a quote is a total amount that becomes a binding contract when you accept it, while an estimate is an approximate cost that can change. For any job that can be scoped, a written quote gives you a firm price to compare.
When hourly rates and fixed prices suit
| Type of job | Usually priced | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fault finding, a tripping safety switch, a dead circuit | By the hour | Nobody knows how long finding the fault will take |
| Switchboard upgrade | Fixed price | The scope can be seen and listed in advance |
| EV charger, ceiling fans, smoke alarms | Fixed price | Standard jobs with known parts and time |
| Renovation or rewiring | Fixed price, with a rate for variations | Large scope; changes are priced as they come up |
A general guide, checked 12 October 2026. Westside Electrical and AVL Electrical in Perth publish fixed and starting prices for switchboards, and Candela Electrical for EV chargers.
Questions to ask before you book
- What's the call-out or minimum charge, and how much time does it include?
- How is time charged after that: by the minute, or in 15- or 30-minute blocks?
- Is GST included in the rate?
- Are materials and travel charged separately?
- Can the job be done for a fixed price instead?
- What's your EC licence number?
Consumer Protection says tradespeople must get your permission before doing extra work; they can't do it first and ask for payment later. It suggests a deposit of no more than 10 per cent, and paying in instalments as work is done. In WA, only a licensed electrician can do electrical work, and you can check a contractor's EC licence with Building and Energy's online search.
Common questions
How much does an electrician charge per hour in WA?
What's The Damage puts Perth electricians at $84 to $160 an hour, typically $105, including GST (updated October 2026). Dr Sparky in Perth publishes from $140 an hour in business hours and from $210 after hours (checked 12 October 2026).
Why does a small electrical job cost so much?
Because most electricians charge a call-out or minimum fee that covers the first part of the job. NIXON's minimum fault-finding call is $220 + GST, including 45 minutes. Grouping small jobs into one visit spreads that cost.
Do electricians charge for travel in Busselton?
Some do. NIXON's terms add travel costs for jobs more than 15 km from its branch. Ask whether travel is included when you book.
Is it better to pay an electrician hourly or a fixed price?
For fault finding, hourly is normal because nobody knows how long it will take. For jobs that can be scoped, such as a switchboard upgrade or EV charger, a fixed-price written quote gives you certainty. WA Consumer Protection says an accepted quote is binding; an estimate can change.
Are electrician rates higher after hours?
Yes. Dr Sparky in Perth publishes from $140 an hour in business hours and from $210 an hour after hours, with higher call-out fees on weeknights, weekends and public holidays.
Where this information comes from
The prices, rules and advice on this page come from these published pages, checked on 12 October 2026.
- What's The Damage?: electrician cost in Perth · Cost guide site, Perth metro prices incl. GST, updated October 2026
- Dr Sparky Electrical · Perth electrician, published call-out and hourly rates
- NIXON terms and conditions · Bunbury and Busselton electrical business, published service and fault-finding charges
- Consumer Protection WA: estimates, quotes and deposits · WA Government consumer guidance, updated 4 September 2026
- Building and Energy: having electrical work done · WA Government guide to licences and Electrical Safety Certificates
- Westside Electrical · Perth electrician, fixed switchboard prices
- AVL Electrical · Perth electrician, published switchboard price guide
- Candela Electrical: EV charger installation cost Perth 2026 · Perth electrician's published EV charger prices and add-ons, 2026
