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Last updated: 19 December 2024
The best side hustles for electricians
Working as an electrician is a fulfilling career, but there’s always room to make some extra money on the side. That’s why we’ve pulled together this guide on electrician side hustles. Keep reading to learn how you can make additional cash in your spare time.
Side work for electricians
It goes without saying that you can make a lot of money working as an electrician. Not sure what the average salary could look like? We've got you covered.
Always in demand, an electrician is never short of work. However, you could also set aside time to investigate other ways of making money.
And seeing as all tradespeople experience quiet patches throughout the year, having a side hustle can be very beneficial.
In fact, not only will it boost your bottom line, but it can even help you learn new skills!
Take a look at some of our recommended electrician side hustles below. If any of them take your fancy, why not give them a whirl?
1. PAT testing
First on our list is PAT testing. Also known as Portable Appliance Testing. This line of work involves testing electrical appliances to see if they’re up to safety standards.
It’s done through both visual and electronic means and can net you a tidy sum if done regularly.
Now, we know what you might be thinking. You already do PAT testing when carrying out electrician work. And if that’s the case, great!
That makes you perfectly qualified to do extra PAT testing work on the side.
2. Smart home installations
In case you haven’t noticed, smart devices and homes are set to be the next trend in interior design.
This also means that someone skilled in electronics is going to be needed to ensure they’re installed properly.
From smart fridges and thermostats to electronic locks, there are plenty of gadgets customers could want fitting.
So, if this sort of installation work interests you, do your research on the various smart techs out there. Once you know how to set them up and sync them, you’ll be ready to get started.
3. Repairing appliances and gadgets
Next on our list of side work for electricians is a simple one. If you have the inkling, then you’re likely more than qualified to fix up broken appliances and gadgets.
With technology becoming more expensive to replace, people want their current models to last longer. Thus, this sort of work will let you quickly tap into a growing market.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll be repairing phones and computers. Instead, you can lend a hand repairing microwaves, ovens, TVs and more.
Essentially whatever home devices your customers bring you. But be aware of limitations due to product guarantees!
4. Secondary installation work
While it’s great to separate your day job from your free time, as an electrician, it makes sense to do extra electrician work. Hence why you could be carrying out secondary installation work on a small scale where you can.
This sort of side work for electricians is all about the simple stuff customers may need help with.
From lighting repairs to quick wiring jobs, this extra work not only nets you more money, but enhances your reputation.
You could even install CCTV and other advanced tech if you have the know-how. And on top of all this, doing this additional work can be the perfect way to start your own electrician business in the future!
5. Electrical supervision
Similar to PAT testing, electrical supervision is all about providing your technical expertise to other electricians.
As electrician side jobs go, this one is fairly simple and merely requires you to participate at a surface level in inspection tests.
Of course, you could also just restrict your supervision to a solely advisor position.
Offering input on trickier tasks you’ve handled via consultation. Or even providing training to more junior electricians looking to boost their skills.
6. Promote yourself online
Ok, when it comes to electrician side jobs, this one is a bit of a stretch. But think about it like this. You could massively boost your reputation and customer trust by marketing yourself on social media. Which in turn will bring in extra revenue.
Whether this is through regular social media posts discussing your work. Advice and tips relating to common electrical problems. Or even teaching skills on YouTube.
There is the potential here to not only grow your business but gain additional funds through sponsorships.
How to find electrician side jobs
Having an idea of what sort of jobs you want to do on the side is all well and good.
But this isn’t going to be much help if you can’t find the work to begin with. That’s why suggest looking into the following to make this process easier:
Gain more experience – The better you are at your job, the more likely you are to find work. And more experience means an easier time picking the right electrician interview questions to ask new candidates should you need a helping hand.
Specialise – Sometimes, the best way to find more work is to specialise in a niche area that no one is covering - when you offer a service customers need, they’ll pay for it
Network – By reaching out to local businesses and communities, you’ll make it far more likely to find work
Advertise yourself – If you really want to get more work, you need to advertise yourself, so begin marketing your electrician work both online and in print
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How to generate electrician leads If you're looking to grow your electrician business and find more customers as an electrician, you need to connect with homeowners and businesses who need your services. Then, convert these contacts into paying clients to keep a steady flow of work. Wherever you're
Find more work with Checkatrade
These are just some of the side hustles for electricians that you could try your hand at. But if you’re worried about finding work when you start, then Checkatrade is here to help.
As a member, we’ll help you set up your Checkatrade profile to attract the customers you want.
After setting up your profile, there are a number of ways your membership can help boost your business. These include:
Guaranteed volume of job leads
Exclusive savings on business essentials like vans, tools, materials and insurance
Job management via our trades app
Save around 2 hours a week with our quoting and invoicing tool
Get training discounts for you or your employees
Get in touch today to learn more about our sign-up process.Fixed membership from Checkatrade means you can expect a certain number of leads throughout the year.
