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Last updated: 2 January 2025
What’s the average lighting designer salary?
Good lighting sets the right mood and can save energy in homes . That's why lighting designers are growing in demand, with potential for electricians to upskill. Find out more about the average lighting designer salary.
Being a lighting designer is a fairly niche trade profession. It’s also one where technical expertise and creative flair come together. Because it requires lots of skills, it can pay well.
This article compares a lighting designer salary in the UK for junior and mid-level roles if you work for a trade business. It also looks at a senior lighting designer salary you could earn by running your own limited company.
Many electricians upskill to win more business. That includes taking on lighting designer skills.
How to upskill as an electrician
Electricians are constantly in high demand in the UK. So, if you want to win more work, you might be wondering how to upskill as an electrician. Upskilling is a great way to ensure you have the skills and knowledge that homeowners need – especially as more electricians enter the industry. So, let's
How much can a lighting designer earn?
Homeowners and businesses are willing to pay a premium for the right advice on lighting.
Interior lighting has to meet a range of customer priorities. These can include:
Choosing stylish fixtures and fittings
Creating the right atmosphere and 'look' for different rooms in homes
Ensuring office and workspaces that help people work better and more safely
Illuminating exteriors – for security, entertainment or highlighting a building’s features
Providing energy-saving advice on lighting interiors
As you can see, lighting design requires a broad range of skills. Often, these are to degree level, including:
Electrical engineering
Architecture
Interior design
But equally, you can undertake a trade apprenticeship – perhaps starting to learn an electrician's trade.
Here's what you can expect to earn after having gained some experience in the trade:
| Level | Per hour | Per day | Per year | Business Costs* | Approximate Take Home Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £14 | £112 | £24,584 | £0 | £25,225 |
| Mid level/Experienced | £22 | £176 | £45,760 | £0 | £34,700 |
| Freelance (ltd company) | £40 | £320 | £59,002 | £5,000 | £42,717 |
| *includes estimated costs for business expenses such as vehicle, software, insurance, fuel etc | |||||
| Last updated: October 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||||
Junior lighting designer
If you’re starting in the trade and are busy gaining experience, expect a lower salary. The typical average salary of a junior lighting designer is £24,584 per year.
Mid-level and experienced lighting designer
Your earning potential should rise as you gain experience – and possibly qualifications. A mid-level and experienced lighting designer can expect to earn an average salary of £45,760 per year.
Owning your lighting design limited company
Instead of working for someone else, many tradespeople prefer to go it alone. Starting your own lighting designer business is a great goal to aim for. One way of doing this is to set up a limited company.
You’ll probably be a senior lighting designer at this stage. Here, the average salary for self-employed or freelance lighting designers running a limited company is £59,002 per year.
As a business owner, you’ll probably also have to pay business expenses. These can reduce how much salary you can pay yourself. Business costs for a lighting designer running a limited company vary, but can be around £5,000 per year.
Looking to take your trade business to the next level?
Checkatrade membership can help you reach your goals
What’s the average lighting designer salary for an employee?
As we’ve said, the average lighting design salary in the UK is likely to vary according to your experience and qualifications.
Having electrician skills is important. But so are creative skills, like interior design.
Whether you earn a salary at an hourly or daily rate will likely be down to your employer. This often comes down to the types of jobs you do and what your employer’s customers prefer.
Hourly rate for lighting designers
Junior: £14 per hour
Mid-level/Experienced: £22 per hour
Daily rate for lighting designers
These rates are based on an eight-hour day:
Junior: £112 per day
Mid-level/Experienced: £176 per day
Switch on your lighting designer business
Find more work in your local area as a Checkatrade member
Senior lighting designer salary if you run your own company
Salary opportunities for lighting designers will probably increase if you set up and run a limited company. Remember, there are pros and cons of running a limited company.
The average salary for a freelance lighting designer running a limited company is £59,002 per year .
Business expenses can reduce taxable profits
As well as your income, you’ll probably have to pay business expenses. You’ll need to keep on top of business costs for your trade business to be profitable. Another benefit of running your own business is that you can use certain business costs to reduce your taxable profit.
The average business running costs if you’re a lighting designer who owns a limited company is £5,000 per year .
Setting up your own lighting design business
If setting up a trade business is a ‘lightbulb’ moment for you, you’ll be switched on to the possibilities. Look at all the options.
They include sole traders, partnerships and setting up a limited company. It’s a good idea to run through the differences between a sole trader and a limited company.
Take a look again at the average senior lighting designer salary running a limited company. If that appeals, then it’s probably time to be your own boss.
Top tips on how to become your own boss
"I can't afford to start my own business." "I don't have the experience or knowledge to run a business." "What if I fail?" You wouldn't be human if you didn't have these doubts swirling through your mind. Every successful entrepreneur thinks this before starting up at some point. The fact of the
Find more leads for your interior designer business
If you’re thinking of becoming a lighting designer and setting up a trade business, we can help. You’ll need leads, and we’re not talking electrical cable. Business leads generate sales.
Finding a steady flow of customers can be challenging at any time, especially in the beginning. That’s where we can help.
We help our members with new enquiries. For example, in 2024, there were over 11,000 job searches for lighting design on the Checkatrade website*.
There are lots of other benefits of Checkatrade membership too. These include:
Exclusive offers and discounts with suppliers like Tradepoint and Wickes
Reduced cost of workwear and branding
Guaranteed work when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
Dedicated trades apps for job management and quoting/invoicing
What do you need to become Checkatrade approved?
Becoming a Checkatrade member comes with a whole host of benefits, but the biggest has to be gaining our seal of approval. Homeowners tend to expect a commitment to quality when it comes to the Checkatrade tick, which can help you to win more business. Here are the checks you'll need to pass to join our directory.
Key takeaways
There are many routes into working as a lighting designer, including electricians who upskill, or interior designers who expand their operations
Average lighting designer salary varies according to experience and qualifications
A career as a senior lighting designer salary, especially if you own and run a limited company, can be lucrative
Demand for good lighting designers is high as both homeowners and businesses look to experts for creative and energy-efficient ideas that enhance their properties
Looking to take your trade business to the next level?
Checkatrade membership can help you reach your goals
* Internal search data for users of the Checkatrade.com website between 1st January and 31st December 2024
