Start a New Career in the Trades

What is gas engineering?
Gas Engineering is a highly regulated, specialist trade that focuses on the safe installation and maintenance of heating systems and appliances in both domestic and commercial settings. Whilst closely associated with plumbing, the gas sector is more demanding in terms of the knowledge required to carry out safe work. Additionally, you will come to find that the gas sector is more regulated than the plumbing sector.

Nevertheless, it is a career defined by safety, precision, and expertise, making it one of the most respected and well-paid trades in the building services sector.

What do gas engineers do and how much do they earn?
Gas is one of the highest-paying trades due to the specialised safety requirements and the essential nature of heating and hot water.

• Hourly & day rates: Gas engineers earn an average hourly rate of £60.36, with day rates averaging £385.85. Emergency call-outs are particularly lucrative, with fees starting at roughly £117.
• Common jobs: Maintenance is the “bread and butter” of the trade, with boiler servicing averaging £62.50. High-value work includes full heating system installations, which average £4,750.
• Opportunity: Like plumbers, gas engineers have the opportunity to work in renewable and commercial environments, which can lead to higher paying roles.

If you want to see how much our gas students earn, check out the gas jobs and costs survey we ran.

What is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical work is at the centre of most, if not all, of modern infrastructure. From powering homes and charging electric vehicles to automating smart buildings, electricians are the architects of our connected world. In 2025, this trade is at the forefront of the green energy revolution, requiring a sharp mind for problem-solving, a deep understanding of electrical science, and an uncompromising commitment to safety and British Standards (BS 7671).

What do electricians do and how much do they earn?

Electricians are consistently near the top of the charts for trade salaries due to the technical complexity of the work and the growing demand for renewable technology such as solar PV, battery storage and EV charging.

• Hourly & day rates: Electricians charge an average of £44 per hour, with a daily average of £335. Specialised or commercial electrical work can reach up to £600 per day.
• Common Jobs: Routine work includes consumer unit (fuse box) upgrades (avg. £625) and fault finding (avg. £125). A major growth area is EV charging point installation, with an average cost of £1,100 per unit.
• Opportunity: With current technology, the electrical industry provides great opportunities for electricians to upskill into the highly demanded renewables. With the government pushing for a greater rollout of renewable technologies, electricians are well placed to meet these demands.

If you want to see how much our electrical students earn, check out the electrical jobs and costs survey we ran.

When changing careers, many people retrain in the trades with no prior experience. It’s actually fairly common, so if you are in this position, don’t worry…this is normal.

As you have no experience, you would need to do an entry-level course. Entry-level courses are designed to teach core skills from the ground up, with clear progression routes into further qualifications and employment.

Yes, many learners retraining in the trades are changing careers later in life. Practical skills, reliability and experience are highly valued in the industry, and age is not a barrier to starting a trade career.

At Logic4training, we have trained many people who are over the age of 30 and 40. If you fall into this age range and want to hear from some of our learners who made the career switch into the trades, our article New Career at 40: 2 Top Career Ideas 40 Year Olds Swear By is perfect for you.

Plumbing, Gas, and Electrical are the most stable trades to learn in the UK. These roles are essential for infrastructure and are currently protected from AI displacement. At Logic4training, we make sure our courses focus on these “future-proof” skills to ensure long-term job security and high earning potential for career changers.

Yes, many trade courses are designed to fit around existing work commitments. Flexible training options, including weekend courses, make it possible to retrain without giving up your current income.

At Logic4training, we understand that changing careers can be difficult if you still need to work and so, we do offer our new entrant courses on the weekends, as well as, weekdays.

We strongly advise that you avoid online or blended learning courses, as whilst they may sound good, they come with many risks. A trade career is a practical job, so why would you learn it either full or partially online?

The following articles will help to cover some of the pain points relating to this topic:

• Barriers to Entering the Trades
• Balancing Training with Work and Family: A Guide for Career Changers
• Online Learning vs In-Person Training in the Trades

Trade roles require physical, on-site work and problem-solving that cannot be automated or replaced by AI. This makes the trades a more resilient career choice compared to many office-based roles.

Learning a trade is one of the safest career choices when thinking about job displacement/loss caused by AI.

We aim to provide you with extensive insights into the topic via our blogs:

• AI Job Losses & Why Tradespeople Are Safe from AI
• What Jobs Will AI Replace?
• AI in the Trades Survey
• The Rise of AI: Should You Rethink Going to University?
• Find an AI-Proof Job

Depending on your trade and qualifications, you may work in domestic, commercial or maintenance environments. Some learners move into employed roles, while others choose contracting or self-employment as they progress.

Generally, plumbers would complete domestic work such as:

• Install and maintain systems that deliver clean water and remove wastewater from buildings.
• Work with pipes, fixtures, and appliances such as sinks, showers, and toilets.
• Handle gas and heating system connections where required.
• Ensure buildings remain safe, hygienic, and comfortable for occupants.
• Connect water supplies, manage drainage systems, and repair leaks, clogs, or other plumbing faults.

Following their training, they would upskill into any of the following areas:

• Commercial/on-site environments
• Gas
• Heat pumps

Gas engineers would also look to complete domestic work after their training. New engineers have a mandatory 12-month period during which they can’t upskill, but would complete some of the following jobs:

• Install, service, and repair gas systems and boilers.
• Prioritise safety by testing gas pipework and checking for leaks or faults.
• Ensure all work meets current gas safety standards and legal regulations.
• Respond to emergency call-outs and diagnose issues in heating and hot water systems.

Following the 12 months, they can upskill into any of the following areas:

• Domestic appliances
• Commercial
  • Heating
  • Catering
  • Laundry
• LPG
• Auditing
• Heat pumps

Electricians could look to complete domestic or on-site work after their training

• Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, systems, and components across domestic, commercial, and industrial environments.
• Work on installations ranging from lighting and power circuits to smart controls, data cabling, and EV charging systems.
• Interpret technical drawings and blueprints to plan and complete electrical layouts.
• Diagnose faults, repair or replace damaged wiring and equipment, and carry out routine servicing.
• Test electrical systems to ensure safety, performance, and compliance with current regulations.
• Respond to emergency call-outs and troubleshoot complex electrical issues.

Electricians would need to take into account that they would need to complete their AM2 to sign off on their own work, so this is generally what they look to complete first. Following the successful completion of the AM2, electricians look to upskill into the following areas:

• • PAT testing
  • Solar PV
  • Battery storage
  • Electric vehicle chargepoint installation

It’s hard to say exactly, but in 2025, we surveyed our candidates, and the results showed average daily rates of:

• Plumbers: £331
• Gas Engineers: £385
• Electricians: £335

Highly experienced commercial gas engineers can earn up to £750 per day, while specialised electricians could command £600 per day.

On an annual basis, many qualified tradespeople earn significantly above the UK national average, with self-employed professionals often earning between £50,000 and £80,000, depending on their workload and specialisation.

See the survey results:

• Plumbing jobs and costs survey
• Gas jobs and costs survey
• Electrical jobs and costs survey