Tipping is one act that remains confusing for many people even up until today. You never quite know if tipping is a good idea or how much you should tip, especially for an electrician. What about the person who cuts your hair? Or the waiter at your favorite restaurants?
It can be very difficult to know what to do in situations like these. Firstly, I would say tipping is not expected and is entirely up to you. If you feel the service worker did a good job, tipping is always appreciated.
That said, let’s shed more light on the topic at hand. Let’s see how much to tip an electrician and the general tipping rules for electricians.
Who is an electrician?
An electrician is responsible for installing, maintaining, and fixing electrical systems. He or she can work in various residential, commercial, or industrial settings.
An electrician starts out as a journeyman electrician, performing all tasks related to electrical works. They cannot start their own business at this point because they do not possess the expertise and license to do so.
After getting proper licensing, they eventually become master electricians. Master electricians are the most experienced and trained. They can perform all electrical-related tasks and start their own business if they see fit.
How much do electricians make?
Like plumbers, electricians are some of the most demanded service workers in the world today. There is no building that does not require electrical work during or after construction.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians make around $29.61 per hour and $61,590 annually on average. The lowest is set at $30,000, and the highest is set at $100,000.
Should you tip an electrician?
As cited earlier in this article, tipping an electrician is not compulsory or expected. It is entirely up to you. If you feel like the electrician did a good job and was professional from start to finish, there is no problem with trying to show appreciation.
That said, there is still the issue of how much to tip an electrician. No worries, we shall duel on that in the next section of this article. Keep reading to learn more.
How much to tip an electrician
Electricians are hardworking people who deserve appreciation. How much to tip an electrician is a common question that does not have a fixed or definite answer. The answer will depend on certain factors, like how fast the job was completed, how professional the electrician was, or how much is left on your budget.
A general rule of thumb is giving the electrician 10 to 20 percent of the total bill as a tip. Others give between $20 to $50 as a tip; this is also a good tip. However, if the electrician handled a particularly difficult task or went above and beyond, you can give a larger tip.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how much to tip an electrician or if you want to tip at all in the first place. Just try not to go overboard with the tip.
When shouldn’t you tip an electrician?
Many believe that an electrician is already well-paid and should not be tipped. Others feel like tipping an electrician should be done only when they perform an exceptional task. If you are unsure whether or not to tip an electrician, here are a few key points to help you decide.
1. The type of job carried out
If the electrician handles complicated or time-consuming work, a tip would be greatly appreciated. On the other hand, if the electrician does a very simple task, e.g., changing a bulb or socket, and you do not feel the need to tip, it is accepted.
2. The level of service
Some electricians are professional and prompt. They can handle tasks in a very dedicated and enthusiastic manner. You may want to consider tipping him or her in scenarios like this. On the other hand, if the electrician arrived late, appeared unprofessional, or did a mediocre job, you may not feel the need to tip. This is also totally acceptable.
3. Your budget
There are also times when your budget for the service does not quite cut it, so you cannot tip. Remember tipping is not a necessity, if you cannot afford it, do not feel obligated to do so.
FAQs
Can you offer an electrician lunch?
Sometimes, clients want to show appreciation in ways other than giving tips. Commonly, offering to buy lunch for the electrician is thought of. If there is enough in your budget for it and you feel he or she will appreciate the effort, then go for it.
Is offering water considered tipping?
Offering an electrician water does not count as tipping. It is a common courtesy and does not necessarily count as tipping.
Do electricians expect tips from all their clients?
No, they do not. They might be hopeful that the client tips them, but it is not an expectation that has to be met and should not border you in any way. However, it would be greatly appreciated if you could do so.
Are there alternatives to tipping an electrician?
If tipping the electrician appears far-fetched to you, here are some alternatives. You can write a positive review online about them or to their supervisor, you can recommend them to friends and colleagues, or you can offer them common courtesy like drinks or food.
The bottom line
The bottom line is that whether or not you tip an electrician is completely up to you. It is not an obligation, generally speaking, an electrician does not expect you to tip them, after all, they are getting paid, right?
However, if you feel generous or satisfied with the electrician’s work or level of professionalism and to show appreciation, then go for it. In the end, how much you choose to give the electrician is still up to you. If you also wish to show gratuity in other ways, you can leave a positive review for the electrician or recommend their services to friends and colleagues.
I hope you found this article helpful, you might also find this article on how much to tip a handyman helpful as well.
Thanks for reading.