Western Australia has the best paid plumbers and electricians in the country, according to ServiceSeeking.com.au's Trade Index Survey.
The cost of renovating in Australia continues to soar in the first quarter of 2017, with the average hourly rate to hire a tradie up 6.7 per cent in the year to December, according to ServiceSeeking.com.au’s Tradie Price Index.
In the last quarter alone, prices are up 4.9 per cent, reflecting rapid growth in the renovations market.
The jobs website's quarterly survey recorded higher earnings across all trades except carpentry.
Carpenters charged 7.8 per cent less over the year, while tilers charged 10.9 per cent more, plumbers charged 5.9 per cent more, and it cost 4.9 per cent more to hire a painter.
Somewhat surprisingly, Western Australia is the most expensive state to renovate. Tradie prices rose 12.5 per cent over the year, to a weighted average hourly rate of $73.08.
Queensland remains the second most expensive state to renovate, with the average tradie costing $69.93 per hour, a 12.1 per cent increase on last year.
Tradie prices rose 2.4 per cent in New South Wales, particularly in the last quarter when prices have surged 9 per cent, putting the average hourly rate at $64.46.
Victoria was the only state to see a decline in the cost of tradespeople, recording a drop of 1.4 percent for the year.
The first quarter 2017 hourly rates used in the survey are 'gross' rates, and include the cost of running the business, such as insurance, tools, work vehicles, and superannuation, as well as labour costs.
The prices were captured by comparing 52,000 quotes submitted through ServiceSeeking.com.au.
Average hourly tradie rates
Source: ServiceSeeking.com.au
Source: ServiceSeeking.com.au
See also:
Victorian tradies offer best value in the country