Gas engineers are in high demand across the UK, and entering this trade can lead you to a prosperous career that pays well. How much do gas engineers make? Salaries and income vary depending on location, with cities like London and Birmingham generally paying more than Cardiff or Edinburgh. Pay also depends on skill level and whether you work for a business or are self-employed.

Many gas engineers choose self-employment because, when done well, it can pay upwards of £45,000+ per year, with that approximate take home pay increasing as your clientele grows and you gain more experience. It’s not all about pay; being a self-employed sole trader gas engineer offers plenty of life benefits too.

At MGE Training, we help kickstart the careers of gas engineers and support those in the trade with a range of accredited gas training courses. Here’s why becoming a self-employed gas engineer may be the perfect career path for you.

1. Greater Control Over Your Time and Workload

The best thing about being self-employed, regardless of the industry, is that you can be your own boss. You’ll have the freedom to set your own schedule, source your own customers and make time for other commitments such as family and hobbies.

This is one of the biggest draws for going solo as a qualified gas engineer, as you’ll get to manage your entire process. However, doing so comes with added responsibilities, such as registering as self-employed, marketing your services, finding customers, setting up public liability insurance and maintaining your own equipment and assets.

But once everything is in place and you have refined your own schedule, you will benefit from a positive work-life balance, having a profound sense of freedom you won’t find working for someone else.

2. Higher Earning Potential

How much do gas engineers earn when self-employed compared to being employed? A major factor affecting earning potential is skill level. According to Checkatrade’s salary data:
· Apprentice level approximate take home pay is £15,936
· Newly qualified engineers average £25,351
· Employed gas engineers average a yearly salary of £34,307
· Sole traders and self-employed gas engineers can see an approximate take home pay of £46,244

It’s important to note that being self-employed, you’ll have to pay business expenses, which can average at around £8,000+ per year. If you’re newly qualified and want to pursue a career as a self-employed gas engineer, you’ll still likely be earning more than someone employed, but still less than someone who’s a seasoned professional, working in the trade for decades.

3. Build Your Own Brand and Reputation

As you work for longer in the gas sector, your reputation will only grow, helping you to develop a valid and strong brand. Building a desirable brand or personal image will attract loyal, repeat customers, increase referrals and present opportunities for higher rates based on trust and expertise. You could also set yourself apart from the competition by offering a unique service or USP, such as a wider skillset or emergency callouts, for example.

4. More Variety and Skill Development

Being a gas engineer means dealing with a range of issues and systems, and being self-employed means no two days are the same. One client will need a boiler installed, then you might travel to a commercial property to inspect a heat pump containing F-gases and then finish your day diagnosing a heating issue on air conditioning.

Getting trained and qualified in specific areas of gas engineering, such as being F-gas qualified or dealing with systems containing liquified petroleum gas, means you can provide a wider variety of services, making your job far more diverse compared to being in a fixed role for a company. Additionally, you could branch into related fields by taking part in plumbing or electrical courses.

5. The Ability to Scale Your Business

If you are a self-employed gas engineer, you’ll benefit from running your own business with unlimited growth potential. You can grow your business as much or as little as you like, whether you want to continue as a sole trader or expand and hire employees, bring on apprentices, form partnerships or diversify your services into other sectors. Business owners of a Ltd company can earn even more, with the average yearly salary being approximately £70,000+. However, you’ll also need to account for business expenses, payroll, insurance and tax.

6. Job Security

Many people often think that being self-employed comes with far less job security. While this can be the case for several sectors, the role of a gas engineer is in consistent demand due to the ongoing housing boom, an increased focus on energy efficiency and a constant need for maintenance and repairs. Of course, there will be quieter periods you’ll need to overcome to take home pay. One good solution during these challenging periods is to outsource your services to a company, which will help reduce the stress of finding new customers. Widening your skill set and qualifications as a gas engineer is perhaps the best way to reduce the risk of not having enough work to support yourself.

Need Some Help in Knowing Where to Start?

Being a self-employed gas engineer brings with it plenty of advantages compared to being employed by a company. Not only will you earn a higher yearly wage, but you’ll also be able to be your own boss, set your own schedule and scale your business as you see fit. It’s not without its risks, and it takes a lot of discipline to become profitable, but with the right determination, anyone can succeed as a qualified, self-employed gas engineer.

But where do you begin? Start by getting qualified or expanding your skills with MGE Training. We provide a range of accredited gas engineer managed learning programmes and training courses, offering hands-on experience and key learning from expert, friendly instructors. For any further information or to book one of our courses, reach our team on 0121 557 7009 or send us a message via our contact page.