How much does an electrician cost in Metro Manila?

An electrician in Metro Manila usually charges a check-up fee, an installation charge and a minimum repair charge, with materials and parts quoted on top. Teko publishes labour-only rates on its pricing page: a ₱450 check-up, ₱850 for an outlet or switch installation, ₱1,100 for a light fixture installation and a ₱1,200 minimum repair. Those figures are the starting point, not the full bill.

Searches for an electrician in Manila often mix two questions: what it costs, and what the title means. Under RA 7920, the New Electrical Engineering Law of 1995, the title that matters most is Registered Master Electrician, or RME. The Board of Electrical Engineering, which sits under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), registers RMEs and the PRC issues the professional license. The Act also sets who qualifies and what the work covers. This guide covers the prices, the credential and how to check it.

What electrician work costs on Teko's list

Teko's electrical rates have three columns: installation, check-up and minimum repair. For lights and fixtures, it lists ₱1,100 for installation, ₱450 for a check-up and ₱1,200 as the minimum repair charge. Outlet and switch work shows the same ₱450 check-up and ₱1,200 minimum repair, with ₱850 for installation. Wiring and breaker work follows the same pattern.

The page says these are labour or service rates only. Materials, parts, parking, permits and special equipment may be quoted separately. It also says repair work cannot be fully priced in advance, so a technician must diagnose the fault and give a quotation before the repair starts. That is the right order for any electrical job, whoever does it.

Outlets, switches and wiring

Outlets and switches are where most homes need small work. Teko lists ₱850 for outlet and switch installation, ₱1,650 for a multi-switch setup and ₱1,650 for aircon wiring. A new outlet on an existing circuit usually falls between those figures, though the price depends on how far the cable has to run and what it is wired to.

Wiring and breaker work is priced the same way. Teko lists ₱850 for wiring and breaker installation, with the same check-up and minimum repair as other electrical work. Panel upgrades are quote-only in this guide, because no published Metro Manila figure was found. Ask for a site check before you agree to a number.

Lights, fans and TV mounts

Ceiling lights and fans are the most common small jobs. The same Teko reference lists ₱1,300 for a short-blade fan installation and ₱1,600 for a long-blade fan. Light fixture installation is ₱1,100, and Teko lists common add-ons at ₱400 to ₱500 on top.

A flickering light is usually a check-up job first. Before anyone looks at it, switch off the breaker for that circuit, and do not open a junction box or the panel yourself. Teko lists a ₱450 check-up and a ₱1,200 minimum repair for that kind of fault, so a simple flicker may cost the check-up plus the minimum if the fault is found quickly. Ask the electrician to explain the fault before agreeing to the repair.

A flat-screen TV installation is listed at ₱1,300 to ₱2,800, by TV size and type, in the same reference. Mounting a TV also involves the wall and the cable route, so check whether the job belongs with an electrician, a handyman or both.

Materials, parts and diagnosis

Materials are the cost most people underestimate. A new breaker, a length of cable, a switch plate or a fan mounting kit is billed on top of labour. Ask for each part listed separately, with its price, before the work starts. A quote that says materials as needed is not a quote.

Ask whether a minimum repair charge applies even if the fault is a quick fix. Teko's ₱1,200 minimum shows how the charge works on a standard job. Ask the same question of any other electrician, and compare the answers rather than the headline figure alone.

What the law says about an RME

RA 7920 names three licensed grades: professional electrical engineers, registered electrical engineers and registered master electricians (Section 31). The field of practice for an RME includes the installation, wiring, operation, maintenance and repair of electrical machinery, equipment and devices in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings (Section 31(c)). The same section says that where an installation or machinery is rated above 500 kVA or above 600 volts, the work must be under the supervision of a professional or registered electrical engineer.

Qualifications are set in Section 18. An applicant must be a Philippine citizen, at least 18 years old, of good reputation, and not finally convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. The applicant must also show one of four technical backgrounds: at least three years of a five-year BSEE program or a three-year electrical technology course, plus one year of specific practice in wiring and installation; a two-year electrician's course plus two years of apprenticeship; a one-year electrician's course plus three years of apprenticeship; or a four-year high school education plus five years of apprenticeship. A degree is one route, not the only one. Section 19(c) then sets a written examination on technical subjects and the Philippine Electrical Code, with a passing average of 70 percent and no grade below 50 percent in any subject.

Section 15 says examinations for the practice of electrical engineering should be given twice a year. Section 23 says the certificate of registration shows the registrant's full name and serial number, signed by the PRC Commissioner and the Board. Section 27 requires every registrant to show the registration or license number, the date registered and the expiry date on the documents they sign, use or issue. Those numbers are the practical check for any electrician who says they are an RME.

Limits matter as much as the title. Section 31(a) gives a professional electrical engineer the sole authority to seal electrical plans, so an RME's license does not include sealing a plan. Section 34 states that no installation may be undertaken unless its plans are prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, and signed and sealed by, a professional electrical engineer and a construction permit is secured. It also requires the work to follow the Philippine Electrical Code and to be executed under the responsible charge or supervision of a professional electrical engineer, a registered electrical engineer or a registered master electrician, as the case may be. How that applies to a small repair depends on its scope and on the permit rules, so ask the building office rather than assume.

Section 32(f) prohibits anyone from using the title of professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer or registered master electrician, or any description that suggests one, without holding a valid certificate and license. The word electrician on its own is not one of those three titles. Ask which title the person holds, and ask to see the document rather than accepting a verbal answer.

How to verify and compare

Ask to see the RME certificate of registration and the professional license, and write down the registration or license number, the date registered and the expiry date. Under Section 27 those numbers should appear on the documents the RME signs or issues, such as a completion certificate or a written quote. If you are unsure about a license, check it with the PRC before the work starts. An electrician who cannot show a document should not be working on the main supply or a new circuit.

Get the quote in writing, with the diagnosis, the repair, the parts and any permit or inspection. Teko's page says a repair cannot be fully priced before diagnosis, so a quote that lists the repair before the check-up is worth questioning. On Taskly, you can compare verified taskers' rates before you book, and payment is held until the job is done, so the scope can be agreed in writing before any money moves.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an electrician charge per visit? Teko lists a ₱450 check-up for lights and outlets, with a ₱1,200 minimum repair. Installation charges start from ₱850, and parts and materials are extra.

What is the difference between an electrician and an RME? Electrician is a general word. An RME holds a license under RA 7920, with a defined field of practice: installation, wiring, operation, maintenance and repair in buildings, within the 500 kVA and 600 volt limits of Section 31(c). Ask for the license number before you hire.

Do I need an RME for a light or an outlet? Ask the electrician which title they hold. Installing and repairing lights, outlets and switches in a building is within the RME field under Section 31(c). Only a professional electrical engineer may seal electrical plans under Section 31(a). Separately, Section 31(c) requires work on installations or machinery rated above 500 kVA or 600 volts to be supervised by a professional or registered electrical engineer. Ask the local building office whether your job needs a permit or sealed plan.

Why does a repair have a minimum charge? A minimum covers the visit and the time to find and fix the fault, even if the fix is quick. Ask for the minimum in writing before the work starts.