How much do tradies cost in Melbourne?

$125

avg plumber/hr

↑+3.8% year on year

Competitive trade market with strong union presence. Compare Melbourne VIC prices across all 41 trades — prices verified October 2026 with data from 90+ Australian sources.

Population

5.2M

State

VIC

Cost vs Average

+5% vs national avg

Melbourne Trade Cost Guides

Plumber $84–$210 /hr↑+3.8% → Electrician $84–$160 /hr↑+5.0% → Kitchen Renovation $8,400–$21,000 total↑+4.1% → Bathroom Renovation $10,500–$21,000 total↑+3.9% → Painter $42–$105 /hr↑+3.9% → Air Conditioning $1,250–$2,625 installed↑+3.9% → Roofing $210–$525 per visit↑+4.9% → Fencing $84–$200 /m↑+4.4% → Solar $4,200–$8,900 installed↓-1.6% → Landscaping $58–$115 /hr↑+3.9% → Pest Control $190–$470 per visit↑+3.8% → Flooring $47–$115 /sqm↑+3.2% → Tree Removal $260–$840 per tree↑+5.1% → Garage Door $1,250–$3,675 installed↑+4.9% → Pool Maintenance $135–$315 /month↑+3.9% → Concreting $79–$160 /sqm↑+5.3% → Carpet Cleaning $32–$63 /room↑+3.8% → Removalist $125–$230 /hr↑+5.2% → Hot Water System $840–$3,150 installed↑+4.1% → Retaining Wall $210–$470 /lm↑+4.7% → Tiling $42–$94 /sqm↑+3.6% → Rendering $32–$63 /sqm↑+4.4% → Decking $190–$370 /sqm↑+3.4% → House Cleaning $37–$84 /hr↑+4.2% → Handyman $52–$125 /hr↑+3.9% → Lawn Mowing $47–$105 per visit↑+3.9% → Carpenter $58–$135 /hr↑+3.5% → Locksmith $125–$315 per job↑+3.7% → Plastering $52–$125 /hr↑+3.9% → Gutter Cleaning $105–$420 total↑+3.8% → Skip Bin $210–$380 per hire↑+5.3% → Window Cleaning $42–$84 /hr↑+3.8% → Insulation $13–$37 /sqm↑+3.9% → Pressure Washing $42–$105 /hr↑+4.0% → Bricklaying $47–$125 /hr↑+4.3% → Gas Fitting $105–$210 /hr↑+3.9% → Builder $2,500–$5,000 /sqm↑+4.5% → Glazier $300–$800 per window↑+3.9% → Granny Flat $110,000–$210,000 total↑+4.4% → Patio $8,500–$30,000 total↑+4.7% → Pool Construction $50,000–$110,000 total↑+4.7% →

Commercial trade costs in Melbourne

Fitting out or maintaining business premises in Melbourne? These guides cover commercial rates.

Commercial cost guides in Melbourne: asbestos removal · backflow testing · commercial air conditioning · commercial cleaning · commercial electrician · commercial fitout · commercial flooring · commercial garage doors · commercial painting · commercial pest control · commercial plumbing · commercial roofing · commercial security · fire safety compliance · line marking · scaffolding.

About Melbourne Trade Costs

Australia's second-largest city with strong, competitive trade demand. Melbourne costs sit 5% above the national average, with significant variation between inner suburbs and outer growth corridors.

Melbourne's large stock of Victorian-era terrace homes in Fitzroy, Richmond and Collingwood creates a two-tier market — inner suburbs command a 10–20% premium over outer growth corridors like Cranbourne and Pakenham. Union presence is strong in the construction sector, meaning award rates are consistently enforced and undercutting is less common here than in other cities.

For plumbing and electrical work, Melbourne tradies average $126/hr. Melbourne's competitive market makes getting multiple quotes particularly effective — a three-quote strategy routinely saves homeowners 15–30% here.

Licensing & Regulations in VIC

In VIC, building and plumbing licensing is regulated by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), and electricians are licensed by Energy Safe Victoria. Before hiring any tradesperson in Melbourne, verify their licence at bpc.vic.gov.au (for electricians, energysafe.vic.gov.au). Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed tradespeople, and building work needs a licensed builder under rules that vary by state and territory. Unlicensed work can leave you without home warranty cover if something goes wrong.

Compare Other Cities

See how Melbourne trade costs compare to other Australian cities:

Sydney → Brisbane → Perth → Adelaide → Hobart →

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