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UK Trade Salary Calculator: Compare Earnings by Trade & Region (2026)

💷 £25,000 - £55,000⏱ N/A📈 Demand: N/A

Overview

How much can you earn as a tradesperson in the UK? It depends on your trade, your region, and whether you're employed or self-employed. This comprehensive salary comparison table shows realistic 2026 earnings across every major trade and UK region, helping you make informed career decisions.

Salary Comparison Table: Employed Tradespeople (2026)

Annual salaries for employed tradespeople by trade and region:

Electrician:
• London: £42,000 - £55,000
• South East: £35,000 - £45,000
• South West: £30,000 - £40,000
• Midlands: £32,000 - £43,000
• North West: £32,000 - £42,000
• North East: £28,000 - £38,000
• Yorkshire: £30,000 - £40,000
• Scotland: £30,000 - £43,000
• Wales: £28,000 - £38,000
• Northern Ireland: £27,000 - £38,000

Plumber:
• London: £38,000 - £50,000
• South East: £32,000 - £42,000
• South West: £27,000 - £37,000
• Midlands: £28,000 - £38,000
• North West: £28,000 - £38,000
• North East: £25,000 - £35,000
• Yorkshire: £27,000 - £37,000
• Scotland: £28,000 - £40,000
• Wales: £26,000 - £36,000
• Northern Ireland: £25,000 - £35,000

Carpenter:
• London: £36,000 - £48,000
• South East: £30,000 - £40,000
• South West: £26,000 - £35,000
• Midlands: £27,000 - £36,000
• North West: £26,000 - £35,000
• North East: £24,000 - £33,000
• Yorkshire: £25,000 - £34,000
• Scotland: £26,000 - £36,000
• Wales: £24,000 - £33,000
• Northern Ireland: £24,000 - £32,000

More Trades: Employed Salaries by Region

Bricklayer:
• London: £40,000 - £52,000
• South East: £33,000 - £42,000
• South West: £28,000 - £38,000
• Midlands: £30,000 - £42,000
• North West: £30,000 - £40,000
• North East: £26,000 - £36,000
• Yorkshire: £28,000 - £38,000
• Scotland: £28,000 - £38,000
• Wales: £26,000 - £36,000
• Northern Ireland: £26,000 - £36,000

Gas Engineer:
• London: £42,000 - £55,000
• South East: £36,000 - £48,000
• South West: £32,000 - £42,000
• Midlands: £33,000 - £45,000
• North West: £33,000 - £43,000
• North East: £30,000 - £40,000
• Yorkshire: £32,000 - £42,000
• Scotland: £32,000 - £45,000
• Wales: £30,000 - £40,000
• Northern Ireland: £28,000 - £38,000

Roofer:
• London: £35,000 - £48,000
• South East: £30,000 - £40,000
• South West: £26,000 - £35,000
• Midlands: £27,000 - £37,000
• North West: £26,000 - £36,000
• North East: £24,000 - £33,000
• Yorkshire: £25,000 - £35,000
• Scotland: £26,000 - £36,000
• Wales: £24,000 - £34,000
• Northern Ireland: £24,000 - £33,000

Self-Employed Earnings Potential

Self-employed tradespeople typically earn 30-60% more than employed equivalents, but with more risk and responsibility. Typical self-employed annual earnings (2026):

• Electrician: £45,000 - £75,000 (specialists up to £100,000+)
• Plumber/Gas Engineer: £45,000 - £70,000 (emergency work boosts this significantly)
• Carpenter: £35,000 - £55,000 (specialist joiners/kitchen fitters higher)
• Bricklayer: £40,000 - £60,000 (day rates of £200-£350 common)
• Roofer: £35,000 - £55,000 (seasonal variation applies)
• Plasterer: £35,000 - £55,000 (good plasterers are always in demand)
• Painter & Decorator: £30,000 - £45,000 (commercial work pays more)
• Tiler: £35,000 - £55,000 (high-end bathroom work is lucrative)
• Welder: £40,000 - £65,000 (coded welders on infrastructure projects earn more)
• HVAC Technician: £38,000 - £55,000 (growing with heat pump demand)

Day rates by trade (self-employed, 2026):
• Electrician: £200 - £350/day
• Plumber: £180 - £300/day
• Carpenter: £170 - £280/day
• Bricklayer: £200 - £350/day (price work can be much higher)
• Gas Engineer: £220 - £350/day

Remember: self-employed earnings are before tax, National Insurance, van costs, tools, insurance, and materials. Actual take-home is typically 60-70% of gross earnings.

Considering going self-employed? Read our career change guide for practical advice.

Factors That Affect Your Salary

Why two electricians can earn wildly different amounts:

1. Location — London pays 20-30% more than the national average. The South East pays 10-15% more. Northern regions and Wales are lower but with much cheaper living costs. London guide | Manchester guide | Birmingham guide

2. Specialisation — Generalists earn average rates. Specialists command premiums:
• EV charger installation: +15-25%
• Heat pump installation: +20-40%
• Fire alarm systems: +15-20%
• Commercial/industrial work: +10-20%
• Infrastructure (HS2, rail): +15-25%

3. Employment type — Self-employed earns more gross but carries risk. Agency work offers flexibility. Employed gives security with lower ceiling.

4. Experience — A newly qualified electrician earns £28,000-£32,000. With 5 years' experience: £35,000-£42,000. With 10+ years and specialisms: £42,000-£55,000+.

5. Overtime & unsocial hours — Emergency plumbers charging call-out fees, electricians doing weekend shutdowns, tradespeople on night shifts all earn significantly more.

6. Qualifications — Additional certifications (18th Edition, Gas Safe, MCS, F-Gas) directly increase earning potential. See our qualifications guide.

7. Sector — Oil & gas (Aberdeen), nuclear (Hinkley Point), and infrastructure (HS2) pay the highest premiums for all trades. Read our construction industry guide for more.

How to Maximise Your Trade Earnings

Practical steps to earn more as a tradesperson:

Short-term (0-12 months):
1. Get additional qualifications — each new cert opens doors. Qualifications guide →
2. Register on Checkatrade/MyBuilder — domestic customers pay retail rates
3. Take on overtime and weekend work
4. Improve your online presence — Google reviews, social media

Medium-term (1-3 years):
1. Specialise in a high-demand niche — renewable energy is the biggest opportunity
2. Go self-employed (if ready) — higher earnings but requires business skills
3. Build a referral network — your best customers come from word-of-mouth
4. Target commercial or infrastructure work for higher rates

Long-term (3-5+ years):
1. Build a team — employ apprentices and grow a business
2. Move into project management or contracts management
3. Diversify services — an electrician who also does solar + EV charging + battery storage earns more than a general electrician
4. Consider property development — many tradespeople leverage their skills into property

The UK trades offer genuine opportunity to earn £50,000-£100,000+ without a degree. But it requires skill, business acumen, and continuous development.

Browse trade jobs → | Build your CV →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paid trade in the UK?▼

Electricians and gas engineers consistently top the salary tables, with employed workers earning £35,000-£55,000 and self-employed professionals earning £50,000-£80,000+. Specialist roles like MCS-certified heat pump installers, coded welders, and crane operators can earn even more.

Do trade salaries include overtime?▼

The figures in our salary tables are base salaries. Many tradespeople significantly boost their earnings through overtime, weekend work, and emergency call-outs. It's not unusual for overtime to add 20-40% to base salary.

How much do self-employed tradespeople actually take home?▼

Gross self-employed earnings need to be reduced by 30-40% for tax, National Insurance, van costs, fuel, tools, insurance, and accountancy fees. A self-employed plumber earning £60,000 gross might take home £38,000-£42,000 after all costs.

Are trade salaries increasing?▼

Yes, consistently. The ongoing skills shortage means trade salaries have been rising 3-5% annually above inflation for the past several years. Specialist areas like renewable energy and infrastructure are seeing even faster growth. The trend is expected to continue through at least 2030.

Is it better to be employed or self-employed?▼

Employed offers security: steady pay, holiday pay, sick pay, pension, and fewer admin headaches. Self-employed offers higher earning potential but with more risk, no sick pay, and you handle your own tax, insurance, and marketing. Many tradespeople start employed, build experience and contacts, then go self-employed after 3-5 years.