UK trade salary data
UK Trade Salary Index 2026
Compare realistic trade salaries, day rates and earning levers before choosing a route. Use this as the hub, then read the full salary guide for any trade you are seriously considering.
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Salary guide routes
The hub pulls the main salary guides into one place so you can compare routes without opening ten tabs.
£25k-£65k+
Typical qualified range
Entry pay varies, but specialist tickets, responsibility and self-employment create the upside.
3 levers
Tickets, niche, market
Most high earners move beyond the generic trade title into higher-value work.
What employers advertised
The separate UK Trade Pay Index records a median advertised annual salary of £42,420 across 7,795 deduplicated annual-pay adverts posted 1 June to 7 August 2026, within a 9,604-record historical sample.
The table below links to UKTJ pay guides. Rows labelled NCS use starter-to-experienced guidance from England’s careers service, not a current average or a separate UK-nation survey. Other rows retain UKTJ guide estimates; neither is the historical advert median above. The frozen index is not a live pay tracker or a personal earnings forecast; six annual trade rows are withheld and the original advert-level extract was not retained.
Compare UK trade salaries
Check the basis beside each figure and in the linked guide. These are not guaranteed wages, legal minimums or take-home earnings; regional and self-employed comparisons need their own evidence.
Compare the same duties and paid hours, then check guaranteed pay, travel and the costs you carry. A qualification alone does not guarantee a pay increase.
| Trade | Annual pay context | Day-rate context | Work and offer checks | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £26,000 to £45,000 a year (NCS) | £190 - £380 | Inspection, testing, EV charging, solar, commercial and industrial work | Read → |
| Plumber | £24,000 to £46,000 a year (NCS) | £180 - £300 | Gas Safe, unvented hot water, bathrooms, renewables | Read → |
| Gas Engineer | £25,000 - £45,000 | £220 - £380 | Boiler installs, servicing, emergency call-out, commercial gas | Read → |
| HVAC Engineer | £32,000 - £55,000 | £200 - £350 | F-Gas, heat pumps, refrigeration, data centres, commissioning | Read → |
| Lift Engineer | £35,000 - £60,000+ | £220 - £380 | Call-out, modernisation, escalators, complex commercial sites | Read → |
| Fire Alarm Engineer | £32,000 - £55,000 | £200 - £320 | Commissioning, BS 5839, emergency lighting, call-out | Read → |
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | £38,000 - £55,000 | £220 - £380 | Controls, PLCs, shift cover, factories, facilities, fault-finding | Read → |
| EV Charger Installer | £30,000 - £55,000 | £220 - £400 | Commercial installs, solar, batteries, testing, direct customers | Read → |
| Heat Pump Engineer | £34,000 - £55,000 | £220 - £380 | Design, commissioning, low-temperature heating, MCS route | Read → |
| Heating Engineer | £33,000 - £52,000 | £200 - £350 | Gas Safe, boiler installs, controls, renewables, call-out | Read → |
| Solar Panel Installer | £32,000 - £52,000 | £180 - £320 | Battery storage, roofing access, electrical route, commercial solar | Read → |
| Site Manager | £27,000 to £65,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Compare the guaranteed package, project responsibility and working week before accepting a site manager offer. | Read → |
| Quantity Surveyor | £35,000 - £70,000+ | £300 - £550 | NEC/JCT, M&E, civils, variations, final accounts, chartership | Read → |
| Construction Estimator | £32,000 - £60,000+ | £280 - £500 | Take-offs, bid strategy, M&E/civils, supplier pricing, risk allowance | Read → |
| Contracts Manager | £45,000 - £85,000+ | £350 - £650 | Multi-site control, programme recovery, client management, margin protection | Read → |
| Construction Project Manager | £45,000 - £85,000+ | £350 - £700 | Larger projects, change control, client-side delivery, team leadership | Read → |
| Building Surveyor | £28,000–£65,000 (NCS guide) | £300 - £600 | MRICS, dilapidations, commercial surveys, project work, defect diagnosis | Read → |
| Building Control Officer | £26,000 - £70,000+ | £300 - £550 | Inspector registration, commercial schemes, fire safety, plan checking | Read → |
| Architectural Technician | £22,000 - £60,000+ | £220 - £450 | Revit, BIM, technical packages, regulations, construction-stage detailing | Read → |
| Crane Operator | £25,000 to £52,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Match the machine, guaranteed hours and overtime terms to the crane work you can actually do. | Read → |
| Plant Operator | £30,000 - £55,000+ | £180 - £350 | CPCS/NPORS tickets, 360 excavator, telehandler, civils projects | Read → |
| Scaffolder | £25,000 to £51,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Match the scaffolding role and card evidence, then compare guaranteed hours, travel and the length of the job. | Read → |
| Roofer | £31,000 - £48,000 | £160 - £250 | Leadwork, heritage slate, flat roofing systems, full re-roofs | Read → |
| Bricklayer | £25,000 to £45,000 a year (NCS) | £170 - £260 | Price work, gangs, new-build housing, site speed | Read → |
| Groundworker | £28,000 - £45,000 | £160 - £260 | Plant tickets, drainage, utilities, foreman routes | Read → |
| Steel Fixer | £30,000 - £48,000 | £180 - £280 | Concrete frames, infrastructure, drawing skill, gang leader work | Read → |
| Dry Liner | £26,000 - £45,000+ | £170 - £280 | Price work, partitions, ceilings, SFS, commercial interiors | Read → |
| Carpenter | £24,000 to £40,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Compare site and installation offers by paid hours, scope and the costs you would carry. | Read → |
| Joiner | £24,000 to £40,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Choose between workshop, site and self-employed joinery using the work scope and money left after costs. | Read → |
| Kitchen Fitter | £24,000 to £45,000 a year (NCS) | £200 - £350 | Premium installs, worktops, project pricing, multi-trade skill | Read → |
| Bathroom Fitter | £32,000 - £55,000 | £200 - £350 | Wet rooms, full refits, waterproofing, project pricing | Read → |
| Floorer | £28,000 - £45,000 | £170 - £280 | LVT, engineered wood, safety flooring, subfloor preparation | Read → |
| Tiler | £31,000 - £45,000 | £180 - £300 | Bathrooms, wet rooms, natural stone, premium domestic work | Read → |
| Plasterer | £21,000 to £38,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Compare employed plastering pay with properly scoped day or room prices, including preparation and return visits. | Read → |
| Glazier | £28,000 - £45,000 | £170 - £300 | Commercial glazing, curtain walling, emergency glass, lead fitter roles | Read → |
| Locksmith | £23,000 to £30,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Separate employed locksmith pay from call-out revenue and check the costs and standby commitments behind an offer. | Read → |
| Insulation Installer | £25,000 - £42,000+ | £150 - £250 | Retrofit schemes, cavity wall, loft, EWI, team lead work | Read → |
| Assistant Site Manager | £35,000 to £55,000 in sampled permanent adverts | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Demolition Worker | £25,000 - £43,000 | £150 - £250 | CCDO cards, plant, asbestos awareness, supervisor route | Read → |
| Drainage Engineer | £28,000 - £45,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Electrician Apprentice | £8/hour apprentice minimum; age rules apply | N/A | Year progression, employer quality, college route, ECS pathway | Read → |
| Fibre Broadband Engineer | £27,000 - £44,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Fire Stopping | £28,000 - £45,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Gas Engineer | Pay varies by scope and call-out pattern | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Highway Maintenance | £25,000 - £40,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Labourer | £24,000 - £34,000 | £110 - £170 | Tickets, reliability, trade mate route, plant or supervisor progression | Read → |
| Mechanical Fitter | £32,000 - £48,000 | £180 - £320 | Shutdowns, industrial sites, pumps, conveyors, maintenance | Read → |
| Multi-Trade Operative | £30,000 - £45,000 | £170 - £280 | Social housing, repairs, vans, compliance, broad skill set | Read → |
| Painter & Decorator | £21,000 to £32,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Compare painting and decorating offers using preparation, materials, total time and the working arrangement. | Read → |
| Rail Engineering | £30,000 - £50,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Rope Access | £30,000 - £55,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Tape and Jointer | £28,000 - £46,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Telecoms Engineer | £28,000 - £45,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Traffic Management | £24,000 - £38,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Utilities Operative | £28,000 - £45,000 | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Welder | £25,000 - £45,000 welder career context | Varies by role | Specialist tickets, region, experience and self-employment | Read → |
| Welder | £25,000 to £45,000 a year. NCS starter-to-experienced guidance, not a current average.NCS source | No current verified day-rate sample | Compare welding offers by process, test scope and guaranteed pay rather than an unspecific coded-welder label. | Read → |
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How to read trade salary numbers properly
Trade salary comparisons get messy because employed pay, self-employed turnover and day rates are often mixed together. A £280 day rate is not the same as a guaranteed £72,000 salary. Van costs, tools, tax, insurance, holidays, travel and quiet weeks all matter.
The useful question is not only which trade has the highest headline number. It is which trade has a realistic route into paid work, enough local demand, and clear steps to move from beginner to trusted specialist.
The fastest ways to increase trade pay
Add the right ticket
Gas Safe, F-Gas, 2391, CISRS Advanced, SMSTS and plant cards can change the work you are allowed to take.
Move into a niche
EV charging, heat pumps, commercial gas, coded welding, leadwork, shopfitting and data-centre work all carry stronger value.
Control the route to work
Better CVs, alerts, direct employer contact and repeat customers improve earnings faster than passively waiting.
Frequently asked questions
What trade pays the most in the UK?▼
Senior site managers, specialist electricians, gas engineers, HVAC engineers, advanced scaffolders and coded welders often sit near the top. The best-paid people usually combine trade skill with tickets, responsibility, specialist work or self-employment.
Are trade day rates the same as salary?▼
No. A day rate is not guaranteed annual income. Self-employed tradespeople must allow for tax, insurance, van costs, tools, unpaid time, bad weather, travel and quiet weeks.
Which trade is best for self-employment?▼
Plumbing, gas engineering, electrical work, carpentry, roofing, plastering and decorating all have strong self-employment routes. The best choice depends on local demand, your skills and whether you can handle quoting and customer work.
How can I use this salary index?▼
Use it as a starting point. Shortlist two or three trades, read the full salary guides, then check live jobs and apprenticeships in your area before paying for training.
Sources and update cadence
Last updated: 6 July 2026
These ranges come from UK Trade Jobs salary guides, which track live UK job adverts and partner job feeds. Treat them as planning ranges, then compare current local adverts before applying or paying for training.