The Federation of Master Builders' (FMB) latest study asked small building firms across the UK how much they pay their tradespeople each year.
The highest reported average annual salary was £51,266 for site managers, with plumbers (£48,675) and supervisors (£48,407) coming second and third respectively. The highest reported annual salary for bricklayers in London was £90,000 a year.
When compared with the average annual salaries of university graduates, pharmacists topped the list with £42,252 per year, followed by dental practitioners (£40,268) and architects (£38,228).
-- Advertisement --
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "Money talks and when it comes to annual salaries, a career in construction trumps many university graduate roles. The average university graduate in England earns £32,000 a year whereas our latest research shows that your average bricky or roofer is earning £42,000 a year across the UK. In London, a bricklayer is commanding wages of up to £90,000 a year. Pursuing a career in construction is therefore becoming an increasingly savvy move."
This trend also continues in Scotland, with electricians earning on average £57,194 per year, followed closely by site managers (£56,576) and plumbers (£53,609). The highest reported annual salary was for civil engineering operatives in Aberdeenshire, some of which are commanding wages of £98,000 a year.
Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said: "The average bricky or roofer in Scotland earns £47,000 a year and in Aberdeenshire, some civil engineering operatives are commanding wages of £98,000 a year.
"Comparatively, Scottish vets, chartered and certified accountants and teachers, all of whom have studied at university, earn around £36,000 a year on average. Given that apprentices also earn while they learn, with the average construction apprentice taking home around £17,000 a year, starting a career in construction is becoming an increasingly shrewd move for young Scots."
(LM/MH)
