Salary Guides Guide
Construction Worker Salary UK
What You Can Earn in 2026
From labourer to site manager — here's what construction workers earn across the UK.
6 min read·7 April 2026·Salary Guides
Construction Pay Rates 2026
General Labourer: £13.50-£16/hr (£28,000-£34,000/yr). Skilled Labourer (with CSCS): £14.50-£18/hr. Bricklayer: £17-£23/hr. Carpenter: £16-£22/hr. Electrician: £18-£25/hr. Plumber: £17-£24/hr. Site Supervisor: £18-£25/hr. Site Manager: £40,000-£65,000/yr. These are typical agency rates — permanent positions may differ.
Highest Paying Construction Roles
Crane operator: £22-£30/hr. Steel fixer: £18-£24/hr. Piling operative: £18-£25/hr. Scaffolder (advanced): £18-£24/hr. Plant operator (360 excavator): £17-£23/hr. London and the South East typically pay 10-20% more than other regions.
How to Earn More
Get your CSCS card — it's the minimum requirement for most sites. Learn a trade — skilled workers earn significantly more than general labourers. Work in London — rates are 10-20% higher. Take overtime when available (1.5x-2x rates). Get specialist tickets (CPCS for plant, IPAF for access platforms).
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