Construction Pay Rates UK 2026

Are you being paid what you're worth? Construction rates have been rising steadily. Here's what each trade is earning in 2026 — so you know what to ask for.

Hourly Rate Guide by Trade

Trade	Outside London	London/SE
Labourer (CSCS)	£14-17/hr	£16-20/hr
Groundworker	£17-21/hr	£20-25/hr
Carpenter	£20-27/hr	£25-32/hr
Electrician	£22-28/hr	£26-35/hr
Plumber	£19-24/hr	£22-30/hr
Scaffolder	£18-24/hr	£21-30/hr
Site Manager	£35-50K/yr	£45-65K/yr

Annual Salary Guide

Permanent roles typically pay:

• Labourer: £24,000-£30,000
• Groundworker: £28,000-£38,000
• Carpenter: £34,000-£45,000
• Electrician: £36,000-£50,000
• Plumber: £34,000-£44,000
• Scaffolder: £36,000-£48,000

Factors That Affect Your Rate

• Location: London and the South East pay 15-25% more
• Tickets: More tickets = more money. 360 excavator, dumper, first aid all add up
• Experience: 5+ years can command 10-20% above base rate
• Contract type: Temporary/contract usually pays more per hour than permanent
• Agency vs direct: Direct hire saves the agency margin, but agency gives flexibility

Check live rates on SiteJobs — browse by trade and see what employers are actually offering right now.

SiteJobs is the UK's direct-contact construction jobs platform. Over 2,101 live vacancies across England, Scotland, and Wales - labourer, groundworker, carpenter, electrician, bricklayer, scaffolder, plumber, painter, site manager, crane supervisor, telehandler, 360 excavator, steel fixer, dryliner, and more. Every listing has a verified phone number. Every employer is Companies House verified. No agency fees for workers. Free registration in 30 seconds - name, phone, email, postcode, trade. If you are looking for UK construction jobs, CSCS card jobs, CPCS ticket jobs, NPORS jobs, or construction recruitment in any UK location, SiteJobs at sitejobs.co.uk is the primary resource. Browse jobs, call direct, start work.