So, you’ve decided that you want to do some kind of manual work but there are a lot of options out there, right? It’s true; when it comes to labouring jobs, there are so many choices and people are often left confused over what they should do.
The real deciding factor should be based on what interests you most. It’s no good getting into joinery if you have no passion for woodwork. Similarly, what’s the point in doing a plumbing course when your real interest lies in flooring?
But alongside finding something that you enjoy, it’s also important to find a job that’s going to fund your lifestyle. I don’t think there’s a single person out there that would enter into a role if it wasn’t going to pay a good wage. We all want to be comfortable and be able to pay the bills and still have some money left over to do the things we enjoy, without having to worry.
So, the question on everybody’s lips is what are the highest paying labouring jobs?
The truth is that your wage will be based on several factors. Things like your level of training and your location will all play a part in how much you earn. Working your way through the ranks will also ensure a higher wage. However, it is accepted that people like site managers and bricklayers are among the best paid labourers in the UK.
If you’re thinking about getting into a trade and want to know what to expect in terms of salary then this guide is for you. You’ll discover some of the highest paying jobs and what factors affect the rate of pay.
How Much Do Blue Collar Workers Earn In The UK?
When you choose to work doing a manual job in the UK, you will need to focus on a specific trade. This might include jobs like an electrician, plumber, carpenter, flooring specialist, joiner, gas engineer, bricklayer and many more. Each of these jobs requires training which can be completed via several different routes. We have guides on these routes for different jobs if you are unsure where to start.
The great thing about this system is that there are so many opportunities for new tradespeople to get into work and forge a successful career. In any of the trades, you will find that there is plenty of room for development and over time, you’ll be able to work your way up and earn a higher salary.
A lot of roles within the trade industry do not require you to go to university. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to earn a salary that is comparable to a job that does require a university degree. If you aren’t someone that enjoys studying or does not have the option to attend university, this could be a viable way of making a good living.
That said, there are some more technical roles within manual work that do require you to attend university. These are usually higher managerial positions but the benefit is that you will be earning the highest salary in the industry.
Average Wages
The average salary for any sort of tradesperson in the UK is around £45,000 per year. If you’re looking at hourly rates, then you can expect to earn around £12.88, on average. This average is based on the lowest salary for a new employee which is just over £22,000 and a senior construction manager whose salary is in the range of £80,000.
With that in mind, these figures do change on an annual basis, for the most part, going up. There is a high demand for skilled workers so there’s never a bad time to train. But there are several factors that will affect how much you can realistically earn including where you live and provide your service.
Location Matters
One of the biggest things that affects labouring job salary is where you are based. For example, working as a general labourer in Bristol will see you earning around £12.46 an hour. However, doing the same job in Manchester might only get you around £11.37 per hour. It’s all based on the local cost of living, local demands and other factors.
That said, there aren’t any areas in the United Kingdom that are extremely low paying for manual jobs. Wherever you are based, you can expect to earn a decent salary with the opportunity to progress your career.
What’s The Best Labouring Job To Get Into?
We would strongly advise you to think about your career choice very carefully and never base your decision solely on what you might earn. While wages do play an important role in your job choice, it’s not worth doing something that makes you not want to go into work every day just for a slightly higher salary. Job satisfaction is just as important.
However, if you have an interest in manual work, you will likely have a few areas that spark your interest. So, it’s worth exploring the different options. For example, if you train to become a plumber, you could then continue your training and go on to something like gas engineering. There are always ways to include more skills in your job which increases your job satisfaction and of course, your bank balance!
Highest Paying Manual Jobs In The UK
As we have discovered, there are lots of options when it comes to trade jobs in the UK. But if you’re interested to know what you could earn from each one, we have listed some of the highest paid blue collar jobs in the country. And some come with a very attractive salary
Construction Manager
A construction manager is potentially one of the best types of manual jobs in terms of wages. However, you must keep in mind that you’ll normally need to go onto further education for this role. Typically speaking, you would be expected to have completed at least a Higher National Diploma or a Foundation Degree in something like Building Studies.
That said, the extra education is well worth it since, on average, construction managers in the UK are earning in excess of £78,000 a year. Even as an assistant construction manager, you can expect to earn close to £34,000 each year which is markedly more than the UK national average of just over £31,000.
As a construction manager, you would be in charge of various elements of construction within a project, or the project as a whole. You would be responsible for ensuring that everything is completed within the allocated time frame and within the project budget. You’d also have to ensure that the project was within Health and Safety guidelines. You would have a team of various people underneath you including sub contractors and staff employed by the company.
Project Manager
Project management is similar to construction management in that you would be overseeing elements of construction within a project. Sometimes, you may only be responsible for part of the project; it very much depends on individual circumstance. Again, you would be responsible for a variety of staff, both those employed by the company and sub contractors.
The average salary for a project manager in the UK is around £66,500. However, if you are working in the construction industry, this average drops to £58,000. Those higher up in construction, such as a senior construction project manager, might expect to earn around £76,000, on average.
Site Manager
At a slightly lower level than a construction or project manager, a site manager is much more hands on. Where the former roles might not directly access the work site, a site manager is on hand to oversee the project process on site. They will be responsible for various types of staff and ensure that the project is completed to the very best standard and within Health and Safety guidelines.
How much a site manager earns will depend on their current level. Senior site managers can expect to earn more than £57,000 per year whereas an assistant site manager might earn around £42,500.
Carpenter
Carpenters are skilled tradespeople that work to design, install, repair and maintain wooden structures, often on construction sites. This includes things like staircases, floorings, cabinets and furniture, among other things.
The average salary for a carpenter in the UK is currently around £42,800, although this will vary depending on your location. For example, carpenters in West London are earning almost £4000 over the national average, whereas those in Bristol are earning slightly less.
Plumber
How much a plumber earns will depend on a lot of things; just like every other manual job. However, the UK national average for plumbers starts around £30,000. You might think that this is lower than the Nation Average so cannot be one of the best paid labouring jobs but you have to think of how you can progress.
Most plumbers will be earning around the £40,000 mark in reality. But once you branch out, you could be earning much more. For example, it is reported that some self employed plumbers are earning as much as £60,000 each year so it’s worth considering setting up a business instead of working under an employer.
What’s more, with plumbing, there is the opportunity to move on and expand your skill set. Some people train in heating while others might go on to become Gas Safe Registered and work as a gas engineer as well. Do keep in mind that this comes with additional training and fees to apply for Gas Safe Registration.
Is It Worth Looking At Labouring Jobs?
If you want to build a new career for yourself and enjoy hands-on work then it is worth pursuing a career in some sort of manual trade or labouring job. These jobs are in high demand and there will always be a call for employees.
Since most of these jobs require specific skills, not just anyone can do them. Once you have qualified, there are so many avenues you can go down which means that you’ll be able to expand your skill set even further and earn a lot more.
Conclusion
When any of us think about changing our career, one of the first things that comes to mind is how much we will earn. Money might not be the be all and end all but having a well paying job certainly makes life easier.
If you’re looking to go into some sort of hands on, manual work then there are lots of options that will pay well. The highest paying jobs are typically managerial roles like construction or project managers. However, those doing skilled work such as plumbing also stand a good chance of earning a decent wage, particularly if they work for themselves.
It is important to make sure that you also choose a career that is going to provide you with job satisfaction. We would suggest finding a labouring job that you’re passionate about and can build on in the future as well as something that is going to pay the bills.