Which Trade Should You Choose? Realistic Pay and Routes In

‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍# S25. Choosing a trade - realistic earning potential and routes in

Different trades can all earn well if you stick with them, but the pattern is the same: low at the start, solid once qualified, best money when you're either very good, very fast, or running the job.

1. THE LANDSCAPE (2025–2026)

CITB's Construction Skills Network expects steady growth from 2025–2029, with strong demand for bricklayers, electricians, carpenters/joiners, plant, supervisors and site managers.
Construction median hourly pay is now around £18.50/hour, above the all‑industry median, with wage growth of around 6% in 2024 and similar pressure expected through 2026–27.

That's the backdrop: trades that are short of people generally pay better and rise faster.

2. REALISTIC EARNING BANDS BY TRADE (2025–2026)

These are ballpark UK figures using recent surveys, union rates and industry pay guides – expect more in London/South East and on CIS, less in weaker areas or on basic PAYE.

Electrician

Newly qualified (gold card, PAYE): about £26k–£30k.
Experienced (5–10 years, PAYE): often £35k–£45k; many sit around £35k–£40k.
JIB rates (from Jan 2025, England/Wales): standard/approved electrician rates around £19.30–£20.25/hour, with many actual jobs paying £22–£28/hour PAYE, and £300–£400/day on CIS for strong hands on good contracts.

Plumber / heating engineer

Newly qualified: roughly £29k starting.
Experienced PAYE: around £35k–£45.5k, higher in London/SE (mid‑30s to low‑40s).
Self‑employed: commonly £300/day labour in 2025–26; some see £325–£375/day on busy domestic work.

Bricklayer

PAYE: often in the low‑30s once competent. (Piece‑work and region swing this heavily.)
Self‑employed: day rates commonly £240–£320/day in 2026 according to trade rate snapshots; good gangs on price can exceed that when work is strong.

Carpenter / joiner

Experienced PAYE: typically around £32k–£40k, more on commercial sites/cities.
Self‑employed: often £280–£365/day depending on region and type of work.

General builder / multi‑trade

PAYE: mid‑20s to mid‑30s depending on mix of work.
Self‑employed: day rates around £200–£350/day depending on region, skill and whether you're pricing labour‑only or packages.

Roofer / plasterer / mason (rough guide)

Roofer: often £280–£320/day self‑employed.
Plasterer: around £300–£350/day, often on m² rates.
Mason/stonelayer: examples show around £350/day in 2025 rate guides.

These are typical ranges, not promises – work type, region, and whether you can fill your own diary matter as much as the badge.

3. GOING BEYOND THE TOOLS: SUPERVISOR, MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL

If you like organising and planning as much as grafting, the money jumps when you move into supervision or management.

Working supervisor (trade + small team): often £35k–£45k PAYE, more with night work or major projects.
Site manager: recent 2025 data shows many roles at £56.9k–£62k; some larger projects pay above that.
Quantity surveyor / commercial roles: typical bands £51.6k–£59.7k in 2025.

These usually expect NVQ Level 3–6, SMSTS/SSSTS, H&S tickets and experience, not just a trade.

4. ROUTES IN – HOW YOU ACTUALLY GET THERE

Common starting routes

Apprenticeship (16–24): best mix of hands‑on + paid training; you earn less at first but avoid loan debt and move straight into Level 2/3 NVQs.
Labourer into trade: start on a labourer/"mate" card, then move into a specific trade and NVQ once you've seen what you like and what you're good at.
Adult retrain (over 25): short courses + OSAT NVQs while working, sometimes funded with CITB grants or local schemes.

Climbing the ladder

Typical pattern for a site‑based trade:

Learn as a labourer/apprentice → Level 2 NVQ (skilled worker).
Build experience and get Level 3 NVQ or extra tickets (testing, gas, renewables, etc.).
If you want responsibility/more money: supervisory NVQ (L3/4) → manager NVQ (L6/7) plus SSSTS/SMSTS and H&S qualifications.

Self‑employed or business‑owner income then depends more on how much work you can win and organise than the set "salary".

5. HOW TO CHOOSE A TRADE FOR YOU

Given the 2025–2026 market, a few simple filters help:

Demand: CSN reports point to electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, plant, and supervisors/managers as high‑need across most regions into 2028–29.
Earning ceiling: hard services (sparks, plumbing/heating) and envelope/roofing often peak higher, especially self‑employed.
Body vs brain mix: plastering and bricklaying are very physical, finishing trades often slightly lighter, supervision/management more about coordination and paperwork.
Your tolerance for study: electricians and gas/renewable engineers have more ongoing exams and updates; if you hate books, a heavily regulated trade may be harder.

FOUR 5‑YEAR PATHS IN REAL NUMBERS

Using current 2025–26 data so it's grounded in reality rather than hype.

Bricklayer

Years 0–2 (learning):

Route: apprenticeship or labourer → improver.
Pay: often £18k–£24k PAYE or £80–£120/day as a mate while you learn.

Years 3–5 (qualified):

With an NVQ Level 2 and some experience, PAYE can move into the low‑30s, and self‑employed day rates of £240–£320/day are common in 2025–26 depending on region and pricework.
Upside: big money on price when work is strong; downside: very weather‑ and cycle‑sensitive, heavy on the body.

Electrician

Years 0–2 (learning):

Route: apprenticeship or adult retrain route; lots of college/classroom time.
Pay: typically £18k–£24k early, sometimes a bit more on commercial work.

Years 3–5 (qualified):

Newly qualified (gold card) electricians can expect around £26k–£30k PAYE, moving to £35k–£45k after a few more years, with JIB rates in the £19–£20/hour region and many sites paying £22–£28/hour.
Strong self‑employed sparks routinely see £300–£400/day on decent domestic/commercial jobs in 2025–26.
Upside: high ceiling, steady demand; downside: more exams/updates and tighter regulation.

Plumber / heating engineer

Years 0–2 (learning):

Route: plumbing apprenticeship or fast‑track plus on‑site mentoring.
Pay: usually £18k–£22k early on.

Years 3–5 (qualified):

Typical PAYE ranges around £29k–£35k at first, commonly rising to £35k–£45.5k with experience, especially in the South and big cities.
Self‑employed day rates are often £300/day, with plenty of examples at £325–£375/day for busy domestic/heating work.
Upside: strong domestic demand, especially with heating/renewables; downside: call‑outs, emergencies and certification burden.

Carpenter / joiner

Years 0–2 (learning):

Route: apprenticeship or starting as a labourer's mate on a carpentry gang.
Pay: usually £18k–£23k PAYE or £90–£120/day as a beginner.

Years 3–5 (qualified):

With NVQ Level 2/3 and a bit of speed, PAYE offers around £32k–£40k, higher on commercial or in London/SE.
Self‑employed chippies commonly charge £280–£365/day, with kitchen/fit‑out specialists sometimes above that.
Upside: flexible trade (domestic, site, shopfitting, roofs, interiors); downside: lots of up‑and‑down work, and rates can be squeezed on basic housebashing.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Spend time on different sites or with different trades before committing - see what suits your body and brain.
Check CITB's Construction Skills Network reports for which trades are in demand in your region.
Talk to people already doing the trade you are considering - ask about the reality, not just the money.
Look into apprenticeships or adult retraining routes and what CITB grants are available.
Plan beyond the tools: think about where you want to be in 5 and 10 years, not just next week.