What’s the average groundworker salary in the UK?

If you want to dig in with a trade career as a groundwork you need to think about combining experience with qualifications. These are the main factors in determining the average groundworker wage.

What does a groundworker do?

In short, it’s the job of a groundworker to help prepare ground for construction work. The work can be straightforward levelling of ground. Or it can be very complex and involve a range of technical skills.

Typically, groundworkers are multi-skilled in areas that include:

• Excavating sites ready for construction
• Working on a site’s drainage
• Stabilising sub-surfaces

Earn more by specialising

Groundwork activities can be quite varied. So can the groundworker average salary. It depends on the type of skills you have – or want to obtain.

If you’re thinking about becoming a groundworker, spend some time deciding exactly what type of work you want to do.

More specialised aspects of being a groundworker can include:

• Attending to concrete and curb laying as part of foundation work
• Laying foundations and constructing driveways and footpaths
• Carrying out other related ground preparation, such as plants and general landscaping

What groundworker qualifications do you need?

Groundworkers can take various qualifications. You can also gain valuable ‘on the job’ experience working for an employer. The more qualifications you have, the higher the potential groundworker salary in the UK.

Typical qualifications include the introductory Level 1 Certificate in Groundworks or Construction Skills. Then there’s the more advanced Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Groundwork and General Construction.

Another key requirement that you’re likely to need to work on construction sites is a CSCS card. Having a CSCS card demonstrates that you are competent to work safely on construction sites

What to expect from a groundworker salary in the UK

So, we’ve looked at what the trade profession involves. And we’ve touched on the typical qualifications you need.

Now let’s see the nitty-gritty of what is a groundworker average salary in the UK. Our comparison table answers the question of how much does a groundworker earn?

It starts with entry-level apprentice groundworker wage. It also shows the average groundworker wage if you run your own business.

What is an apprentice groundworker wage?

If you’re starting out as a groundworker, then an apprenticeship might be for you. Trade businesses certainly see the appeal of taking on apprentices. Look for companies employing apprentices, so your training is funded by them.

The average apprentice groundworker wage is £13,258 per year.

What is a qualified groundworker average salary?

Salary levels should rise once you gain groundworker qualifications. A newly qualified groundworker average wage is £31,942 per year.

At this stage in your career, you’re likely to be working for someone else. As an employee for a business, your groundworker average salary is likely to be £40,102 per year.

Average groundworker wage for a business owner

It’s the aspiration of many tradespeople to own and run their own business. Being a groundworker is no exception.

Typically, this can be as a sole trader. Here, your average groundworker wage is generally around £56,052 per year.

Business owners have to pay business expenses. For a sole trader groundworker, these could be £7,006 per year.

As well as being a sole trader, you might consider setting up a limited company business. As a limited company owner, you can probably charge more for your groundworker services. The answer to the question of how much does a groundwork earn who owns a limited company is £56,833 per year.

Remember, like sole traders, a limited company incurs business costs. For business-owning groundworkers, average annual business costs are £9,946 per year.

What’s the average groundwork salary in the UK for an employee?

Other options instead of a monthly salary include hourly or daily rates. How you’re paid will generally depend on how your employee prefers it. That could depend on the types of work they undertake and how long they last.

As we’ve said, your experience level will determine what your hourly or daily will be.

Hourly rates for a groundworker salary in the UK

• Apprentice: £7.55 per hour
• Newly qualified: £18.19 per hour
• Employed: £19.28 per hour

Daily rates for groundworkers

These daily rates are based on an eight-hour day:

• Apprentice: £60.40 per day
• Newly qualified: £145.52 per day
• Employed: £154.24 per day

Average groundwork wage for a business owner

As you’d expect, working for yourself can earn you a higher groundworker salary in the UK. The downside to this, though, is you could face greater risks to your livelihood.

That’s why the rewards should be more as you’re taking on that risk. If you want to achieve a high average groundworker wage then it helps if you have a solid business plan. A robust business plan means you can map out the question of how much does a groundworker earn?

Don’t forget business expenses

As we’ve mentioned, your trade business will incur expenses. You’ll need to keep a tight rein on these for your trade business to be profitable.

Many business expenses are tax deductible. In other words, you can use certain business costs to reduce your taxable profit. That’s one of the advantages of being self-employed.

How much does a groundworker earn as a sole trader?

Being a self-employed sole trader puts you in greater control of your groundworker average salary. And it means you should able to earn more.

The average groundworker salary in the UK for someone who is a sole trader is £56,052 per year. However, you can expect to have average annual business costs of around £7,006 per year.

Average groundworker salary in the UK if you run a limited company

Making your trade business a limited company is another option. You can expect the average groundworker wage to be a little higher compared with being a sole trader.

It’s something you need to think about carefully. Setting up a limited company has both benefits and drawbacks.

How much does a groundwork earn if they own a limited company? The answer is around £56,833 per year.

You’ll then need to take account of business costs and deduct these from your earnings. The average annual business expenses if you own a limited company are £9,946 per year.

Want to start your own groundworker business?

Okay, now we’ve run you through the average groundworker salary in the UK, you may be thinking ahead. What if you could set up and run your own trade business? You’d be the boss and could be earning more with a higher average groundworker wage.

You can see how much higher the groundworker average salary is for sole traders and limited companies. Perhaps now is the time for you to examine the differences between a sole trader and a limited company.

If you want to make the move to be your own boss, it’s a big step. But you needn’t take it alone. We’ve plenty of tips to help you become your own boss.

You’ll be able to find out how other tradespeople have set up in business.

Find more business leads with Checkatrade

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One way is by keeping your pipeline of sales leads flowing. That’s where you can rely on us. Checkatrade members receive our help with new enquiries.

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• Exclusive offers and discounts with suppliers like Tradepoint and Wickes
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• Guaranteed work when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
• Dedicated trades apps for job management and quoting/invoicing

Key takeaways

• Groundwork trade professionals generally prepare sites for construction and they can also take on other preparatory construction-related activities
• Your level of experience and qualifications will play an important part in the average groundworker wage you can expect to earn
• If you’re starting out in your career and gaining qualifications, an apprentice groundwork wage is £13,258 per year
• An average groundworker wage if you’re newly qualified is £31,942 per year. As a more experienced company employee you can expect to earn an average £40,102 per year
• If you own your groundwork business then your average groundworker salary in the UK is higher. A sole trader can earn £56,052 per year. For the owner of a limited company this rises to £56,833 per year. But remember, business owners face higher risks to their income as well as incurring business costs