How much do bathroom fitters earn?
In this article, we'll cover:
How much do bathroom fitters earn per year?
A bathroom installer salary will vary due to a range of criteria including qualifications and experience, services offered, and the location where the installer is based.
At Checkatrade, we compiled this handy table to give you an accurate view of a bathroom fitter’s salary depending on their experience.
| Level | Per Hour | Per Day | Per Year | Approximate Take Home Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £6.40 | £51.20 | £11,520 | £11,300 |
| Newly Qualified | £9.50 | £76 | £17,100 | £15,300 |
| Employed | £16.50 | £132 | £29,700 | £23,800 |
| Sole Trader | £37 | £296 | £66,600 | £43,100* |
| Business Owner (ltd company) | £44.50 | £356 | £80,100 | £48,800* |
*includes estimates business expenses such as vehicle, fuel, tools & insurance.
As you can see, bathroom installation can be a very lucrative career. Apprentice bathroom fitters earn around £11,520 per year while a person running a bathroom fitting company (limited company) can earn up to around £80,100 per year.
How much does an experienced bathroom fitter earn?
An experienced bathroom fitter has the potential to earn an excellent salary. Newly qualified bathroom fitters can expect to earn around £17,100 per year. This can rise to an impressive £29,700 with more experience.
Other factors that affect a bathroom fitter’s salary include the location where they work and the type of work they carry out.
Bathroom fitters in London and southeast England will have the highest salary expectations. This will be followed by fitters working in other large cities and affluent areas of the UK.
Installers in Wales and northeast England will usually have a lower salary than other parts of the country, although in these areas the cost of living is generally lower so their salary will still be good when all financial factors are considered.
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Tell me moreWhat’s the average self-employed bathroom fitter salary?
If you’re planning to start up your own bathroom fitting business, you’ll want to know how much you can potentially earn.
A bathroom fitter working as a sole trader can expect to earn up to £66,600 per year before tax.
For owners of a bathroom fitting company (Ltd company) you can expect to earn around £80,100 per year before tax.
Average profit margins for UK bathroom fitting companies
A successful business needs to make a profit. If you’re planning to set up a bathroom fitting company, you’ll want to know how to break even and then make some money.
The average earnings above show that bathroom fitting businesses can earn an impressive £80,100 per year. However, this figure doesn’t consider any outgoings and tax.
As a business owner, what you really want to know is how much is left once you’ve made all the essential deductions, including the cost of:
- Vehicles
- Insurance
- Materials
- Tools and equipment
You’ll also need to ensure that you pay the right amount of tax.
We’ve estimated the outgoings of a bathroom fitting company to be around £31,300 per year. Consequently, your take home pay as the owner of a bathroom fitting business will be around £48,800* per year (limited company).
What’s the average bathroom fitter hourly rate (UK)?
If you want to grow your bathroom fitting business, you’ll need to know the expected hourly rate of the team you’re hiring.
Hourly rates for bathroom fitters will depend on location and experience. On average they are:
- Apprentice – £6.40 per hour
- Newly qualified – £9.50 per hour
- Employed – £16.50 per hour
- Sole trader – £37 per hour
- Business owner (Limited company) – £44.50 per hour
What’s the average bathroom fitter day rate (UK)?
In terms of the types of work carried out, bathroom fitters who work on home renovations will find the greatest fluctuations in earning potential. This is largely due to the diverse range of properties they’re required to work on.
Bathroom fitters who work on commercial projects or new-build installations can expect a steadier pay rate, although this may be higher or lower than domestic renovations, depending on the work involved.
To work out the average rate of a bathroom fitter, it’s good to have a daily rate in mind:
- Apprentice – £51.20 per day
- Newly qualified – £76 per day
- Employed – £132 per day
- Sole trader – £296 per day
- Business owner (Limited company) – £356 per day
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FAQs
Can bathroom installation be done as a DIY project?
Bathroom installations can be carried out by a competent DIYer. Bathroom fitting, however, usually involves using a variety of skills. Therefore, for the best results, it’s best to use a qualified professional.
How much value does a new bathroom add to a property?
A new bathroom will add approximately 5% to the market value of a property.
*Estimate costs for vehicle, fuel, tools, and insurance
**Checkatrade brand tracking survey April 2021
***Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021.
****Year runs from April 21’ to March 22’. Saving calculation based on average spend across 12,505 members in 2020/2021/2022. Discounts differ depending on the partner. Products range from low value items to high value items. Some exclusions will apply on products.
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