Blog>Trade>Growing your trade business>How much does a plasterer earn?
Last updated: 4 September 2024
How much does a plasterer earn?
A continued and steady increase in home improvement projects over recent years has meant that plasterers are in higher demand than ever. As a result, a plasterer salary is not to be sniffed at. So here we ask the question - how much does a plasterer earn?
Whether you've just started your journey to becoming a plasterer or are considering setting up as self-employed– this guide is for you.
From apprentice to business owner, we’ll break down how much plasterers earn in per day, week, month, and year. Just keep reading to find out more.
How much do plasterers earn in the UK?
The average plasterer salary in the UK starts at around £11,590per year for an apprentice plasterer. However, this can go up to around £45,472 per year for the owner of a plastering business, after expenses have been deducted.
The exact amount you can expect to earn as a plasterer will depend on a number of factors. These include:
Your experience
Your skills and qualifications
The type of plastering work you do
Where you live and work
If you want to really boost your income then starting your own plastering business, whether as a sole trader or a limited company, can massively increase your potential earnings.
Looking at the plasterer average salary across the UK, you could expect to be earning this:
| Level | Per hour | Per day | Per year | Business Costs* | Approximate Take Home Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £6.60 | £52.80 | £11,590 | 0 | £11,179 |
| Newly Qualified | £10.50 | £84 | £18,438 | 0 | £16,032 |
| Employed | £17 | £136 | £35,360 | 0 | £27,538 |
| Sole Trader | £37.50 | £300 | £55,314 | £6,914 | £37,010 |
| Business Owner (ltd company) | £47.50 | £380 | £70,064 | £12,261 | £45,472 |
| *includes estimated costs for business expenses such as vehicle, tools, insurance, fuel etc | |||||
| Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||||
How much do plasterers earn a year?
So, how much can a plasterer earn? Here are some average salaries for how much plasterers can earn a year in the UK. This is after taxes and business costs.
Plastering apprentice – £11,179 per year
Newly qualified plasterer – £16,032 per year
Employed plasterer – £27,538 per year
Sole trader plasterer – £37,010 per year
Plastering business owner – £45,472 per year
What's the average monthly wage for a plasterer?
Based on the plasterer yearly salaries listed above, we've broken down the average monthly wage for a plasterer in the UK (before tax).
Apprentice – £1143.91 per month
Newly qualified – £1819.86 per month
Employed – £2946.44 per month
Sole trader – £6499.5 per month
Business owner (Ltd company) – £8232.7 per month
These numbers do not take into account taxes, deductions or business costs.
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How much do plasterers earn a week?
Want to break things down still further? Here are some of the average figures for a weekly plasterer salary.
Apprentice – £264 per week
Newly qualified – £420 per week
Employed – £680 per week
Sole trader – £1500 per week
Business owner (Ltd company) – £1900 per week
How much do plasterers earn per day?
The average for how much plasterers can make in a day in the UK can range from around £52.80for a plastering apprentice to£380for a plastering business owner.
Apprentice – £52.80per day
Newly qualified – £84per day
Employed – £136per day
Sole trader – £300per day
Business owner (Ltd company) – £380per day
As you can see, it makes sense to grow your business. It will help you earn more. Read on to see how one of our members benefitted from growing his business with Checkatrade:
How Aaron grew his plastering business in just 5 years
How Aaron grew Smooth Touch Plastering Ltd Starting his own plastering business from scratch, Aaron originally found it tricky to grow his customer base. But after a conversation with a close friend and some trial and error, his business took off. Listen to Aaron’s tips to find out exactly how he
Are there regional variations when it comes to a plasterer's salary?
Like with all jobs in the UK, the average earnings do vary based on location. We've had a look at two key cities, to give you a rough idea of what to expect for your day rate.
As with all other estimates in this article, these rates are for guidance, so you could earn more (or less) based on where you work.
So how much does a plasterer earn in different places around the country?
Plasterer day rate London
As you might expect, plasterer day rates in London are typically higher than in the rest of the country. So, how much do plasterers earn a day in London?
Unsurprisingly, this will somewhat depend on your skills and experience. However, you can expect to earn somewhere in the region of £120 to £450 per day as a plasterer in London.
Plasterer day rate Manchester
Similar to London, Manchester is a big metropolitan area. For that reason, you'll usually earn more for plastering work in the city compared to many other areas of the UK.
So, how much do plasterers make a day in Manchester exactly? Well, the average rate for a plasterer in the city of Manchester is around £100 to £400 per day.
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How much does a plasterer make per hour?
Aside from the yearly plasterer salary, it can be good to check your hourly rate.
On average, the amount you can charge per hour will depend on your experience, skills, and the type of plastering job you’re working on.
Here’s a guide to how much a plasterer can make an hour.
Apprentice – £6.60per hour
Newly qualified – £10.50per hour
Employed – £17per hour
Sole trader – £37.50per hour
Business owner (Ltd company) – £47.50per hour
How much does an apprentice plasterer earn?
When you first start your career in plastering, chances are you’ll join as a plastering apprentice. As an apprentice, you can expect to earn a starting salary of around £11,590per year.
As you progress with learning the trade, you’ll build up your plastering skills and gain valuable experience. This should then lead to an increase in earnings.
In terms of rates, you can expect to charge around £6.60per hour.That works out at roughly £52.80per day.
What are the highest paid trade apprenticeships in the UK?
Looking for the highest paid apprenticeships in the UK? Chances are you're a more hands-on learner. Going to university means hours spent sitting through lectures and reading book after book. So, if this style of learning isn’t for you, why not consider a trade apprenticeship? The best
How profitable is a plastering business?
When starting a plastering business, it’s important to think about profitability. In addition to counting your revenue, you have to consider the running costs of your business. This includes things like your work vehicle, fuel, materials, tools, and insurance.
You'll also want to consider whether to go down the route of being a sole trader or setting up a limited company.
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Member benefits include partnerships with Selco, Tradepoint and Wickes
Plastering business running costs
On average, your business costs will be somewhere in the region of £6,914. If you run a limited company or small business then these business costs could rise to around £12,261.
One way you could save on costs is to get great quality tools for less. If you'd like to save on the tools of your trade, we’ve got a whole blog on the best plastering trowels. The best part is that you can get a discount on each of our recommendations just by being a Checkatrade member.
Average plastering business profit
Bearing these costs in mind, you could be looking at an average self-employed plasterer salary in the UK of around £37,010. That could rise to £45,472as the owner of a successful plastering company.
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Content disclaimer: This content has been created for general information purposes and should not be taken as formal advice. Read our full disclaimer here.
