GROWING YOUR TRADE BUSINESS
How much do builders earn on average?
Updated 08/26
Wondering how much builders earn in the UK? Whether you're an apprentice, self-employed, or you're looking to hire a team of builders, this guide is for you.
Builders are always one of the most popular tradespeople. As a result, you might be wondering 'how much do builders earn'?
Earnings as a tradesperson are reliant on jobs coming through, so it it always important to have a strong flow of leads.
So, it’s important you’re aware of how much you could earn, and how much you should pay your employees.
If you’ve got questions such as how much do builders make? What is the average builder salary? And what is the average self-employed builder salary in the UK? Keep reading to find out more.
How much does a builder make a year?
Wondering how much do builders get paid? Well, the average yearly earnings of a builder in the UK can range from around £14,000 per year for an apprentice, up to £74,000 per year for a business owner.
But actual earnings for a builder depend on your:
Experience
Skills
Qualification
The type of work
Where you work
As a general rule, the more experienced you are as a builder, the more you can earn. And, if you’re self-employed or you start your own builder business then you can potentially earn a lot more.
Here are some average salaries for how much builders make a year in the UK:
| Level | Per hour | Per day | Per year | Business Costs* | Approximate Take Home Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £8 | £64 | £14,000 | 0 | £13,634 |
| Newly Qualified | £18 | £145 | £32,000 | 0 | £26,518 |
| Employed | £19 | £154 | £40,000 | 0 | £32,393 |
| Sole Trader | £40 | £320 | £59,000 | £7,375 | £40,000 |
| Business Owner (ltd company) | £50 | £400 | £74,000 | £12,907 | £47,527 |
| *includes estimated costs for business expenses such as vehicle, tools, insurance, fuel etc | |||||
| Last updated: August 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||||
How much money does a builder make per hour?
The average hourly rate for builders in the UK varies depending on experience and the type of employment arrangement.
Here’s a guide to the average builder hourly rates in the UK:
Apprentice – £8 per hour
Newly qualified – £18 per hour
Employed – £19 per hour
Sole trader – £40 per hour
Business owner (Ltd company) – £50 per hour
How much does a builder earn a week?
The average weekly earnings of a builder will depend on their day rate, which can range from around £64per day for an apprentice up to £400 per day for a business owner.
Here are some figures for how much a builder earns a week, along with the average builder day rate:
Apprentice – £64 per day / £320 per week
Newly qualified – £145 per day / £727 per week
Employed – £154 per day / £771 per week
Sole trader – £320 per day / £1,600 per week
Business owner (Ltd company) – £400per day / £2,000 per week
How much money do builders make a month?
As we’ve mentioned, the exact amount of money that a builder makes a month will depend on different factors. These include experience level, attained skills, and where you work.
Based on the salaries listed above, here are the take-home figures for the average monthly builder salary in the UK:
Apprentice – £1,387 per month
Newly qualified – £3,153 per month
Employed – £3,341 per month
Sole trader – £6,933 per month
Business owner (Ltd company) – £8,666 per month
How much does a builder apprentice or builder’s apprentice earn?
A builder’s labourer or apprentice will earn a starting salary of around £14,000 per year, while they learn the trade and build up skills and experience.
As a labourer or apprentice, you can expect your rate to be around £8per hour, or £64 per day.
How much does a qualified builder earn?
As a qualified builder, how much you earn will depend on how long you’ve been qualified for. It will also depend on any additional training or special skills you’ve acquired.
To give you a guide, as a newly qualified builder, your salary would start somewhere in the region of £32,000 per year.
That equates to an hourly rate of around £18 per hour, and a day rate of roughly £145 per day.
How much can a self-employed builder make?
There’s no doubt that, as a builder, you can earn quite a bit more by being self-employed. And you can make even more if you run your own building company.
Sole trader builder earnings
As a sole trader, you can expect to earn around £59,000 per year (before tax). However, as a sole trader, you need to factor in the business costs. These include running things like your work vehicle, fuel, tools and builders' insurance.
Average business costs for a sole trader builder in the UK are around £7,375 per year, which means your final take-home salary would be around £40,000 per year.
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How profitable are building companies?
If you run your own business as a builder, you have a higher earning potential – with an average turnover around £74,000 per year.
However, turnover isn't necessarily what you should be focusing on. It's actually profitability that's important.
As a business owner you need to factor in the costs of running your business(vehicle, fuel, tools, insurance, etc). This is estimated at around £12,907 per year for a limited company.
That equates to an average take home salary for you as a builder business owner of around £47,527 per year.
To ensure a decent profit, make sure you’re pricing your job properly before quoting. Factors you need to consider are:
Material costs
Hire costs (if applicable)
Time worked
Difficulty of work carried out
Staffing or contractor costs
Tax
Overheads (such as premises)
With the rise in running costs, your profitability could be much lower if you're not carefully pricing your jobs.
How to increase your share of job leads for builders
Keep a full schedule with more job leads for builders Where are you based? Manchester? Leeds? Birmingham? You'll need to make sure your building business is seen by more people. No matter where you are. Whether you're just dipping your toe into the building industry, or you're a lot more
Tips to help boost your turnover and make your builder business more profitable
Building (pun intended!) your new business should make you feel excited and proud. If you're not making much profit, there's something not quite right.
If you’re looking to grow your construction business and increase your job leads, we’ve got some tips that could help.
Cover your expenditure
Your expenditure includes tools, materials, insurance, marketing, wages, fuel, and anything else used on any job. You may need to raise your prices if you’re not charging enough.
Need help with quoting? Here’s what to include on a builder’s quote.
Specialise in certain profitable areas
Some builder jobs make more money with less spending on your part (for tools and materials, for example).
Consider the size of your coverage
Travelling further afield will eat into your profits. So, if possible, stick to your local area or charge extra for jobs that are further afield.
Minimise your outgoings
Try to have no or as little debt as possible. Remember, interest on credit cards or loans can impact your vital profits.
Also, make sure you shop around for the best value tools, equipment, materials and workwear.
Provide the best customer experience
By providing an excellent service, you’ll build a strong reputation, win more work, and gain positive reviews.
With people increasingly doing their research online before settling on a tradesperson, it is important to build trust and boost your online reputation.
Increase visibility for your construction business
Marketing is essential to growing your business.
This can be through advertising, your website, your brand, customer reviews, SEO or industry contacts.
Construction marketing: Advertising for builders
Why is marketing for construction companies important? Whether you’re in need of more work or hiring extra staff, marketing is an essential part of business growth. It’s no different for anyone in the construction industry. And if you do it right, you could see plenty of new job leads in no time at
Save money as a Checkatrade member
Along with the other techniques, you can also make your profits stretch further by signing your building business with Checkatrade.
For example, we've partnered with insurance specialists Superscript to offer you an exclusive discount. As a Checkatrade member, you could save 20% off public liability insurance.
To claim, head over to the offers and discounts section of the Members' Area. Other ways to save include:
Savings on tools, workwear and materials at Selco and Wickes builders merchants
Money off a new business mobile with EE
But of course, you need to be a member to benefit. Not signed up yet? Why not give us a few details and we'll get in touch for a chat about the best options for your construction business.
Grow your business with our leading directory
Millions of customers search for builder services on Checkatrade every year. Make sure you're one of the businesses they find!
Builder salary FAQs
Which locations pay the most?
While salaries vary, builders in Southern locations such as London and Milton Keynes can charge around £37-£40 per hour.
If you’re hoping to pursue a career in construction, many deem the South East the place to be. But, there are other thriving locations too such as the West Midlands and the North West.
How can I boost my earnings as a builder?
One way to boost your earnings is to develop your skill set. If you invest in continuous learning, you’ll eventually be able to expand your offerings.
As a builder, there are plenty of development opportunities. And, going self-employed can help you maximise your earnings.
Is building a well-paid job?
Construction is one of the highest-paying sectors in the UK. The industry has many specialities which you can master, allowing you to grow and boost your earnings.
