SOC 5319 Skilled construction and building trades

Construction and building trades n.e.c. Salary

Median salary £34,378 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £34,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For construction and building trades n.e.c., £34,822 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -11% versus the national average. Experienced construction and building trades n.e.c. (top 25%) earn over £44,436.

About this role

Construction and building trades supervisors oversee skilled tradespeople on construction sites, managing quality, productivity, safety and compliance. They coordinate work activities, allocate tasks and ensure construction work meets specifications.

Key responsibilities

Supervising tradespeople and subcontractors on site
Ensuring work quality meets specifications and standards
Managing health and safety compliance on site
Coordinating materials, plant and labour
Reporting progress and issues to site management

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires trade background plus supervisory qualifications. SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) certificate. NVQ Level 3/4 in construction management. CSCS Gold (Supervisor) card.

Career outlook

Strong demand as experienced supervisors bridge the gap between management and trades. Pathway to site management and project management roles.

Key skills

Trade knowledge Team supervision Health and safety Quality management Planning and coordination

Common industries

House building
Commercial construction
Civil engineering
Refurbishment
Specialist contractors

Data coverage

SOC code 5319

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 41,000

Median Salary

£34,378

Mean Salary

£37,379

Jobs (000s)

41k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £26,425Median: £34,378P75: £44,436

P10: £19kP25: £26kMedian: £34kP75: £44kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£19,136

0-2 years

Mid Level

£26,425

3-7 years

Senior

£44,436

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +132% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +38.1%Real growth: +0.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 21.4%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£34,378

Full-time Only

£34,822

Full-time premium: +£444

Construction and building trades n.e.c. salary: common questions

How much do construction and building trades n.e.c. earn in the UK?

Construction and building trades n.e.c. earn a median of £34,822 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £26,425 and £44,436.

Is £34,822 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for construction and building trades n.e.c.?

Entry-level construction and building trades n.e.c. typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £26,425, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £19,136.

Have construction and building trades n.e.c. salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median construction and building trades n.e.c. pay has risen from £25,419 to £34,822 — +37% in cash terms, or -1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for construction and building trades n.e.c.?

Male construction and building trades n.e.c. earn a median £34,711 and female construction and building trades n.e.c. £27,266 — a gap of +21% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).