How much you can earn as a builder as demand for new housing soars

Learning the right trade could put you in a good financial position as demand for new homes continues to rise.

The building industry has numerous different positions to specialise in and learn.

Learning a trade can also help you retain work and specialising in a certain area can make your expertise invaluable.

How much you can earn in construction depends on the size and success of your company, if you freelance or work in-house, and the speciality you bring to the table.

Here is everything you need to know about how much you could earn in the construction industry.

How much are builders paid?

Builders are paid on average around £30,000 (Getty Images/Cultura RF)

As stated, determining the level of income can be difficult as there are countless variables to consider.

However, according to Jobted.com, salaries can range anywhere from £19,400 all the way up to £55,000.

The average salary is £31,200, putting it above the minimum wage mark of £9.18 an hour for people aged 21-22.

Why is demand for builders rising?

In 2021, Research for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) suggested that 217,000 new jobs would be created in the UK construction industry over the course of the next five years.

It’s an optimistic appraisal of the situation for anyone looking to start their career.

As the report from CITB notes, most English regions will experience an increase in construction workers by 2025, with East Midlands (1.7% per year) and West Midlands (1.4%) in the lead.

Scotland (1.4%) and Wales (0.7%) are also predicted to fare well. The only region forecast to see a slight decline in workforce is the North East (-0.1%).

Why is construction demand increasing?

There will be a continued increase in construction needs over the next few years (GETTY)

Unsurprisingly, housing is the driving factor in such an increase.

The report suggests that there is be a yearly average increase of 5.2 per cent in infrastructure output over the next five years.

Private housing is also expected to increase 6.7% each subsequent year.

Another factor in major projects such as the HS2 railway, which will link London to Birmingham, then branch west to Manchester.

Despite the government scaling down the project - and axing the entire eastern branch - it is still a massive undertaking that will need thousands in labour and time.