Data from Simply Business reveals the top earning trades in the UK plus the areas they’re earning the most. Taking a look at the pre-tax turnover of our trades customers to understand trends within the industry.
Find out how your trade fared in 2023/2024 and whether your area is an earning hotspot for tradespeople.
The top earning trades in the UK: at a glance
- top earning trade – builders had the highest average annual pre- tax turnover at £110,260
- fastest growing trade – gas fitters saw the biggest increase, with a 12 per cent rise in average annual turnover to £74,387
- overall earnings trend – the average turnover for UK trades businesses dropped by 3 per cent to £66,172, largely due to the cost of living crisis, high material costs, and skills shortages in the industry
- location matters – tradespeople in Chichester had the highest average earnings, while those in Darlington had the lowest average earnings
Which trades earned the most in 2024?
Builders had the highest annual average turnover among UK tradespeople in 2024 at £110,260.
After builders, the top earning trades in terms of turnover earned in 2024 were dryliners, groundworkers, glaziers, and flooring contractors.
Which trades earnings grew the most in 2024?
Gas fitters had the largest growth in annual average turnover. But there was also reasonable growth for:
- bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen fitters
- heavy goods drivers
- painter and decorators
- cleaners
Each of which recorded turnover growth of five per cent compared to 2023.
Average turnover for roofers drops by almost a third in 2024
Roofers saw the biggest fall in average turnover, down 30 per cent from £81,517 in 2023 to £56,799 in 2024.
There were also significant falls in annual turnover for landscape gardeners (-13 per cent) and groundworkers (-12 per cent).
Overall trades turnover continues to fall in 2024
Overall, UK trades businesses received an average turnover of £66,172 in 2024, down three per cent from £68,474 in 2023 and down 20 per cent from £82,821 in 2022.
This latest data tells a similar story to 2023, with only nine of the top 20 trades recording an increase in average annual turnover.
Some reasons for lower average turnover since 2022 could include:
- long-term impact of the cost of living crisis affecting consumers’ ability to spend
- lower enquiries due to high material costs and subsequent quote prices
- ongoing skills shortages meaning tradespeople have to turn projects down
Read more: 5 ways the construction industry could change in 2025
The top 20 trades for turnover
| Trade | 2024 turnover | 2023 turnover | Annual % change |
| Builders | £110,260 | £114,353 | -4% |
| Dryliners | £95,979 | £105,832 | -9% |
| Groundworkers | £93,112 | £105,434 | -12% |
| Glaziers | £91,389 | £99,766 | -8% |
| Flooring contractors | £88,188 | £92,386 | -5% |
| Plumbers | £86,394 | £84,090 | +3% |
| Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen fitters | £75,262 | £71,562 | +5% |
| Electricians | £74,448 | £75,883 | -2% |
| Gas fitters | £74,387 | £66,206 | +12% |
| Joiners | £73,160 | £76,039 | -4% |
| Carpenters | £64,523 | £63,218 | +2% |
| Bricklayers | £63,167 | £67,465 | -6% |
| Tilers | £61,706 | £63,182 | -2% |
| Drivers (heavy goods) | £60,368 | £57,351 | +5% |
| Landscape gardeners | £59,905 | £68,545 | -13% |
| Roofers | £56,799 | £81,517 | -30% |
| Plasterers | £56,783 | £54,902 | +3% |
| Painter and decorators | £52,652 | £50,380 | +5% |
| Handymen | £46,203 | £44,285 | +4% |
| Cleaners | £43,504 | £41,349 | +5% |
Where did tradespeople earn the most in 2024?
Chichester in West Sussex, Uxbridge in London, Watford in Hertfordshire, Sevenoaks in Kent, and Poole in Dorset were the top towns in terms of annual turnover for tradespeople.
It’s important to remember that location can make a big difference to earning potential when setting up a business.
| Town | Average turnover in 2024 |
| Chichester | £195,899 |
| Uxbridge | £152,093 |
| Watford | £139,899 |
| Sevenoaks | £136,779 |
| Poole | £124,156 |
| Hornchurch | £123,967 |
| Romford | £119,980 |
| Wembley | £116,885 |
| Waltham Cross | £116,159 |
| Harrow | £114,705 |
Top locations for builders
Ipswich in Suffolk, Uxbridge, and Guildford in Surrey were among the top towns and cities for builders when it comes to average annual pre-tax turnover.
Where did tradespeople earn the least in 2024?
Darlington in County Durham, Chester in Cheshire, and Pontefract in West Yorkshire were the towns where tradespeople earned the least in 2024.
| Town | Average turnover in 2024 |
| Swansea | £64,026 |
| Bradford | £63,949 |
| Leighton Buzzard | £63,816 |
| Dudley | £62,598 |
| Keighly | £62,500 |
| Wrexham | £62,401 |
| Durham | £62,253 |
| Pontefract | £59,818 |
| Chester | £59,329 |
| Darlington | £57,440 |
Top earning trades in the UK: key takeaways
- A builder was the top earning trade in 2024 – with the highest average annual turnover at £110,260. The top five included builders, dryliners, groundworkers, glaziers, and flooring contractors
- gas fitters were the fastest growing trade – seeing the most significant growth, with a 12 per cent increase in average annual pre-tax turnover to £74,387
- overall turnover declined in 2024 – the average turnover for UK trades businesses fell by 3 per cent in 2024 to £66,172
- roofers experienced the biggest turnover drop – the largest decrease in average pre-tax turnover, dropping by 30 per cent from the previous year
- tradespeople working in Chichester earned the most on average, while those in Darlington earned the least – the research highlights that location impacts earnings
Methodology
We’ve looked at tradespeople who completed our quote form and requested a quote in 2023 and 2024, only taking into account trades with more than 3,000 submitted quotes. The pre-tax turnover is the average across the quotes submitted.
For the towns data, we included locations that had more than 500 submitted quotes for insurance from tradespeople.
Top earning trades in the UK: FAQs
Why do builders earn more than other trades?
Builders tend to earn more than other trades because they do large-scale jobs like housebuilding, while also doing commercial and domestic construction.
Are plumbers and electricians still well paid?
Yes, plumbers and electricians are generally well-paid and their incomes are often above the national average.
How can tradespeople earn more?
Tradespeople can earn more by specialising in high-demand, emerging areas like green technology (e.g., solar panels, heat pumps) or smart home installations.
Useful guides for tradespeople
- Working at height regulations – an employer’s guide
- A guide on buying or leasing a van
- How to price a job as a contractor: free quote template
- What is a CSCS card? Does every tradesperson need one?
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