Builders are the highest earning trade in the UK, according to fresh analysis from Simply Business.
We looked at the average annual turnover recorded on business insurance quotes in 2025 and 2024 to understand trends and in the industry.
Keep reading to find out whether your area is an earning hotspot for tradespeople.
The top earning trades in the UK: at a glance
- top earning trade – builders maintained their spot at the top, with the highest average annual pre-tax turnover rising to £113,462 from £110,260 in 2024
- fastest growing trade – bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen fitters saw the biggest increase, with a 14% rise in average annual pre-tax turnover to £85,872 in 2025
- biggest fall in earnings – last year’s fastest grower, gas fitters, experienced the largest drop in average pre-tax turnover, falling 7% to £69,208
- location matters – tradespeople in Sutton had the highest average overall earnings (£143,403), while builders in Telford had the lowest average earnings (£77,273)
Which trades earned the most in 2025?
Builders had the highest annual average pre-tax turnover among UK tradespeople in 2025 at £113,462. After builders, the top-earning trades in terms of pre-tax turnover earned in 2025 were glaziers (who crossed the six-figure mark at £101,037), groundworkers (£97,486), dryliners (£92,625), and flooring contractors (£91,662).
Which trades earnings grew the most in 2025?
Bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen fitters had the largest growth in annual average turnover (14%). But there was also double-digit growth for:
- bricklayers (11%)
- glaziers (11%)
Gas fitters and dryliners see drop in earnings
While most trades saw positive growth in 2025, gas fitters saw the biggest fall in average turnover, down 7% from £74,387 to £69,208. There were also more minor falls in annual turnover for dryliners (3%) and heavy goods drivers (3%).
Fastest growing trades – top 20
Comparing annual pre-tax turnover in 2025 and 2024, these are the trades that have seen the biggest growth.
The top 20 trades for turnover
| Trade | 2024 turnover | 2025 turnover | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builders | £110,260 | £113,462 | +3% |
| Glaziers | £91,389 | £101,037 | +11% |
| Groundworkers | £93,112 | £97,486 | +5% |
| Dryliners | £95,979 | £92,625 | -3% |
| Flooring contractors | £88,188 | £91,662 | +4% |
| Plumbers | £86,394 | £87,739 | +2% |
| Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen fitters | £75,262 | £85,872 | +14% |
| Joiners | £73,160 | £79,231 | +8% |
| Electricians | £74,448 | £79,165 | +6% |
| Bricklayers | £63,167 | £70,002 | +11% |
| Gas fitters | £74,387 | £69,208 | -7% |
| Furniture removal | – | £65,779 | New entry |
| Carpenters | £64,523 | £66,458 | +3% |
| Tilers | £61,706 | £66,226 | +7% |
| Plasterers | £56,783 | £61,843 | +9% |
| Landscape gardeners | £59,905 | £61,373 | +2% |
| Roofers | £56,799 | £60,391 | +6% |
| Drivers (heavy goods) | £60,368 | £58,370 | -3% |
| Painter and decorators | £52,652 | £54,962 | +4% |
| Handymen | £46,203 | £47,708 | +3% |
| Cleaners | £43,504 | £43,331 | 0% |
The home upgrade and renovation boom
As we suspected in our construction industry predictions, the data suggest renovations are the most popular form of trades work in the past year.
Rather than taking on expensive house moves in today’s market, UK homeowners seem to be investing heavily in transforming their existing living spaces. The data reveals a massive surge in demand for aesthetic upgrades, modern refits, and structural modifications.
- interior fitters surge: bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen fitters saw the single highest annual growth across all trades, leaping up 14% from £75,262 to an average annual turnover of £85,872
- glaziers join the six-figure club: glaziers enjoyed an 11% increase, pushing their average turnover into six figures at £101,037 (up from £91,389 in 2024)
- structural and surface refurbishments: other trades with near-double-digit growth in turnover include bricklayers (11% to £70,002), plasterers (9% to £61,843), joiners (8% to £79,231), and tilers (7% to £66,226)
A high income floor across the trades
While specialist trades and southern builders make up the top of the lists, the latest numbers highlight the overall financial health for UK trade businesses. Even at the end of the lists, the turnovers remain strong.
For instance, the 2025 data shows:
- cleaners averaged £43,331 in annual pre-tax turnover
- handymen brought in £47,708
- painters and decorators hit an average turnover of £54,962
This demonstrates that even without heavy capital investment or specialist qualifications, operating a trade business in the UK continues to offer a reliable earning potential across the board.
Where did tradespeople earn the most in 2025?
Sutton, Hounslow, Loughborough, Oldham, and Uxbridge were the top towns in terms of annual turnover for all tradespeople.
| Rank | Town | Average Annual Turnover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sutton | £143,403 |
| 2 | Hounslow | £137,073 |
| 3 | Loughborough | £133,832 |
| 4 | Oldham | £129,725 |
| 5 | Uxbridge | £126,863 |
Top locations for builders
Sutton (£310,377), London (£307,401), and Uxbridge (£202,321) were the top towns and cities for builders when it comes to average annual pre-tax turnover. Swansea is the only Welsh location to make the top 10, coming in at number four (£185,769).
Where did builders earn the least in 2025?
| Location | 2025 turnover |
|---|---|
| Winsford | £32,727 |
| Middlewich | £39,072 |
| Winchester | £48,214 |
| Belfast | £50,725 |
| Nuneaton | £54,840 |
| Telford | £58,765 |
| Blackburn | £58,978 |
| Rochdale | £59,337 |
| Worksop | £61,648 |
| Dudley | £62,500 |
A massive 4x regional earnings divide
Earning potential in the UK trades is heavily dictated by location. Looking specifically at builders, the gap between the top-earning and lowest-earning locations reveals a near 400% difference in average annual turnover in 2025.
Builders operating in high-priced southern markets pull in six-figure turnovers that significantly outpace the national average:
- Sutton: £310,377
- London: £307,401
- Uxbridge: £202,321
By contrast, builders based in several northern and Midlands towns see much lower turnovers:
- Telford: £77,273
- Stoke-On-Trent: £77,930
- Darlington: £80,973
To put this disparity into perspective, a builder operating in Sutton averages nearly four times the pre-tax turnover of a builder operating in Telford.
Commuter belt dominance and surprise hotspots
When examining average earnings across all trades, London’s commuter belt continues to top the charts. High property values and potentially more people with disposable incomes in these areas keeps tradespeople consistently busy.
Sutton leads overall trade turnover nationwide at £143,403 but nearby London hubs and commuter hotspots fill out the top ranks, including:
- Hounslow (£137,073)
- Uxbridge (£126,863)
- St. Albans (£122,324)
- Woking (£121,176)
The regional outliers
High earnings aren’t exclusive to the South East. Several unexpected areas comfortably out-earned southern hubs:
- Loughborough finished as the third highest-earning location overall in the UK with an average trade turnover of £133,832
- Oldham claimed the fourth spot nationwide, averaging £129,725 per trade business
- Swansea proved to be a powerhouse for construction, ranking as the fourth highest-earning UK location specifically for builders (£185,769) – easily beating major English cities like Oxford (£150,159)
Methodology
Insight based on Simply Business quote form data from 2025 and 2024. We looked at tradespeople who requested a quote in 2024 and 2025, 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.
Turnover is the total amount of money your business brings in from selling goods or services during a specific period. Turnover is calculated before any costs are deducted so it doesn’t account for expenses.In this guide, we’ll cover what you should expect about any initial startup costs – as well as how often (and how much) you may get paid.
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 (for example solar panels and 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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