fan of physical work?

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working as a tradesman or labourer.

tradesman job description.

Working a trade offers a wide range of jobs to choose from. Whether you're looking to be a plumber or electrician, carpenter or bricklayer these jobs are ideal for hands-on workers that want to learn an industry to progress in. 

On larger jobs, you could work in teams and sometimes directly with clients and across trades. Potentially as a multi-skilled labourer, you might cross paths with electricians and hop tasks on large-scale projects. 

Most entries to a trades job will start training on the job via an apprenticeship to build experience or learn a craft. As a skilled craftsman with knowledge of specialist equipment, materials and production methods, you'll progress by gaining qualifications into a technical, supervisory or management role.

tradesman average salary.

A professional tradesman can expect to earn between £20,000 and £32,000 averaging a salary of £27k. However, a multiskilled tradesperson could expect a salary of £50,000 from the right business. Often employers will offer a company van, tools and lunch for certain roles. 

what's a tradesman's hourly wage?

Every year the pay of a tradesman will change and be different on a job by job basis. The latest stats from the ONS reveal a rise in 2019 for London jobs with an average salary in trades of £27,500. Electricians average around £30,000 per year (£150 - £200 per day) and plumbers £29,000.

  • Carpenter = £11.97 (£120 - £150 per day)
  • Bricklayer = £12.83 (£155 per day)
  • Joiner = £11.75 
  • Painter / Decorator = £12.26
  • Labourer = £8.05 (£100 - £160)

education requirements of a tradesman. 

There are often no set requirements for these roles unless specified, but GCSE passes in Maths, English and Technology may help and be useful for calculations, measurements and communication. 

what's a tradesman pay with experience?

Once you have developed your skills with solid experience and specific expertise your full-time salary can increase substantially. 

A plumber can expect upwards of £46,000 similar to an electrician being some of the most in-demand and well-paid jobs available. 

Slightly lower on the scale, roofers bricklayers and carpenters can still achieve upwards of £40,000 for specific skills in each area, such as working with heat in roofing and showing valuable talent as a bricklayer.

This won't happen overnight, but putting in the time to promote yourself and gain in-demand skills will elevate your career quickly.  

i want a job as a labourer

where do i start?

how to get a labourer job.

what is a labourer and what do you do?

As a labourer, you can expect to find work in the construction industry performing physical work doing manual labour often outside in variable weather conditions. Days can be long with early starts and late finishes working around the weather to complete projects. 

Tasks may include digging trenches, laying foundations, carpentry or plastering all of which will require a good level of physical fitness to handle the day. 

Some degree of education will be required for measuring weight, mass or temperature and being able to understand technical drawings.  

labourer education requirements.

Most workers will learn on the job during an apprenticeship as building experience is key to proving value and expertise. In addition to this, you can also enter labourer jobs with a diploma or college course. Edexcel and City & Guilds offer construction award degrees where a college will offer level 1 and 2 NVQs in Construction and Civil Engineering services. 

average labourer salary.

A starting salary would be £6 an hour on a pay per work scheme so highly dependant on the work available. This can scale to £11 per hour based on experience and skills.

getting a promotion as a labourer.

Once you've gained a good level of experience as a labourer, knowing the industry and maybe a specific trade there are many opportunities to getting a higher paid job down the line. 

With technical experience, you might naturally progress to a foreman or site manager. Or, if there is a part of construction that interests you the most, such as plastering or joinery you can train to become a tradesman by gaining a qualification and focus on one aspect of construction. 

labourer job requirements.

  • Ability to meet the physical demands of the job (standing for long periods of time, lifting heavy loads of up to 40 pounds etc.)
  • Good hand-eye coordination
  • Familiarity with power tools and machinery
  • Communication and teamwork skills
  • Commitment to safety rules

labourer & trades articles.