Union figures reveal construction’s top earners

Despite the publicity given to electricians earning high wages on flagship schemes such as Heathrow T5, workers in the sector are actually paid less than scaffolders, who are the highest paid trade workers in construction, earning an average of £29 215 per year. Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers earn £25 885 per year on average.

According to new analysis from the GMB union, managers in the construction industry earn an average of £44 942 a year, which is 50% above the UK average and rates as the 25th highest paid occupation.

Architecture is the highest earning profession in the industry, with architects earning £40 845 a year, coming in above quantity surveyors who make £36 455.

Civil engineers earn an average of £35 618, while the average building inspector’s salary is £29 608.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, condemned the disparity of wages across the UK economy. He said: “There are some people at the top earning 40 and 50 times those at the bottom. GMB want to see the tax system used to even out the rewards and the GMB want the National Minimum Wage to rise to £7 per hour to help those at the bottom.”