Becoming self employed can be a daunting prospect. Will you be able to grow your client base? Will you be able to develop a good reputation in your area? What will you be able to bring home in terms of salary?
When you’re just starting out, your professional life can feel very uncertain. But, with a fair wind, self employed tradespeople can really flourish.
If you’re considering taking the leap to self employment, it can be helpful to do a little research into the going rate in your area for a tradesperson with your level of experience. It’s also good to know a little more about the sort of average salary you can anticipate with a few years’ graft. This information will help you to stay competitive in the early days without selling yourself short – and help you plan and budget for the future.
If you’re still undergoing training, this data could even help you decide whether you should upskill, add another trade to your toolbelt, or stick to the path you’ve chosen.
To give you a helping hand, we’re taking a closer look at average UK tradesperson salaries for 2015; from the comparatively juicy rates of self employed sparks, to the typical salaries of tilers, painters and plasterers…
All round rises
2015 has been a good year for tradespeople. Average self employed trades salaries have risen across the board, with the exception of those for self employed painters. Painting and decorating is one of the least regulated trades out there, it’s also one which requires the least training, therefore commanding lower salaries.
Tiling & carpentry boom
While salaries for self-employed tradespeople are on the rise in general, those earned by tilers and carpenters have seen the greatest percentage increase since 2013, growing by an average of 9.42% over two years. With the economy feeling more confident, an increased appetite for interior design and bespoke fittings are likely fuelling the rise.
Plumbers lose to sparks
While plumbers are often touted as the highest earning tradespeople out there, plumbing is increasingly finding itself eclipsed by electrical work as the best earner in the trades sector. Salaries for sparks grew by 4.6% over the last two years, while plumbers saw an increase of just 1.39%.
Self employed salaries in 2015
Here are the average earnings across the sector in 2015, according the Office for National Statistics (ONS):
- Electrician – £30,172
- Plumber – £28,253
- Carpenter – £25,218
- Bricklayer – £24,806
- Tiler – £24,011
- Plasterer – £22,672
- Roofer – £22,346
- Painter – £21,948
How do these figures compare to those in your experience? How much do you expect to earn in your first year of self employment? Share your thoughts with other tradespeople below…