Provident has released results of research which looked into how long it took to complete initial training vs the starting salaries in the UK’s most popular trades. Rather unsurprisingly, it found that electricians were often paid the most at the beginning of their career, but had long and expensive training to complete vs other trades.
Out of the 16 trades analysed, electricians had the best starting salary, with an average of £24,445, followed by plasterers with £24,375.
Here are the top five trades for starting salary:
- Electrician – £24,445
- Plasterer – £24,375
- Kitchen Fitter – £23,647
- Bricklayer – £23,412
- Plumber – £23,003
For those looking for a long-term career, Provident also provided a breakdown of the average salary for experienced professionals in each field, with scaffolders coming out on top, with £63,750. Curiously, electricians didn’t make the top five list.
Here are the top five trades for experienced salary:
- Scaffolder – £63,750
- Kitchen Fitter – £56,355
- Bricklayer – £52,000
- Carpenter – £51,923
- Builder – £51,004
For those considering a self-employed career, an hourly rate may be of more interest, with plumbers coming out on top in their category, with an average hourly rate of £50.
Here are the top five trades for hourly rate:
- Plumber – £50 per hour
- Electrician – £40 per hour
- Landscaper – £30 per hour
- Builder – £22.50 per hour
- Roofer / Gardener – £20 per hour
Which trades take the most time and money to get started?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as the trade with the highest potential earnings, electricians have the longest training period, with 7 weeks to complete The City & Guilds Level 2 Electrical Course, as well as the highest start-up costs, totalling £4,755.
At the other end of the scale, there is no official training required to become a window cleaner, and this career also has the lowest start-up costs, with a total of just £250.
How long does it take to pay back start-up costs?
When it comes to paying back the original training and start-up costs, builders take the top spot. Training, tools and start-up costs come to a total of £357, but with an average daily rate of £215, this would be paid off in just under 2 days.
Scaffolders have the longest wait, with an estimated 30 days at a daily rate of £140 required to pay off the £4,255 training and start-up costs. Electricians are likely to experience a similar situation.