New Research Shows Construction Workers Earn More Than Architects

It is no secret that architects are underpaid, but did you know that construction workers including bricklayers, floorers, scaffolders, and plasterers all earn more money than architects?

According to the Federation of Master Builders in the UK (FMB), known as the largest trade association in the industry, the average bricklayer receives a 10% higher salary than the typical architect.

Additionally, according to a research by the Office for National Statistics in a 2017 earnings report, the median annual pay for architects in the UK is approximately £38,228. On the other hand, construction workers, specifically bricklayers, earn an average annual salary that reaches £42,034.

Interestingly, the FMB report also revealed that one of the firms was paying London construction workers £90,000 per year. However, what makes this study even more surprising is that most construction workers do not work late at night like many architects do in their offices as the outdoor site work usually ends by sunset.

Although the duties of construction workers usually include heavy lifting and tough work, it is undeniable that the typical architect’s salary is still relatively low considering the extra working hours and demanding workload.

FMB’s chief executive Brian Berry said: ‘Money talks and when it comes to annual salaries, a career in construction trumps many university graduate roles.”

‘The average university graduate in England earns £32,000 a year, whereas our latest research shows that your average bricky or roofer is earning £42,000 a year across the UK. ‘In London, a bricklayer is commanding wages of up to £90,000 a year. Pursuing a career in construction is, therefore, becoming an increasingly savvy move. ’, added Berry.

Here are the average annual salaries according to a Poll of 320 members:

Architects £38,228

Plumbers £48,675

Floorers £39,131

Bricklayers £42,034

Electricians earn £47,265

Civil engineering operatives £44,253

Steel fixers £44,174

Roofers £42,303

Carpenters and joiners £41,413

Plasterers £41,045

Scaffolders £40,942

Plant operatives £38,409

Painters and decorators £34,587

General construction workers £32,392.