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The UK’s construction output is worth over £110 billion per year and contributes to 7% of the UK's GDP. It is also a major employer, providing work for 3.1 million people, over 9% of the British workforce.
This makes it a prime industry to enter, whether as a contractor or in a full-time construction-based job.
However, as an industry that brings together many different specialists, it’s hard to know which job is the best and of the jobs available to you, which will allow you to make the most money.
To simplify things, we’ve compiled data from four major job sites to compile a list of the top 30 contractor jobs in the construction industry.
For convenience, we’ve separated the list into two categories, management/director roles and technical/high-skilled roles.
The job of a demolition operative is to safely and efficiently dismantle or destroy structures, such as buildings, bridges, or roads, using a variety of tools and techniques.
Demolition operatives are responsible for ensuring that the demolition process is carried out in a way that minimises the risk of injury or damage to property and that all debris is safely disposed of.
As a land surveyor, it is your job to measure and map the land for the construction project.
This will often involve marking the boundaries of the site, providing a project layout, completing site staking, conducting surveys and assessments to ensure the build meets the necessary requirements and generally providing expertise to ensure the project is carried out to the correct standards.
The job of the facilities manager pretty much does what it says on the tin: you are responsible for managing all the facilities on the site.
Some of the core responsibilities include developing a maintenance plan to ensure that the building stays in good condition, ensuring the build is compliant with regulations, managing vendor contracts and ensuring that the budget and finances are sufficient for maintenance and operation.
To become a civil engineer you will need to be highly qualified and must have a degree in engineering. Your day-to-day role will involve the design, planning, and construction of various infrastructure projects.
You will need to use your comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, mathematics, and physics to ensure that construction projects are safe, efficient, and meet the necessary standards.
As a building inspector, you will be there to ensure the construction project conforms to all the necessary standards, laws and requirements. It is your job to make sure all the safety regulations are followed and building codes are observed.
Typically you represent the local government to ensure rules are obeyed. As such you need a thorough understanding of all the necessary laws and building requirements and a keen eye for detail.
The role of a cost estimator is to prepare accurate and reliable cost estimates for construction projects.
Cost estimators are responsible for calculating the costs of materials, labour, equipment, and other expenses that are required for a construction project. It is very important to provide accurate estimates as the costs for these projects can quickly rise if not managed carefully.
A contract manager is responsible for managing the contracts and legal agreements between the construction company and its clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.
Contract managers must ensure that all parties involved in the construction project are meeting their contractual obligations and that the project is completed on time and within budget.
As a quantity surveyor, your role stretches beyond just straight cost estimation. It is your responsibility to manage costs over the duration of the construction project, including finding ways to mitigate costs and produce savings as the work progresses.
Your role may involve negotiating contracts, procuring the right materials and valuing ongoing work.
The role of a construction manager is to oversee and manage the construction project from start to finish. Construction managers are responsible for coordinating all aspects of the project, from planning and design to construction and post-construction activities.
An architect is responsible for coming up with the overall look and design of the project. They ensure that the construction meets the client's requirements and they are responsible for creating the overall vision and concept for the project.
An architect must be a creative and innovative person; they should be able to deliver a robust project design while marrying their vision with the practical requirements of delivering the actual build.
In this job, you are responsible for fabricating, installing, and maintaining sheet metal components. This involves measuring and cutting the sheet metal to a spec, welding or fastening the metal into place, and sealing any joints or seams to prevent leaks.
You may be required to work closely with other specialists such as roofers and other metal workers.
The role of a glazier is to install, repair, and replace glass and other materials used in windows, doors, and other architectural features.
Glaziers may work with various materials, including glass, mirrors, and various types of plastics. They must be skilled in cutting, shaping, and installing these materials to fit the specific requirements of the construction project.
Unsurprisingly a stonemason is required to work with stone. This means building and installing stone structures, shaping stone materials according to a design and using your expertise with stone materials to contribute to the creation of the new structure.
Typically you will work with a variety of materials, including natural stones such as granite, marble, and limestone.
As an onsite painter, your role primarily takes place during the latter stages of a build. You will perform industrial paintwork, ensuring the walls and other surfaces are painted according to the necessary requirements.
No this isn’t the name of some fella who works on-site (although you may well come across a Tyler while on the job). The tiler on a construction project is responsible for installing tiles.
This will involve placing many different tile pieces whether on the floor or walls and using cement or another binding agent to set them in place. You will need to have a good vision for detail and be able to work in a team.
As a plumber, you’re in charge of the water systems on the building site. You will need to install piping, fit toilets and ensure everything is connected to the mains water network.
If you’re working on a large project you will likely be working in a team and will have a specific area that will you need to focus on.
The role of a plasterer is to apply plaster or other finishing materials to walls, ceilings, and other surfaces to create a smooth, even finish. Plastering is a skilled trade that requires experience and endurance as it is physically taxing work.
Your responsibilities as a floor layer may vary slightly depending on the type of floor you’re working on. You may be working with a tiler to come up with a floor design or you might be working with a carpenter to install wooden flooring or you could be setting down carpet or other surfaces.
Part of your role could involve cleaning, levelling, or repairing the underlying surface to ensure it is suitable for the floor covering to be put down.
As a roofer, you will work with a variety of materials, such as asphalt, metal, tile, and wood.
Roofers typically start by measuring and preparing the roof surface, installing underlayment, and applying the roofing material. They may also be responsible for installing insulation and ventilation systems to ensure the building is energy-efficient and that it meets building code requirements.
The concrete finisher on a building site is responsible for setting levelling and cleaning concrete.
In this job, you need a strong understanding of the properties of concrete, including how it responds to different conditions and how to use it to produce the desired result. You will also need to be comfortable working with heavy machinery and installing bolts and other steel fixtures into concrete.
As a carpenter, you are the wood specialist and will be required to assist in erecting wooden structures and shaping wooden materials to fit the project plan.
You will need to be able to read and follow set blueprints and then measure and build materials to fit the specifications for the project. You may also be responsible for selecting and purchasing materials, such as lumber, nails, and screws.
Construction site electricians work on all things electrical.
You will install wiring, conduit, and other electrical components, and connect them to the main power source. Electricians must ensure that the electrical system is properly grounded and that all connections are secure and functional.
The role of a pipefitter is to install, maintain, and repair piping systems that transport liquids or gases in buildings and other structures.
Your job won’t just be installing pipes however, you will also need to operate and install pump systems and valves.
There are some similarities with the role of the plumber, however, where a plumber works with water systems, a pipefitter focuses on welding and installing metal networks.
A lift engineer is required to have a thorough understanding of the mechanics of lift operation. As a lift engineer, you need to be able to install and maintain lift systems (including escalators and other similar transport systems) on an industrial scale.
It’s important to understand all the safety requirements and to test the lift system to make sure it runs correctly.
The scaffolder’s role takes place often in the early to mid stages of a construction project when the team needs to complete work at height. The scaffolder is required to set up a temporary structure that allows the team to complete the necessary work.
As a scaffolder, you are responsible for designing an appropriate structure for the project you are working on and must make sure it is safe and secure to work on.
The role of the heating engineer on a construction site encompasses a few different roles. As you might expect, you will be involved with installing heating systems into buildings.
Depending on what type of heating is required, you may also be involved with installing plumbing, boilers and piping and will work closely with those specialists. Or, you might be installing ground source heat pumps or solar panels which mean you’ll work with electricians.
Expect to work with many different specialists across a range of areas on the site.
An HVAC specialist works in heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Like the heating engineer, your role spans several different specialities across the work site.
You will need to have a thorough understanding of how to install heating systems and which systems will be most effective for a given space, but likewise, you also need to understand cooling and be able to install air conditioning units and industrial cooling mechanisms.
In this role, you’ll be in charge of operating heavy machinery such as bulldozers, dumper trucks, forklifts and cranes.
In this role, you may need to drive and transport the machinery to the site. You need to be competent in operating the vehicles and able to complete some complex manoeuvres with dexterity and precision.
Bricklayers are responsible for laying bricks or other masonry units in patterns or courses to form walls, partitions, and other structures. The process of bricklaying involves mixing mortar and using it to bind materials together in a stable structure.
You will use trowels and other equipment to create structures that are even and designed to spec.
There is a fair amount of crossover between plumbers, heating engineers, HVAC and boiler installers. The main differences are in the level of specialisation. As a boiler engineer, your primary focus is on installing and maintaining boilers and ensuring they operate to the correct standards.
On a construction site, this might mean dealing with industrial-sized boilers and larger more complex systems. To work in this job you need a high level of skill and a strong understanding of different boiler systems.
And that’s it, the highest-earning contractors on a construction site are boiler installers.
As a profession, this is a great career to get into one that can be incredibly profitable whether you work on a site or in people's homes.
If you want to take a look at our data, you can find all our results from the job sites Adzuna, Reed, Totaljobs and Talent, which we have compiled in the table below.
Salaries can of course vary significantly depending on your location and the project you are working on, but these give a good idea.
On average, in the UK, construction workers earn £36,172. That figure is based on the mean salary from 20 different construction jobs on site. Salaries can of course vary significantly, but this figure gives a good approximation of what you might earn on a construction site.
For more salary information for those working in the trades, check out our blogs on which plumbers make the most money and which electricians make the most money or take a look at our blog on how earnings compare for women in trade.
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