5 of the Highest Paid Construction Jobs in the UK
There are many different jobs within the UK construction industry. Many of these offer good salaries as well as strong prospects for career progression. In particular, experienced managers are in high demand within the housing, infrastructure and commercial sectors to manage a variety of projects. In this article we look at five of the highest paying jobs in construction, what they do and how you could get into them.
Pay for construction managers can vary greatly depending on the region of the country, employer, amount of experience the employee has and the scale of projects. Salaries such as those listed by the National Careers Service for a construction manager start at around £27,000, while experienced managers can earn up to £65,000. However, senior construction managers working on large projects can command even higher salaries.
Site manager
The site manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of a site. This includes organising workers and subcontractors and ensuring that work is progressed to meet quality standards, that work is carried out on time and that work is carried out safely. Many site managers start out as tradespeople or site supervisors and progress to site manager level with experience and qualifications such as the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) certificate.
Construction manager
Construction Managers take charge of on-site activities.
Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in line with health and safety legislation. This involves managing a team of staff, as well as a variety of subcontractors and managing the logistics of a site, and often overseeing several site managers on larger schemes. Many construction managers have a degree or have completed a higher apprenticeship in Construction Management or a related subject and have a number of years’ experience of working on sites.
Commercial manager
Commercial managers look after the money. They manage budgets, contracts and payments, control financial risk and report on the financial health of projects. Many come from a quantity surveying background and hold professional qualifications. Their strategic and financial skills make this one of the better-paid roles in the industry.
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Project manager
Project managers oversee whole schemes or major parts of them, from planning through to completion. They balance programme, cost, people and risk, and keep clients, designers and contractors working together. Leadership, problem solving and communication are essential.
Design manager
Design managers act as the interface between concept and construction. They coordinate architects, engineers and other consultants to ensure that the site team have the necessary design information in a complete and coordinated manner in time for them to put the design into construction. This role is particularly important during the tender stage of a project and in the early stages.
The five roles at a glance
| Role | Main focus | Common route in |
|---|---|---|
| Site manager | Day-to-day site operations and safety | Trade or supervisor experience |
| Construction manager | Delivering projects on time and budget | Degree or apprenticeship plus site experience |
| Commercial manager | Budgets, contracts and financial risk | Quantity surveying |
| Project manager | Whole-project planning and delivery | Construction or engineering background |
| Design manager | Coordinating design information | Architecture, engineering or technical roles |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree for a high-paying construction job?
Not always. While many managers started as apprentices or are tradespeople who have progressed through experience and professional qualifications, degrees and degree apprenticeships can speed up progression, particularly into construction, commercial or design management roles.
Which construction skills are most in demand?
Experienced managers, quantity surveyors and many skilled tradespeople are in demand across the UK. There is growing demand for skills in relation to digital construction, sustainability and retrofit.
Where to go next
Construction careers start on the ground. Read about the common jobs in a builders merchants yard, or learn the top construction site safety rules.
