Architects vs Skilled construction and building trades Salary

How do Architects and Skilled construction and building trades salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown using the latest ONS data.

Architects earns £8,980 more per year (25% higher)

Architects

£45,000
per year (gross)
Take-home: £35,920
vs

Skilled construction and building trades

£36,020
per year (gross)
Take-home: £29,454

Detailed Comparison

MetricArchitectsSkilled construction and building tradesDifference
Median Annual£45,000£36,020+£8,980
Mean Annual£48,794£38,384+£10,410
Take-Home (Net)£35,920£29,454+£6,466
Monthly (Gross)£3,750£3,002+£748
Weekly (Gross)£865£693+£172
Hourly£21.63£17.32+£4.31

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileArchitectsSkilled construction and building trades
10th (Entry)£27,755£23,043
25th£35,597£29,111
50th (Median)£45,000£36,020
75th£56,151£44,770
90th (Senior)£0£55,697

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Architects or a Skilled construction and building trades?
A Architects earns more. The median salary for a Architects is £45,000, whilst a Skilled construction and building trades earns £36,020 — a difference of £8,980 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Architects and a Skilled construction and building trades?
The difference is £8,980 per year. Architects is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Architects takes home approximately £35,920 per year, whilst a Skilled construction and building trades takes home £29,454. The net difference is £6,466.
Should I become a Architects or a Skilled construction and building trades?
From a salary perspective, Architects offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

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