Civil engineers vs Skilled construction and building trades Salary

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

Civil engineers earns £14,668 more per year (41% higher)

Civil engineers

£50,688
per year (gross)
Take-home: £39,956
vs

Skilled construction and building trades

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

Detailed Comparison

MetricCivil engineersSkilled construction and building tradesDifference
Median Annual£50,688£36,020+£14,668
Mean Annual£53,281£38,384+£14,897
Take-Home (Net)£39,956£29,454+£10,502
Monthly (Gross)£4,224£3,002+£1,222
Weekly (Gross)£975£693+£282
Hourly£24.37£17.32+£7.05

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileCivil engineersSkilled construction and building trades
10th (Entry)£31,924£23,043
25th£38,900£29,111
50th (Median)£50,688£36,020
75th£66,404£44,770
90th (Senior)£0£55,697

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Civil engineers or a Skilled construction and building trades?
A Civil engineers earns more. The median salary for a Civil engineers is £50,688, whilst a Skilled construction and building trades earns £36,020 — a difference of £14,668 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Civil engineers and a Skilled construction and building trades?
The difference is £14,668 per year. Civil engineers is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Civil engineers takes home approximately £39,956 per year, whilst a Skilled construction and building trades takes home £29,454. The net difference is £10,502.
Should I become a Civil engineers or a Skilled construction and building trades?
From a salary perspective, Civil engineers 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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