Insider tricks to help you make £100,000 as a tradesman whatever your age: High-earning. In demand. And easier than you think. The expert guide for ANYONE who needs a change

Unemployment rates are rising. Salaries are stagnating. The economy is flatlining – and businesses are turning to AI to cut costs. But there is one sector where work is booming.

Workers in the construction industry and trades – everyone from plumbers to plasterers – are in hot demand. Many can now command impressive salaries, frequently in the six figures.

Plus, a shortage in the number of tradespeople means the good times show no signs of slowing down.

So how do you set yourself up as a plumber or electrician? And what are the tricks successful tradespeople are using to earn the big bucks? We reveal how to make a trade pay – at any age.  

Why business is booming

Plumbing and electrical jobs are the type of work we will always need – and they are about as safe from AI (for now) as it gets. Britain’s crumbling housing stock means there is never a shortage of demand, too.   

Plus, rising house prices and eye-watering stamp duty bills are encouraging more existing homeowners to improve their properties rather than face the expense of moving, which is stoking demand. And a decline in basic DIY skills among the younger generation is adding to this. 

Government plans to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament are also driving demand for construction workers. 

From painters to plasterers and plumbers, the industry is struggling to keep up with the work – and, for many, it is proving lucrative.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that the UK needs 2,280 new joiners every year to keep up with demand, as well as more than 2,000 new electricians, 1,150 bricklayers and 800 painter-decorators each year.

Emma Grant, head of trade engagement at tradesperson search platform Checkatrade, says: ‘We have a skills shortage in the UK and an ageing trade population, but young people are thinking in a more entrepreneurial way and realising they can have a really successful, thriving career. I speak to people who started out fitting boilers and have now grown a business with a turnover of £500,000 or more.’

She says trade careers are becoming more attractive, particularly among young people who are questioning the return on investment of a university education. And while supply-chain problems and the rising cost of materials have put pressure on profits, they have also increased the total value of projects, which in many cases allows tradespeople to command higher prices.

Even during economic downturns, demand for tradespeople tends to remain consistent, says Grant. And at a time when AI is threatening many traditional office jobs, a hands-on role where human expertise is essential has added appeal.

Deb Madden, from the CITB, says: ‘Building new homes, delivering the infrastructure the country urgently needs, and upgrading homes so they are warmer and cheaper to run all require construction workers. There are also areas of work in construction which are far less likely to be replaced by AI.

‘With all this in mind, it’s no wonder more people are interested; it is reliable and secure work, and an industry where people can continue to learn and progress throughout their career.’

Picking a path to success

Those considering a trade career should think about which profession their skills may be best suited to – some require hard labour or heavy lifting, while others need a keen eye for detail or the ability to read technical drawings. Some may involve certain risks, such as heights or working with electrics. There are also careers which require ongoing certification – for example, plumbers working with gas will need to register for a gas safety certificate annually.

Skills England’s occupational maps (occupational-maps.skillsengland.education.gov.uk) lay out the potential qualifications you may need for various careers in construction, which can be a helpful starting point.

The CITB estimates there are more than 180 roles available within the construction industry. The training and qualifications required vary depending on the profession, and even then there are different routes you can take.

Some trades have no formal entry requirements, while others need specific certification. Grant says: ‘For some jobs you don’t need qualifications, but you do need a level of skill – and you can’t learn it just by watching YouTube videos.’ These jobs might include painter-decorator, scaffolder or tiler. While you may be able to get so far watching videos and teaching yourself, you will need to attain a level of proficiency and expertise before you can advertise your skills to paying customers. 

A diploma offers formal training for certain skills, and can be as short as six weeks depending on the course. There are also NVQs (or SVQs in Scotland) – a vocational qualification involving practical assessments.

A carpenter, for example, might have a Level 2 NVQ in Wood Occupations or a Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship. They could also enrol in a Specialist Applied Skills Programme (SAP). They can expect to earn an average of £20,000 at the start of their career, rising to £60,000 with experience, the CITB says.

Those working in electrical installation will need a Level 3 Electrical Installation NVQ or a Level 3 Domestic Electrician Apprenticeship, and can expect to earn up to £65,000 on average. It usually takes between two to four years to become fully qualified, according to Checkatrade. Workers may also need an Asbestos Awareness certification.

An apprenticeship is one of the most common starting points. It lets workers combine on-the-job training with study, allowing them to earn a wage while they gain experience and work towards a qualification.

For those with an apprenticeship, or who learn on the job, the cost of training is usually covered by their employer, who can claim government funding. For example, up to £13,000 of employer funding is available for a worker studying for an NVQ Level 2 over a 24-month period and up to £19,000 for a three-year domestic electrician apprenticeship, according to the CITB.

Skills England provides a list of the apprenticeships available at skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships.

Consider the best route for your age

Not everyone comes to a trade profession in their teens and 20s, and it is possible for older workers to retrain. In particular, those working in areas such as engineering, manufacturing or the Armed Forces may have numerous transferable skills that make them well-suited to a trade profession, the CITB says.

It is possible to study for an NVQ or diploma part-time or in the evenings, meaning those looking to switch careers can start to build their skills before they leave their current role, so that they are ready to hit the ground running.

For example, Nescot College in Surrey offers a Level 1 Bricklaying Diploma course, lasting 34 weeks with six hours of tuition a week. It runs part-time evening courses for adults, from 6pm to 9pm on Mondays and Tuesdays for those in full-time work. Fees are around £1,005 including the exam cost. A Level 2 City & Guilds Diploma in Plumbing lasts 36 weeks and costs about £1,359.

There are no upper age limits for apprenticeships. However, the low pay can make it difficult for those with financial commitments, such as a mortgage or children. For example, bricklayer apprentices earn around £16,600 a year when starting out. 

The funding provided also tends to prioritise younger people – typically those aged 16 to 21 – which may make it less appealing for companies to take on older apprentices. For example, the Government has created a new Youth Jobs Grant where businesses receive up to £3,000 for hiring someone aged 18-24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. 

There is also the Apprenticeship Incentive of £2,000 for small businesses taking on workers aged 16-24. The Government will also fund the costs of training certain apprentices up to the age of 24, and the employer could be exempt from paying National Insurance for apprentices, too.

When choosing a trade, consider the physical demands of the career. Older workers may look for supervisory, managerial or inspection roles, which do not come with the physical intensity of, say, bricklaying or carpentry.

Training as an electrician can be a good option if you want well-paid but less physically demanding work, suggests Checkatrade. There is also high demand for workers in training and assessment roles, the CITB adds. There are no set requirements for you to become a trainer or an assessor, but you can’t go in cold – you’ll still need to train up and put some years in even if you make the career switch later in life.

How to earn a six-figure salary

While qualifications may not always be necessary, they can help you command higher prices by proving you are a vetted professional.

Joining a Competent Person Scheme is one way of giving customers greater confidence in the quality and compliance of your work. Examples include the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) for certain boiler and chimney installers, and the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA) for window and door installers.

As you gain experience and build your contacts and reputation, you may find that striking out on your own and becoming self-employed leads to higher earnings. However, bear in mind that this comes with extra administrative and tax-related responsibilities.

For example, from next month self-employed workers and sole traders earning more than £50,000 a year will need to keep digital records of their income and expenses, which they submit to HMRC every three months. The tax reform, called Making Tax Digital, will affect a huge range of people – including electricians, plumbers and most tradespeople. Two million people could be forced to file taxes up to ten times a year if they are registered for value-added tax (VAT).

According to Checkatrade, the average day rate for a carpenter is up to £360; an electrician £500; and a plumber £480. The actual amount will vary depending on the region, the tradesperson’s experience and the specific job.

Grant says: ‘Higher incomes, exceeding £100,000, are often achieved by scaling operations and establishing a limited company. While this requires time and strategic planning, trade businesses can be highly profitable, particularly when securing larger-scale industrial or commercial contracts, as opposed to smaller domestic projects.’

Find a niche

Once you have developed your skills in your chosen area, you may be able to specialise further to command higher rates.

Mary-Havana Little is a third-generation plasterer and remembers following her dad around his workshop as a child. But she never dreamed that going into the family trade would see her making items for the sets of blockbuster movies.

Little specialises in traditional fibrous plastering, a branch of the trade that focuses on ornate work such as ceiling roses, columns and cornices.

‘Stately homes and listed buildings have to be restored exactly and there are not many people who can do it,’ says Little, 31, from West London. ‘Starting off, you don’t earn much because you’re learning your skill, but established companies can make millions.’

Little started out by learning from her dad, rather than through formal qualifications. Her grandfather had been a traditional plasterer but her dad focused on the ornate work and she has continued with this niche. Once she had enough experience, she started her own workshop. But being a woman in the industry hasn’t been easy. ‘It’s very male-dominated. You have to work harder to prove you’re strong enough, quick enough, good enough,’ she says.

A few years ago, Little started her Instagram account, Mary Plaster Mouldings Direct, as a way to inspire other women to enter the profession. But she found that it also offered a way to showcase her skills – and it increased the size of her client base as her posts were viewed around the world.

It soon led to more work, and even enquiries from Hollywood. ‘I didn’t plan to go massive, I just wanted people to see my work and what a woman can do,’ she says. Now the videos themselves are so popular that they are a source of income for her. ‘If I put up a couple of videos that go viral, that can pay my rent for the month,’ she says. 

Little gets paid around £500 for every one million views one of her videos receives, but the exact amount depends on how much viewers engage with it and share it with others.

Little made 27 statues of the Virgin Mary for Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen, and her mouldings were shipped to Malta for the Gladiator II movie. More recently, she worked on items for the latest series of Bridgerton.

‘When I was little I thought I would just work in a yard, but now there are people who want my work all over the world,’ says Little, who hopes to set up a workshop in America in the future. ‘If you’ve got the drive and determination, you can easily earn six figures. Once you’re established, the possibilities are endless.’

Future-proof your career

Workers of all ages need to consider how long they may be happy in their existing work and what they can do to maintain a good income into the future. Some move into leadership, training, supervisory, inspection or consultancy roles, particularly if their job is very physically demanding.

Stuart Roberts knows he won’t be able to meet the physical demands of being a plasterer for ever. It’s part of the reason he started his YouTube channel and website Trowel Talk.

Roberts started as a labourer for a local builder when he was 18 before getting his NVQ Level 2 through a Skilled Work Programme. Later he started his own business, which allowed him to work more flexibly around family life.

But Roberts, 43, from Coventry, is thinking about the future. ‘Plastering is very intensive, fast-moving work – it’s physical, keeps you fit and gives you a real sense of achievement, but it’s hard on the body,’ he says.

Training courses that allow you to specialise in a niche area are a good option. It can mean an initial outlay and dip in earnings, but you’ll soon feel the benefits, says Roberts, who now focuses on internal wall insulation. This is an especially in-demand area thanks to the drive to make homes more energy-efficient.

He also has a coaching business, teaching others how to run their own company and market themselves effectively, which he hopes will generate another income stream in the future. His YouTube videos already earn him £200 or so a month, but he expects this to grow.

‘It’s a hobby that I’ve turned into a side hustle,’ says Roberts. ‘I always advise people to make use of platforms such as Google, Trustpilot and social media. If you can build your reputation in your local area effectively, you’ll never be out of work.’ 

If you ask customers to leave you a review online, for example on Google or Trustpilot, that will help you to show prospective customers that you are trustworthy. They can act as a good shop window and are free to use.

Use social media to build your reputation

For those looking to command the highest incomes, using social media is key.

Getting your name out there through word of mouth can be invaluable, but showing your work on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook can really turboboost your growing client base.

When Alex Burman got an apprenticeship with a carpentry firm at the age of 16, it was meant to be a stopgap until he was old enough to join the police force. But 20 years later, Burman is still enjoying life as a carpenter.

After getting his NVQ Level 3, he set up as a self-employed worker and began to build industry connections and a client base. Expect it to take at least ten years to get your business to a level where you are making a decent living, he says.

Then, six years ago, Burman, 36, who lives in Bridgend, South Wales, started his Instagram account, the Valley Viking, as a way to showcase his work. ‘It’s like a modern-day CV because that’s where everyone looks for inspiration and advice, and to see what kind of work you do,’ he says.

But these days social media has become his main source of income, and he has landed deals with big brands including kitchen supplier Howdens, Ox Tools and marking and measuring tool firm Tracer. Some companies pay him a monthly retainer while others pay a one-off fee for affiliations, and he also earns money from TikTok videos.

‘It’s extra income for something I enjoy doing anyway – offering tips and tricks and inspiring people to come into the industry,’ says Burman.

It’s important to prioritise building your skills and experience before worrying about social media, he says, but for those willing to put in the hard work, the rewards are there. 

He says: ‘I’ve been doing this for 20 years now and it’s got me my own three-bed cottage (with mortgage) in a very sought-after part of Bridgend and my dream cars (a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Chevrolet Camaro). I also part-own a three-bedroom house in Dubai with my sister, and have the ability to travel the world – all from being a carpenter.’ 

Have you retrained or are you considering it? Email moneymail@dailymail.co.uk