If you are thinking of becoming a bricklayer or starting your own building business, the first question is usually simple: how much could I actually earn? The honest answer depends on whether you are employed or running your own business, and if you run your own business, on your prices, how busy you are and how well you control your costs.
This guide sets out the published UK salary figures, explains what self-employed owners really take home, and shows you how to work out your own likely earnings.
Employed bricklayer salary in the UK
The National Careers Service lists salaries from £25,000 for a starter to £45,000 for someone experienced, for employed bricklayers. Pay varies by region, employer, overtime and specialist skills, with London and the South East usually paying more.
Salary source: National Careers Service — Bricklayer. The figures are for employed roles; they do not predict a business owner's profit or take-home pay.
Self-employed earnings: turnover is not take-home pay
When you run your own building business, there is no salary scale. You earn what is left after every cost has been paid. That is why two businesses with the same turnover can leave their owners with very different incomes.
The costs that usually make the difference are:
- Van, fuel and plant hire
- Scaffold and skips
- Materials, deliveries and waste
- CSCS cards, insurance and contract works cover
- Weather days and unbilled snagging
Most owners also underestimate the time they cannot charge for: quoting, admin, travel, buying supplies and chasing payments. That time still has to be paid for out of your prices.
A worked example (illustrative figures)
Imagine a small building business turning over £14,000 a month. After the direct costs of delivering the work, such as staff, materials, products or fuel, of £10,500, it makes a gross profit of £3,500 a month.
From that gross profit the owner still has to pay overheads such as insurance, phone, software, vehicle or premises costs, marketing and accountancy, and then Income Tax and National Insurance on what remains. If overheads came to £880 a month, the owner would have around £2,620 a month before tax.
These figures are an illustration only, not a forecast. Your own numbers will depend on your prices, your costs and how busy you are. The point is the method: turnover minus direct costs minus overheads is what pays you.
How bricklayers and builders increase their earnings
- Accurate job costing on every quote, compared against actual hours and materials
- Stage payments on extensions and conversions
- Written variations for every change the customer asks for
- Specialising in work with better margins, such as chimney and heritage work
Each of these either raises the price you get per job, increases the number of jobs you can do, or cuts a cost. Tracking your figures monthly shows you which is working.
The numbers that decide your income
Three figures do most of the work in deciding what you take home from a building business:
Average job value. Tracks the shift from small repairs to bigger projects. You calculate it as: total revenue ÷ jobs.
Labour hours sold. Your real capacity, after weather and travel. You calculate it as: billable hours across the team.
Materials billed. Shows whether materials are being priced and recovered. You calculate it as: materials charged to customers.
Track these monthly. When take-home pay falls, one of them has almost always moved first. Our guide to builder & bricklayer business KPIs covers the full set.
How bricklayers and builders usually charge
Most bricklayers and builders use day rates, price per thousand bricks or per square metre, and fixed prices with stage payments. Whatever structure you choose, base your prices on your real costs and the income you need, not just on what competitors charge. A competitor with a paid-off van, no staff or a cheaper unit can charge less and still make money; you may not be able to.
How to work out what you would earn
1. Estimate your monthly jobs realistically, allowing for quiet periods. 2. Multiply by your average price to get monthly turnover. 3. Subtract direct costs such as materials, products, staff and fuel. 4. Subtract overheads such as insurance, rent, vehicle, software and marketing. 5. Set aside tax and National Insurance on the profit, and VAT if you are registered.
What is left is your take-home pay. If it is not enough, the answer is usually price, volume or cost, in that order.
Run the numbers on your own business
The **Builder & Bricklayer Business Management System** tracks every job, cost, invoice and VAT return, and works out your profit, margin and key figures automatically on a one-page dashboard. It costs £15 once, with no subscription. Before you open, work out your start-up costs with our free builder & bricklayer start-up calculator. For the full start-up walkthrough, read our guide on how to start a building business.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bricklayer earn a year in the UK? The National Careers Service lists a range of £25,000 to £45,000 for employed bricklayers. Self-employed earnings depend on prices, volume and costs.
Do self-employed bricklayers and builders earn more than employed bricklayers and builders? They can, but not always. Self-employed owners keep the profit but also carry every cost and quiet week. Turnover figures can look high until costs are subtracted.
Is a building business worth starting? It can be, if your prices cover every cost and leave enough for you. The owners who do best usually focus on a few things: accurate job costing on every quote, compared against actual hours and materials, and stage payments on extensions and conversions.
What is the biggest cost for a building business? It varies, but the list above covers the usual pressure points. Tracking costs as a percentage of revenue each month shows which one is growing.
How can I check whether my prices are high enough? Work out your monthly overheads and the income you need, then check that your average price per job covers your direct costs and leaves enough to pay both.