Skilled Trades Salary: What You Really Earn in Construction and Interiors
When you think of a skilled trades salary, the pay for hands-on professionals like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and interior designers who build and finish homes. Also known as trade wages, it’s not just about hourly rates—it’s about experience, location, and the kind of work you do. Most people assume these jobs pay poorly, but that’s not true anymore. In fact, a qualified electrician in London can easily clear £50,000 a year, and top interior designers in the UK are pulling in six figures. This isn’t luck—it’s demand. With housing shortages and renovation booms, skilled workers are in short supply, and employers are paying to fill the gap.
What really moves the needle on your skilled trades salary, the pay for hands-on professionals like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and interior designers who build and finish homes. Also known as trade wages, it’s not just about hourly rates—it’s about experience, location, and the kind of work you do. isn’t just your job title. It’s whether you work for a big firm or run your own business. A carpenter working for a developer might make £35,000, but one who builds custom homes on his own terms can hit £70,000 or more. Same with interior designer pay, the income earned by professionals who plan and decorate interior spaces, often blending aesthetics with function. Also known as home design earnings, it’s often misunderstood as a soft skill job—but the best ones charge £80 an hour and manage full remodels from start to finish. Then there’s the difference between residential and commercial construction, building projects designed for business use, like offices, retail spaces, or schools, which follow stricter codes and higher standards. Also known as non-residential building, it often pays more because the stakes are higher and the projects are larger. A plumber fixing a bathroom in a home might earn £400 a day, but one installing systems in a new hospital? That’s £700-plus. And it’s not just about the job—it’s about the region. Wages in the South East are higher than in the North, but so is the cost of living. The real winners are those who specialize, get certified, and build a reputation.
What you’ll find below isn’t a list of vague averages. It’s real data from people who’ve been there: how much interior designers actually make in 2025, why some trades earn more than teachers, and where the biggest pay gaps are between entry-level and veteran workers. You’ll see how building a new home can be more profitable than just working on one, and why the right license or certification can double your income. No fluff. No hype. Just what you need to know if you’re thinking about stepping into a trade—or wondering if your pay is fair.
Highest Paying Labor Jobs in Construction (2025)
Discover which construction labor jobs earn the highest salaries in 2025, the certifications needed, regional pay differences, and how to break into these lucrative trades.
