Are electricians the highest paid of the trades?

Roofers are the highest earning trade in the UK, according to new research.

The figures, uncovered by Simply Business, show which trades are raking in the dough, with roofers, joiners and electricians all falling in the top three – but it all depends on where you live.

Roofers living the high-life

Across the whole of the UK roofers are the highest earners, with an average turnover of £65,213. Joiners come in second at £56,386 and electricians take third place with an average £47,385.

At the other end of the spectrum, painters are the least well paid of the trades listed in the findings, with an average £28,604 annual turnover – although location matters, with painters in some regions earning more than electricians.

Painters in Glasgow earn more than electricians in Manchester

The research also broke down earnings by region – if you’re a roofer, painter or electrician, would you consider a move to Scotland? The highest earners in those trades are from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Glasgow roofers really come out on top, with an average £103,853 in turnover – 148 per cent more than their counterparts in Leeds.

And Glasgow is a great city for painters, where our research shows they earn more than electricians do in Manchester.

60% more tradespeople earn six figures than three years ago

While different trades rank differently, tradespeople as a whole are earning far more than they did three years ago. The number of skilled workers turning over £100,000 or more has grown by more than 60 per cent since 2015.

Despite coming at the bottom of the table for average turnover per person, painters achieved the biggest income growth. The number of painters with £100,000 or more in turnover has increased by 88 per cent since 2015.