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Based on a £33,000 salary and £27,281 take-home, here's what most people miss
Based on a £33,000 salary and £27,281 take-home, here's what most people miss
Get My Insights →Bricklayer Pay UK 2025/26
Bricklaying is one of the most physically demanding trades and faces one of the most acute skill shortages in UK construction, with the CITB projecting a need for 25,000 additional bricklayers by 2027. Piece-rate working, paid per thousand bricks laid, is the norm on volume housebuilding sites and allows skilled, fast bricklayers to earn substantially above the day-rate equivalent; top piece workers in the South East can earn £1,000–£1,400 per week on a busy site. The housebuilding cycle heavily influences demand, with rates surging during housing market booms.
Based on typical bricklayer salaries, here is what you can expect to take home after income tax and National Insurance:
- Apprentice Bricklayer: £15,761 take-home (£17,000 gross, outside London) / £18,641 take-home (£21,000 gross, London)
- Qualified Bricklayer (NVQ Level 2): £27,281 take-home (£33,000 gross, outside London) / £33,761 take-home (£42,000 gross, London)
- Gang Leader / Self-employed: £39,521 take-home (£50,000 gross, outside London) / £48,258 take-home (£65,000 gross, London)
Key facts about bricklayer pay:
- Piece-rate on volume housebuilder sites: typically £600–£1,200 per thousand bricks; skilled bricklayers lay 400–600 standard bricks per day
- CITB apprenticeship route: 3-year programme leading to NVQ Level 2; apprentices earn a CITB grant-supported wage rising toward NMW by Year 3
- Self-employed bricklayers labour-only day rates: £180–£280/day nationally; £220–£350/day in London and South East
- Repointing, restoration, and specialist brickwork (gauged work, arches, heritage) commands premium rates of £250–£400/day
- CSCS blue card requires NVQ Level 2; site supervisors and foremen typically hold SMSTS and earn £45,000–£60,000
- Housebuilding boom and bust cycles mean earnings can vary by 20–30% in any given year; self-employed bricklayers are most exposed
Your taxes (2025/26)
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £37,500 | £3,125 | £721 |
| Pension Contributions£375 Saved! | £1,875 | £156 | £36 |
| Employer Pension ContributionsPot Increased | £1,125 | £94 | £22 |
| Taxable Income | £35,625 | £2,969 | £685 |
| Personal allowance | £12,570 | - | - |
| National Insurance | £1,843 | £154 | £35 |
| Income Tax | £4,611 | £384 | £89 |
| Take Home Pay | £29,171 | £2,431 | £561 |
| Added to Pension | £3,000 | £250 | £58 |
| Opportunities Found | View My Opportunities → | ||
Bricklayer Salary Breakdown UK 2025/26
The table below shows typical bricklayer salaries across experience levels and regions, alongside estimated take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance. Click any salary figure to open it in the calculator.
How Bricklayer Pay Works in the UK
- Piece-rate on volume housebuilder sites: typically £600–£1,200 per thousand bricks; skilled bricklayers lay 400–600 standard bricks per day
- CITB apprenticeship route: 3-year programme leading to NVQ Level 2; apprentices earn a CITB grant-supported wage rising toward NMW by Year 3
- Self-employed bricklayers labour-only day rates: £180–£280/day nationally; £220–£350/day in London and South East
- Repointing, restoration, and specialist brickwork (gauged work, arches, heritage) commands premium rates of £250–£400/day
- CSCS blue card requires NVQ Level 2; site supervisors and foremen typically hold SMSTS and earn £45,000–£60,000
- Housebuilding boom and bust cycles mean earnings can vary by 20–30% in any given year; self-employed bricklayers are most exposed
Income Tax and National Insurance in 2025/26
Like all UK workers, bricklayers salaries are subject to income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. In the 2025/26 tax year:
- Up to £12,570: 0% (Personal Allowance)
- £12,571 to £50,270: 20% (Basic Rate)
- £50,271 to £125,140: 40% (Higher Rate)
- Above £125,140: 45% (Additional Rate)
Employee National Insurance contributions for 2025/26:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270
- 2% on earnings above £50,270
Use the calculator above to see your exact take-home pay after all deductions, including pension contributions and student loan repayments if applicable.
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Explore Your Finances
Model your expenses, project your wealth, and find your path to financial independence.
Your Monthly Outgoings
Projected Pension
Wealth & Financial Independence More Info
- In today's money, you'll have at least £21,600 / year (£1,800 / month) when you retire at 66 - just from your savings
- In real terms (where inflation is not removed), that's £38,340 / year (£3,195 / month)
- That means all your outgoings are covered without having to make any further contributions!
- All your expenses are covered for your retirement, but your wealth may start to decrease towards old age
Projected Wealth
- FI Target = Annual outgoings (£21,600) * Years needed for 4.00% SWR (25.00) = £540,000
- Invested annual pension = £3,000
- Invested annual surplus = £2,171
- Inflation of 2.5% / year
- Assumes New State Pension, payments increasing with inflation (2.5% / year)
- Assumes student loans last 30 years max
- Assumes a flex-drawdown pension for illustration purposes
- Assumes you draw down pension up to the higher rate bracket (£50,270), then draw down your S&S ISA
- Pension lump sums are not included