What tradespeople, site managers, quantity surveyors, and construction directors earn in Belfast and across Northern Ireland — junior to lead, by role.
Northern Ireland's construction sector has been busy — housing delivery targets, public infrastructure spend, and a wave of data-centre and pharmaceutical facility builds have kept demand for skilled trades, site management, and quantity surveying consistently strong across Belfast, Craigavon, and the wider region.
The figures below reflect typical gross annual salary ranges (in GBP) for construction roles advertised in Northern Ireland, drawn from live listings on NIjobsearch and the wider NI employer market. Main contractors on larger commercial and infrastructure projects typically pay above the ranges shown; smaller residential builders and subcontractors often sit toward the lower end.
| Role | Level | Salary Range | Typical Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Apprentice | Junior | £16,000 – £22,000 | £19,000 |
| General Operative / Labourer | Junior | £22,000 – £27,000 | £24,500 |
| Skilled Tradesperson (Electrician, Plumber, Joiner) | Mid | £28,000 – £42,000 | £34,000 |
| Estimator | Mid | £30,000 – £46,000 | £37,000 |
| Site Supervisor | Mid | £32,000 – £45,000 | £38,000 |
| Quantity Surveyor | Mid | £32,000 – £48,000 | £40,000 |
| Health & Safety Manager | Senior | £40,000 – £58,000 | £48,000 |
| Site Manager | Senior | £42,000 – £60,000 | £50,000 |
| Senior Quantity Surveyor | Senior | £48,000 – £65,000 | £55,000 |
| Project Manager | Senior | £45,000 – £65,000 | £54,000 |
| Contracts Manager | Lead | £50,000 – £70,000 | £58,000 |
| Construction Director | Lead | £65,000 – £95,000 | £78,000 |
A site manager in Northern Ireland typically earns between £42,000 and £60,000, averaging around £50,000, depending on project size, sector, and whether they work for a main contractor or subcontractor.
Yes — sustained demand from infrastructure projects, housing delivery, and data-centre construction has pushed pay up for skilled trades, quantity surveyors, and site management roles across NI, with the tightest supply in electrical, M&E, and civils.
Base trade rates in NI typically run 10-20% below equivalent GB roles, but many tradespeople take short-term contract work in GB or the Republic of Ireland at day rates well above local NI salaries, which has tightened local labour supply.
Quantity surveyors, site managers, electricians, and M&E tradespeople are consistently the hardest roles for NI employers to fill, driven by housing targets, public infrastructure spend, and data-centre and pharma construction projects.
Browse live construction jobs across Belfast and Northern Ireland.