Road construction operatives salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£38,315
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Road construction operatives pay in the UK
The typical road construction operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £38,315 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of road construction operatives earnings fall between £30,020 and £45,338 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced road construction operatives.
Where you work changes the picture: road construction operatives pay ranges from £31,077 in Scotland up to £48,930 in South East, a difference of £17,853 (57%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see road construction operatives pay in South East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South East is the highest-paying region for road construction operatives at £48,930 — 28% above the UK median. Scotland is lowest at £31,077.
UK median £38,315
| Region | Median payUK median £38,315 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £48,930 | £48,930 | £50,208 | +28% |
| South West | £44,133 | £44,133 | £45,389 | +15% |
| West Midlands | £43,753 | £43,753 | £44,449 | +14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £40,464 | £40,464 | £41,877 | +6% |
| East Midlands | £37,474 | £37,474 | £37,762 | -2% |
| North East | £36,304 | £36,304 | £36,123 | -5% |
| Wales | £36,060 | £36,060 | £35,037 | -6% |
| East of England | £34,941 | £34,941 | £37,054 | -9% |
| London | £34,435 | £34,435 | £37,103 | -10% |
| North West | £31,450 | £31,450 | £34,555 | -18% |
| Scotland | £31,077 | £31,077 | £34,595 | -19% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South East £48,930 | £48,930Mean £50,208 | +28% |
| South West £44,133 | £44,133Mean £45,389 | +15% |
| West Midlands £43,753 | £43,753Mean £44,449 | +14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £40,464 | £40,464Mean £41,877 | +6% |
| East Midlands £37,474 | £37,474Mean £37,762 | -2% |
| North East £36,304 | £36,304Mean £36,123 | -5% |
| Wales £36,060 | £36,060Mean £35,037 | -6% |
| East of England £34,941 | £34,941Mean £37,054 | -9% |
| London £34,435 | £34,435Mean £37,103 | -10% |
| North West £31,450 | £31,450Mean £34,555 | -18% |
| Scotland £31,077 | £31,077Mean £34,595 | -19% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£38,315); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local road construction operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow road construction operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for road construction operatives by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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