Other skilled trades n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time other skilled trades n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £29,340 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 25% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (94th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £26,225 a year, men £30,719 a year.
About 75% of the roughly 12,000 employee jobs are full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 10.0%, from £26,673, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 35,600 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £24,720 | £501.20 | £13.15 | – | £389.90* | £12.71 |
| 25th percentile | £25,739 | £511.00 | £13.29 | – | £430.40* | £13.04 |
| 30th percentile | £26,508 | £540.70 | £13.56 | £22,176* | £472.20* | £13.29 |
| 40th percentile | £28,521 | £573.80 | £14.56 | £24,581* | £510.30 | £14.20 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £29,340* | £583.80 | £15.22 | £26,800* | £564.60 | £14.83 |
| 60th percentile | £32,135* | £620.10 | £15.67 | £29,192* | £585.20 | £15.58 |
| 70th percentile | £37,387* | £681.10* | £17.19* | £32,479* | £648.60* | £16.76* |
| 75th percentile | – | £719.60* | – | – | £679.70* | £17.71* |
| Mean | £33,101 | £642.20 | £16.43 | £28,457 | £570.50 | £16.40 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £26,673* | £526.70 | £13.23 | £25,215 | £488.70 | 14* |
| 2022 revised | £31,384 | £615.30 | £14.62 | £29,124* | £545.30* | 14* |
| 2023 revised | £30,903* | £568.80 | £14.42 | £25,724* | £559.30 | 13* |
| 2024 revised | £31,002 | £628.30 | £15.44 | £30,185* | £603.10 | 11* |
| 2025 provisional | £29,340* | £583.80 | £15.22 | £26,800* | £564.60 | 12* |
Other skilled trades n.e.c. by region
UK: 35,600 (± 7,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What other skilled trades n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group engrave jewellery and stoneware, make artificial hairpieces, charge fireworks and munitions with explosive material, make lampshades, wickerwork, toys, dolls, models, candles, artificial flowers, other fancy goods, make patterns for moulds for metal castings, make and tune musical instruments, craft precious metals and stones, and perform other hand craft occupations not elsewhere classified in minor group 544: Other skilled trades. (ONS SOC 2020, 5449)
Also covers: diamond mounter, engraver, goldsmith, paint sprayer, piano tuner, sign maker (electric signs), silversmith, wig maker, abrasive moulder, action maker, artist colourman, asbestos turner, badge maker, badge manufacturer, bait maker, basket worker, besom maker and blind maker (359 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Uses hand or machine tools to engrave letters, patterns and other designs on jewellery and stoneware
- Constructs and covers wire frames for lampshades
- Makes wigs, beards and other artificial hairpieces from human hair or synthetic materials
- Interweaves canes of willow, withy, bamboo, rattan or similar material to make baskets and other pieces of wickerwork
- Charges fireworks, cartridges and other munitions with explosive material
- Makes children’s toys, dolls, models, candles, artificial flowers and other fancy goods
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically via apprenticeship or through specialised courses. NVQs/SVQs are available in some areas.
Related
Other skilled trades (median £29,731) · Florists · Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026