Construction Labour Charge Rates Guide: London & South East 2026
Last updated: April 2026 · 9 min read · For contractors and site teams
This guide covers what contractors and SME builders should expect to pay a construction recruitment agency for temporary labour and trades across London and the South East in 2026. All figures are indicative charge rates — the amount the agency invoices you, inclusive of employment costs and margin — not the worker's take-home pay. Actual rates vary by site, duration, ticket profile, and payroll model.
For candidate-facing pay data, see the salary guides and construction pay rates guide.
What is a charge rate?
A charge rate is the hourly or daily rate an agency invoices for a worker. On PAYE, it is one number that already includes:
- • The worker's gross pay rate
- • Employer's National Insurance (approx 13.8% above the NI threshold)
- • Holiday pay accrual (12.07%)
- • Workplace pension contributions where the worker is enrolled
- • Apprenticeship Levy (0.5%) on agencies over the £3m pay bill threshold
- • Employer's Liability and Public Liability insurance
- • Payroll processing, vetting, and compliance overhead
- • Agency margin
Indicative charge rates — Labour
PAYE hourly charge rates, standard weekday day shift, one week's notice.
| Role | London (£/hr) | South East (£/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| General Labourer (CSCS Green) | £19 – £23 | £17 – £21 |
| Skilled Labourer (CSCS Blue) | £22 – £26 | £20 – £24 |
| Traffic Marshal | £18 – £22 | £17 – £20 |
| Banksman | £20 – £24 | £19 – £22 |
| Gateman | £18 – £21 | £16 – £19 |
| Welfare Operative | £17 – £20 | £16 – £19 |
| Hoist Operator | £22 – £27 | £20 – £25 |
Indicative charge rates — Skilled Trades
| Trade | London (£/hr) | South East (£/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer | £30 – £36 | £28 – £34 |
| Carpenter (1st/2nd Fix) | £28 – £34 | £26 – £32 |
| Dryliner | £26 – £32 | £24 – £30 |
| Electrician | £32 – £38 | £30 – £36 |
| Plumber | £30 – £36 | £28 – £34 |
| Plasterer | £26 – £32 | £24 – £30 |
| Steel Fixer | £28 – £34 | £26 – £32 |
| Scaffolder (CISRS) | £30 – £36 | £28 – £34 |
| Groundworker | £24 – £30 | £22 – £28 |
Indicative charge rates — Plant Operators
| Operator | London (£/hr) | South East (£/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| 360 Operator (CPCS/NPORS) | £28 – £34 | £26 – £32 |
| Telehandler Operator | £24 – £30 | £22 – £28 |
| Forklift Driver | £22 – £26 | £20 – £24 |
| Dumper Driver | £22 – £27 | £20 – £25 |
| Tower Crane Operator | £40 – £52 | £38 – £48 |
What moves a charge rate up or down
- • Notice period. Same-day and next-morning fills carry a premium. Bookings placed a week ahead settle at the base rate.
- • Duration. Long-term bookings (8+ weeks) usually attract a discount. One-off day work costs more per hour.
- • Ticket profile. A carpenter with SSSTS and asbestos awareness costs more than one with a CSCS card only.
- • Shift pattern. Nights, weekends, and bank holidays are enhanced — typically 1.25× to 1.5×.
- • Location and access. Central London zone 1 sites, high-security sites, and out-of-London sites away from public transport all move the rate.
- • Payroll model. See our CIS vs PAYE vs Umbrella guide for how each affects the invoiced rate.
- • Volume. Booking a full site package (labour + trades + supervision) is priced differently to ad-hoc requests.
How a PAYE charge rate breaks down
For a labourer invoiced at £21.00 per hour PAYE in London, a rough breakdown looks like:
| Component | Approx |
|---|---|
| Worker gross pay | £15.50 |
| Holiday pay accrual (12.07%) | £1.87 |
| Employer NI (13.8% over threshold) | £1.60 |
| Pension, levy, insurance, payroll | £0.55 |
| Agency margin | £1.48 |
| Total charge rate | £21.00 |
Actual splits depend on the worker's tax code, pension enrolment, and the agency's cost base. This is illustrative.