UK Aggregates & Building Materials Salary Guide
Typical UK pay for 24 specialist roles across quarrying, crushing and screening, asphalt and surfacing, concrete, plant maintenance and controls. Ranges span roughly £24,000 to £70,000, with a midpoint around £41,000. These are 2025 to 2026 market guides compiled by Andrews Recruitment Group, not quotes. We don't give you candidates. We give you capacity, on contract for immediate cover or permanent for the long term.
Quarrying
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Quarry Manager | £45,000 to £70,000 |
| Quarry Supervisor | £35,000 to £48,000 |
| Shotfirer / Driller | £32,000 to £48,000 |
| Weighbridge Operator | £24,000 to £30,000 |
| Mobile Plant Operator | £28,000 to £38,000 |
| Health & Safety Manager (Quarrying) | £45,000 to £62,000 |
Crushing & Screening
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Crusher Operator | £30,000 to £42,000 |
| Screening Plant Operator | £28,000 to £40,000 |
| Conveyor Maintenance Technician | £32,000 to £44,000 |
Asphalt & Surfacing
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Asphalt Plant Manager | £42,000 to £60,000 |
| Surfacing / Paving Supervisor | £34,000 to £48,000 |
| Surfacing Operative | £28,000 to £40,000 |
| Asphalt Plant Operative | £28,000 to £38,000 |
| Laboratory / QC Technician (Aggregates & Asphalt) | £26,000 to £38,000 |
Concrete & Cement
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Concrete Plant Manager | £38,000 to £55,000 |
| Batcher Operative | £26,000 to £34,000 |
| Concrete Technical Manager | £40,000 to £58,000 |
Plant Maintenance
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Heavy Plant Fitter | £34,000 to £46,000 |
| Fixed Plant Fitter | £34,000 to £46,000 |
Controls & Electrical
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| PLC / Controls Engineer (Aggregates) | £42,000 to £60,000 |
| Industrial Electrician (Aggregates) | £36,000 to £50,000 |
Commercial
| Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|
| Regional Sales Manager (Aggregates & Building Materials) | £45,000 to £70,000 |
| Estimator (Aggregates, Asphalt & Surfacing) | £38,000 to £58,000 |
| Transport Manager (Aggregates & Bulk) | £38,000 to £55,000 |
Salary guide FAQs
What is the highest paid role in UK aggregates and building materials?
Senior technical and management roles sit at the top of the range. Across the roles in this guide, pay reaches about £70,000 for the most senior positions such as quarry managers on large hard-rock or multi-site units and lead controls or PLC engineers. Day rates on contract can exceed the permanent equivalent for scarce, ticketed skills.
How much does a quarry manager earn in the UK?
A UK quarry manager typically earns between £45,000 and £70,000 plus car or allowance and bonus, with the top of the range on larger hard-rock or multi-site operations. The statutory competence requirement keeps the candidate pool narrow, which supports pay.
Do contract rates differ from permanent salaries in aggregates?
Yes. Contract and interim rates usually carry a premium over the permanent-salary equivalent because they cover immediate, time-limited capacity and scarce ticketed skills such as shotfiring, mobile plant fitting and controls engineering. ARG places both, so you can compare the two for any role.
Where does this salary data come from?
These are typical UK market ranges for 2025 to 2026, compiled by Andrews Recruitment Group from live vacancies, offers and placements across the aggregates and building materials sector. They are guidance, not quotes. For live, continuously refreshed demand and median figures, see our market data page.
Need a role benchmarked or filled?
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