Boat and ship builders and repairers Pay Data UK — 2025

Boat and ship builders and repairers roles in the UK earn a median of £34,156 per year, equivalent to £15.74 per hour as of 2025. This represents a 0.6% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £29,312 to £51,264 per year.

How Pay Varies Across the UK

Each bar shows how many areas of the UK have a median annual pay in that range for Boat and ship builders and repairers roles. The dashed line marks the national median.

Based on sub-regional area data. Want a precise figure for your area?

About Boat and ship builders and repairers

Boat and ship builders and repairers construct, install and repair wooden structures and fittings, and shape, position, rivet and seal metal plates and girders to form the metal structures and frameworks for marine craft.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements
• uses rules, scribes and punches to mark out metal plate with guidelines and reference points and cuts plates using appropriate tools
• uses machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill and straighten metal plate as required and positions and aligns metal platework or frame for welding and bolting
• rivets together metal plates and girders, seals seams, smooths welds, fixes metal doors, collars, portholes, tank and hatch covers
• selects and measures appropriate wood and cuts, shapes and drills to specification using saws, planes, chisels and other power or hand tools
• aligns and fixes prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing and dowelling to form decking, small wooden marine craft and their interiors and fittings
• maintains and repairs woodwork and fittings

Entry Routes and Qualifications

Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training. Apprenticeships and vocational qualifications in boat building and relevant aspects of engineering and construction are available at levels 2 and 3.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.