Scaffolder
Scaffolders put up scaffolding around buildings and structures so that tradespeople can carry out construction, renovation or demolition work.
Typical Salary
£24,000 – £45,000
per year
Working Hours
40–50
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a scaffolder, you would:
- unload scaffolding poles, boards and couplers from a lorry
- set down base plates and put up scaffolding, following a work plan
- secure scaffolding to the building or structure
- fix guard rails and safety nets, and make safety checks
- take down scaffolding at the end of a job
Skills needed
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of public safety and security
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- concentration skills
- physical fitness and endurance
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a pre-employment training scheme
Career progression
With experience and further training, you could become:
- an advanced scaffolder, supervising a scaffolding team
- a scaffolding designer, creating plans for scaffolding teams to follow
- a site safety inspector, carrying out safety checks and investigating incidents
- a contracts co-ordinator, working with clients and managing projects
You might also move into more general construction management or set up your own scaffolding business.