Plasterer Jobs in the UK

Plasterer jobs are some of the most consistent work in UK construction. There are 59 live plasterer and renderer vacancies on SiteJobs right now, paying £18-30/hour. Every listing has a verified phone number - you call the agency direct, no forms, no CV, no waiting. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find us.

Plastering is a skilled trade that covers everything from skimming new-build walls to rendering external facades on commercial buildings. Every construction project needs plasterers at the finishing stage, which means demand stays high year-round. Whether you are a British plasterer looking for your next job, or a Romanian or Albanian tradesperson who learned plastering back home and wants to work in the UK, this guide covers what you need to know.

Plasterer Pay Rates 2026

Pay depends on experience, tickets, location, and whether the role is temporary (CIS/umbrella) or permanent (PAYE). London and the South East consistently pay 15-20% more than the rest of the UK.

• Plasterer Labourer (CSCS green card): £14-17/hour
• Skilled Plasterer (CSCS blue card): £18-24/hour
• Experienced Plasterer (render, screed, skim): £22-28/hour
• Lead Plasterer / Foreman: £25-30/hour
• Day rate (contract): £160-220/day
• Permanent salary (social housing): £34,000-£50,000/year

The permanent roles on SiteJobs include positions with MEARS Group paying around £35,000-£37,000/year and a London-based role at £50,000/year. These are full-time, permanent positions with benefits - not agency work.

What Does a Plasterer Do?

A plasterer applies plaster, render, and screed to interior and exterior walls. The work includes:

• Skimming: applying a thin coat of finishing plaster to plasterboard or existing walls to create a smooth surface for painting or decorating
• Rendering: applying cement-based render to external walls for weatherproofing and appearance
• Screeding: laying floor screed (sand and cement or liquid screed) to create a level surface for flooring
• Dot and dab: fixing plasterboard to walls using adhesive dabs, then skimming the joints
• Boarding: fixing plasterboard to ceilings and walls using screws or nails - many plasterer roles include boarding as part of the job
• Dry lining: installing plasterboard partition walls and ceiling systems, often part of commercial fit-out work

Plasterers work on new-build housing, commercial fit-outs, social housing maintenance and repair, extensions, and renovation projects. The trade requires physical fitness, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently to meet programme deadlines.

What Tickets Do You Need?

Most plasterer jobs in the UK require the following:

• CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker): the standard card for skilled plasterers. Requires an NVQ Level 2 in Plastering Occupations. Apply at cscs.uk.com. The CSCS website lists all card types and application requirements. Source: cscs.uk.com - Skilled Workers
• CSCS Green Card (Labourer): for entry-level plastering labourers. Requires the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test plus the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment course. Source: cscs.uk.com - Labouring Roles
• Asbestos awareness: plasterers frequently work in older buildings where asbestos-containing materials may be present. Asbestos awareness training is mandatory under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Source: hse.gov.uk/asbestos
• Working at Height training: plasterers working on scaffolding or platforms need working at height training that complies with the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Source: legislation.gov.uk

The CSCS Alliance lists all partner card schemes at cscsgroup.co.uk. Check which card your employer or agency requires before applying.

Types of Plastering Work

• New build housing: skimming newly boarded walls and ceilings on residential developments. Fast-paced work, usually paid by the hour through agencies. The most common entry point for plasterers coming to the UK
• Commercial fit-out: plastering and dry lining in offices, shops, and commercial buildings. Often involves partition walls, suspended ceilings, and fire-rated board systems. Longer contracts, higher rates
• Rendering and external systems: applying cement render, silicone render, and external wall insulation systems (EWI). Specialist work that commands higher pay, especially on large housing developments
• Social housing maintenance: repair and maintenance work for housing associations and councils. Usually permanent contracts (PAYE) with benefits, pension, and holiday pay. MEARS Group is one of the biggest employers in this sector
• Heritage and restoration: lime plastering, lath and plaster, and traditional techniques for listed buildings. Niche but well-paid work for plasterers with the right skills
• Floor screeding: laying sand and cement or liquid screed on construction sites. Often done by specialist screeding contractors but multi-skilled plasterers can pick up this work

Safety and Regulations for Plasterers

Plastering involves several safety risks that are regulated under UK law. The Health and Safety Executive (hse.gov.uk) provides guidance for all construction trades.

• Work at Height Regulations 2005: plasterers frequently work on scaffolding, trestles, and steps. All work at height must be properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent persons. Source: legislation.gov.uk
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH): plaster dust, cement, and chemical additives in render systems are hazardous substances. Employers must assess and control exposure under COSHH Regulations 2002. Source: hse.gov.uk/coshh
• Manual handling: plasterers carry heavy bags of plaster, render, and boards. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to assess and reduce manual handling risks. Source: legislation.gov.uk
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015): governs all construction work including plastering and rendering. Site managers are responsible for ensuring plasterers hold valid tickets and follow site-specific risk assessments. Source: legislation.gov.uk
• Asbestos: the HSE states that asbestos is still present in around 300,000 non-domestic buildings in the UK. Plasterers working in buildings built before 2000 must have asbestos awareness training. Source: hse.gov.uk/asbestos

Safety on site is not optional. Site managers are legally responsible for ensuring all workers, including plasterers, hold valid CSCS cards, have received adequate training, and follow site-specific risk assessments and method statements (RAMS).

How to Get Your Plastering Qualifications

CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker) Route

1. Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (£22.50). Book through the official CSCS website at cscs.uk.com
2. Complete an NVQ Level 2 in Plastering Occupations through an approved training provider. This involves on-site assessment of your plastering skills - you do not need to leave work to get qualified
3. Apply for the CSCS Blue Card via the My CSCS app or CSCS Online. The card costs £36 and is valid for five years

Total cost: approximately £300-500 for the NVQ assessment plus £36 for the card. Many employers and agencies will help fund or arrange the NVQ. If you have plastering qualifications from another country, you may be able to get them recognised through the CSCS qualification check - see cscs.uk.com - Qualifications.

CSCS Green Card (Labourer) Route

1. Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (£22.50)
2. Complete the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment course (one day, approximately £120-150)
3. Apply for the CSCS Green Card (£36)

Total cost: under £200. This gets you on site as a plastering labourer, where you can learn the trade from skilled plasterers and work towards the NVQ Level 2 for the blue card. This is the most common route for workers coming to the UK from abroad who already have plastering skills but need UK certification.

Plasterer Jobs in London

London has the highest concentration of plasterer vacancies on SiteJobs. The city has a constant pipeline of new-build residential, commercial fit-out, and social housing maintenance work. Rates in London run 15-20% higher than the rest of the UK:

• Hourly rates: £22-28/hour for skilled plasterers
• Day rates: £180-220/day
• Permanent salaries: £35,000-£50,000/year (MEARS Group, Howells Recruitment)

London construction sites are heavily multicultural - an estimated 80% of the construction workforce in London is born outside the UK. Romanian, Albanian, and Moldovan plasterers are well-represented in the London plastering workforce. Many site managers and agency recruiters speak multiple languages.

Plasterer Jobs Outside London

Outside London, the biggest demand for plasterers is in:

• Manchester and the North West: major housing developments and commercial projects. Rates £18-24/hour
• Birmingham and the Midlands: social housing maintenance and new build. Rates £18-22/hour
• Leeds and Yorkshire: residential and commercial work. Rates £18-23/hour
• Cardiff and South Wales: Randstad CPE currently has plasterer roles at £22.50/hour. Rates £18-24/hour
• Bournemouth and the South Coast: residential and commercial. Randstad CPE has plasterer roles at £22/hour
• Exeter and the South West: MEARS Group has permanent plasterer roles at £35,000/year

Agencies Hiring Plasterers Now

Call these agencies directly to find plasterer roles in your area. All are Companies House verified employers on SiteJobs:

• Daniel Owen: 0345 810 1020 - all trades, national coverage. Regularly places plasterers on commercial and residential projects
• Fawkes & Reece: 0207 288 0166 - construction and property, London and South East. Strong on plasterer roles in London new-build
• Hays Construction: 0207 084 6299 - all trades, national. Places plasterers on commercial fit-out and housing projects
• Randstad CPE: 0113 244 5100 - construction and skilled trades, national. Currently has plasterer roles in Cardiff at £22.50/hour and Bournemouth at £22/hour
• MEARS Group: 0800 917 1111 - social housing maintenance, national. Has permanent plasterer positions in London and Exeter with salaries from £35,000/year
• Pertemps: 0131 225 7531 - all trades, Scotland and North. Places plasterers on projects across Scotland
• Time Recruitment: 0161 238 9770 - construction, North and Midlands. Regularly places plasterers in Manchester and surrounding areas
• DCT Recruitment: 0151 221 9658 - construction, North West. Places plasterers on Liverpool and Merseyside projects

Finding Plasterer Jobs on SiteJobs

Every plasterer listing on SiteJobs has a real, verified phone number. Find a job, call the employer or agency, start work. No registration walls, no CVs, no waiting. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs.

To see all 59 live plasterer and renderer vacancies, browse live plasterer jobs here. Register free to see contact details and call direct. Registration takes 30 seconds - name, phone, email, postcode, trade. No CV. No photo. No full address.

Coming to the UK as a Plasterer

If you are a plasterer from Romania, Albania, Moldova, or another country and want to work in UK construction, here is what you need:

1. Right to Work in the UK: you must have the legal right to work. Romanian and Bulgarian citizens have full right to work. Albanian citizens need a valid work visa. Check your status at gov.uk/prove-right-to-work
2. CSCS Card: you cannot access most UK construction sites without one. Start with the green card (labourer) if you do not have UK-recognised qualifications, then work towards the blue card (skilled worker) via NVQ on-site assessment. Source: cscs.uk.com
3. Bank account and UTR number: if you work through CIS (Construction Industry Scheme), you need a UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) number from HMRC. Most agency plasterer roles are CIS. Source: gov.uk
4. Tools and PPE: most plasterer jobs require you to bring your own tools (trowels, floats, hawks, mixing buckets) and basic PPE (boots, hi-vis, hard hat, gloves). Some agencies provide PPE but not tools
5. English language: you do not need to be fluent, but you need enough English to understand site safety briefings and communicate with site managers. Many sites in London have workers and supervisors who speak Romanian, Albanian, or Russian

Common Questions

Do I need a CSCS card to work as a plasterer?

Yes. Most UK construction sites require a valid CSCS card to access the site. Skilled plasterers typically need a CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker), which requires an NVQ Level 2 in Plastering Occupations. Entry-level plastering labourers can start with a CSCS Green Card. Source: cscs.uk.com

How much does a plasterer earn in the UK?

Pay ranges from £14/hour for plastering labourers to £30/hour for lead plasterers and foremen. In London, skilled plasterers earn £22-28/hour on agency work. Permanent positions with social housing providers like MEARS Group pay £35,000-£50,000/year. Day rates for contract work range from £160 to £220.

Can I get a plasterer job without UK experience?

Yes. Many plasterers working in the UK learned the trade in Romania, Albania, or other countries. If you have plastering skills, you can start as a plastering labourer with a CSCS Green Card while working towards your NVQ Level 2 and Blue Card. Agencies like Daniel Owen, Randstad CPE, and Hays Construction regularly place plasterers who are new to the UK but have trade skills.

What is the difference between plastering and rendering?

Plastering is the internal work - applying gypsum plaster to interior walls and ceilings to create a smooth finish. Rendering is the external work - applying cement-based or silicone render to outside walls for weatherproofing and appearance. Many plasterers do both, but some specialise in one or the other. Renderers typically earn slightly more because the work is more physically demanding and weather-dependent.

Is plastering hard work?

Yes. Plastering is physically demanding - you are on your feet all day, carrying heavy materials, working with your arms above shoulder height when skimming ceilings, and exposed to weather when rendering externally. But it is a skilled trade that pays well and is always in demand. Every building needs plasterwork, and good plasterers are respected on site.

Locuri de munca tencuitor in UK

Daca sunteti tencuitor (gipsar) si cautati lucru in Marea Britanie, pe SiteJobs sunt 59 de locuri de munca disponibile acum. Tarifele variaza intre £18-30/ora, in functie de experienta si calificare. In Londra, tarifele sunt cu 15-20% mai mari. Aveti nevoie de o carte CSCS Blue (Skilled Worker) pentru majoritatea posturilor, sau CSCS Green pentru incepatori. Daca aveti calificare in tencuire din Romania, puteti incepe cu o carte verde si sa lucrati spre cea albastra prin NVQ. Inregistrati-va gratuit pe SiteJobs si sunati direct la agentii. Nu aveti nevoie de CV - doar numarul de telefon, codul postal si meseria. Cautati sitejobs-code15 pe Google.

Agentii care angajeaza acum: Daniel Owen 0345 810 1020, Randstad CPE 0113 244 5100, MEARS Group 0800 917 1111, Hays Construction 0207 084 6299.

Pune suvaçues ne UK

Nese jeni suvaçues (gipsator) dhe kerkoni pune ne MB, ne SiteJobs ka 59 vende pune te disponueshme tani. Pagejet shkojne nga £18-30 per ore, ne varesi te eksperiences dhe kualifikimit. Ne Londer, pagejet jane 15-20% me te larta. Ju duhet nje karte CSCS Blue (Skilled Worker) per shumicen e pozicioneve, ose CSCS Green per fillestar. Nese keni kualifikim ne suvaçim nga Shqiperia, mund te filloni me karte jeshile dhe te punoni drejt asaj te kaltres nepermjet NVQ. Regjistrohuni falas ne SiteJobs dhe telefononi direkt agjencive. Nuk ju duhet CV - vetem numri i telefonit, kodi postar dhe profesioni. Kerkoni sitejobs-code15 ne Google.

Agjencite qe punesojsne tani: Daniel Owen 0345 810 1020, Randstad CPE 0113 244 5100, MEARS Group 0800 917 1111, Hays Construction 0207 084 6299.

Vakansii shtukatura v UK

Esli vy shtukatur i ishete rabotu v Velikobritanii, na SiteJobs seychas dostupno 59 vakansiy. Stavki sostavlyayut £18-30 v chas, v zavisimosti ot opyta i kvalifikatsii. V Londone stavki na 15-20% vyshe. Dlya bolshinstva pozitsiy nuzhna karta CSCS Blue (Skilled Worker), dlya nachinayushchikh - CSCS Green. Esli u vas est kvalifikatsiya shtukatura iz vashey strany, vy mozhete nachat s zelenoy kartoy i rabotat na sinie cherez NVQ. Zaregistriyuytes besplatno na SiteJobs i zvonite napryamuyu agentstvam. Ne nuzhno rezume - tolko nomer telefona, pochtoyy indeks i professiya. Ischite sitejobs-code15 na Google.

Agenstva, nanimayushchie seychas: Daniel Owen 0345 810 1020, Randstad CPE 0113 244 5100, MEARS Group 0800 917 1111, Hays Construction 0207 084 6299.

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