Scaffolder
Build the safe working platforms every other trade relies on – a fit, outdoor, team trade with strong earning potential.
- Salary£25,000 – £51,000
- Hours40 to 50 hours a week, usually between 8am and 6pm; some jobs involve working away from home (National Careers Service)
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
Scaffolders put up, alter and take down the scaffolding that lets other trades work safely at height, on anything from a house extension to a city-centre tower or a demolition job. It is fast-paced teamwork, and safety is at the heart of every lift and every fitting.
If you are fit, comfortable at height and like working outdoors with a close crew, it is worth considering. Experienced scaffolders can become advanced scaffolders, scaffold designers, safety inspectors or contracts coordinators, or set up their own firm.
What you'll do
- Unload poles, boards and fittings from lorries
- Set out base plates and erect scaffolding to a plan
- Tie scaffolding securely to buildings and structures
- Fit guard rails and safety nets
- Carry out safety checks
- Alter and dismantle scaffolding when the job ends
Where you'll work
- Outdoors
- Working at height
- Construction sites
- In a team
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a scaffolder
Apprenticeship
Scaffolder – Level 2 apprenticeship (ST0359), typical duration 18 months, mixing on-the-job training with time at a training provider.
College
Construction operations or scaffolding courses; entry requirements vary.
Skills Bootcamp
Skills Bootcamps in scaffolding or construction (for adults 19+) can help you apply for trainee or labourer roles.
Other ways in
Join a company as a trainee scaffolder or scaffolding labourer and gain qualifications on the job; timekeeping, communication and safety awareness count.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- CISRS card – the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme card (or equivalent) is needed to train and work on site; cards range from labourer and trainee to scaffolder and advanced scaffolder
Where it can lead
- Advanced scaffolder supervising a team
- Scaffolding designer drawing up plans
- Site safety inspector
- Contracts coordinator
- Construction management or your own scaffolding business
Good to know
- The National Careers Service says you need a good level of fitness and to be able to cope with working at height.
- CISRS cards run from labourer and trainee through to scaffolder, advanced scaffolder and inspection cards, so your card grows with your skills.
- Expect to travel, and some contracts mean working away from home.
Courses and training
-
Skills Bootcamp
Skills Bootcamps – Skills for Careers (Department for Education)
Free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over in England, ending with a guaranteed job interview. Subjects include construction, engineering, heat pump technology and HGV driving.
-
Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
-
Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Scaffolder nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/scaffolder
- Scaffolder (Level 2, ST0359) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0359-v1-2
- CISRS scaffolding cards cisrs.org.uk/training/cisrs-cards.html
- Skills Bootcamps (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/skills-bootcamp
- Go Construct: Scaffolder goconstruct.org/construction-careers/what-jobs-are-right-for-me/scaffolder