Commercial managers get the highest pay rise

Commercial managers got the highest pay rises of 4.2% last year, according to a salary survey conducted by Hill McGlynn.

Senior quantity surveyors were the next best with an average rise of 4.1%. Estimators, contracts managers and health and safety managers got 4%.

The average increase for all jobs was 3.8%, better than the national all-industry average of 3.6% and better than the construction average in 2002 of 3.3%.

The highest average salary was £32,996 and the lowest £24,661. The dubious honour of the lowest average salary went to assistant quantity surveyors with £16,030, which is lower than the lowest salary for graduates (£16,711). Commercial managers had the pleasure of the highest average salary of £46,247.

More than two-thirds (69%) of respondents to the survey said they received a bonus, but just 26% got paid overtime. A total of 86% have a company car, but only 63% get a company car allowance.

Those working in London and the South East got an average increase of 3.9%, while those working in the rest of the UK got 3.7%. The pay ceiling for graduates is higher down south at £22,419 compared to £19,916 in the rest of the UK.

The highest average salary was £49,117 for commercial managers in the south; their counterparts in the rest of the country got an average of £44,958.