Occupation 8151 · Process, plant and machine operatives
Scaffolders, stagers and riggers erect and dismantle scaffolding and working platforms, set up lifting equipment and ships’ rigging, maintain and repair steeples, industrial chimneys and other tall structures and install, maintain and repair ropes, wires and cables.
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is initially received on-the-job. Skilled workers must obtain Construction Skills recognised scaffolders record scheme cards through the completion of approved courses and further work experience. NVQs/SVQs in Scaffolding are available at levels 2 and 3.
Bell hanger (church bells) · Rigger (film, television production) · Stage rigger (shipbuilding) · Tackleman (steelworks)
| Measure | Hours | Basis | Period | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 19,700.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 21,300.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 23,300.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | — | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) Not published: Estimate is less than 500 |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 2,000.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 23,600.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | None | 2026-03 | 1,600.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.
| Region | Measure | Hours | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 1,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| East Midlands | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 600.00 | 2026-03 |
| London | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 3,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| North East | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 2,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| North West | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 2,700.00 | 2026-03 |
| Northern Ireland | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | withheld | 2026-03 |
| Scotland | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 2,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| South East | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 3,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| South West | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 1,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| Wales | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 1,600.00 | 2026-03 |
| West Midlands | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 2,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8151 : Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | None | 3,300.00 | 2026-03 |
ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 11 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.
Construction operatives n.e.c. · Rail construction and maintenance operatives · Road construction operatives