New research from business software company Fergus has revealed where plumbers currently enjoy the strongest combination of earning potential, job opportunities and affordability across the UK.

The study ranked 11 UK regions across eight key metrics, including earning power, work-life balance and self-employment opportunities, to identify where plumbers have the strongest overall career prospects.

Other key findings include:

  • Yorkshire and The Humber is the UK’s best region for plumbers, topping the rankings with an overall score of 71.49/100. The region combines strong weekly earnings (£766.00), the second-highest local earning power (107.6% of the regional median) and a 42% increase in employment over the past three years, making it the strongest all-round location for the trade.

  • Scotland ranks second, offering one of the most balanced markets for plumbers. While wages are similar to Yorkshire (£765.40 per week), plumbers also benefit from relatively affordable housing, shorter working weeks (39.5 hours) and lower operating costs than many competing regions.

  • Despite offering the highest weekly wages (£857.90), London ranks just seventh overall. High housing costs, with house prices reaching almost 12 times annual income, combined with below-average earning power relative to other local occupations and declining employment (-7.0%), mean the capital falls well behind more affordable regions.

You can view the full research here