Annual Salary
£24,000 to £42,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Fishing or Port management or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Fishing or Port management or go back to all job sectors
Boat builders construct, repair and refit marine craft from small sailing boats to large sea-going vessels.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; as customers demand
There will be
4.1% fewer Boat builder jobs in 2027.
As a boat builder, you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a workshop, at a marina or at a shipyard.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, at height and outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course to learn some of the skills you would need as a trainee, or to join an apprenticeship.
Courses include:
You could apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, for example:
These can take between 3 and 4 years to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.
You'll usually need:
You can apply directly if you've got relevant skills. Qualifications and experience in joinery, electrics, engineering, welding or plumbing can help.
You may be able to take a course with a commercial boat building training provider. Training can range from short courses in marine electrics and joinery, through to full boat building programmes, lasting several months.
You'll need to be willing to move if necessary, as training providers and boat yards are located in coastal areas around the country.
You can find out more about becoming a boat builder from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and British Marine.
With experience and qualifications, you could become a marine technician or engineer.
You could also move into:boat design; marine surveying; boat yard management; maritime sales and support
You could use your skills to transfer to other branches of engineering or into construction.
You'll need: