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Steeplejack

Steeplejacks repair and maintain tall structures like industrial chimneys, towers, high rise blocks, monuments and bridges.

Annual Salary

£23,000 to £38,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 44 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

1.1%
Future employment

There will be 1.1% fewer Steeplejack jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a steeplejack, you could:

  • assemble scaffolding, mobile work platforms and industrial harnesses
  • carry out building inspections, sometimes with drones
  • repair or replace roofing, glass, masonry and leadwork
  • paint structures and refurbish mechanisms like clockfaces
  • dismantle or demolish tall chimneys or buildings
  • install lightning conductors and aircraft warning lights on tall structures

Working environment

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work on high rise buildings, on a construction site, at a power station or at monuments and castles.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, at height, dusty and physically demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a construction, engineering or heritage conservation company to give you some of the skills needed to be a steeplejack.

Related apprenticeships include:

  • Lightning Protection Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Scaffolder Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Engineering Construction Erector Rigger Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Fall Protection Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

You can apply directly to become a steeplejack. Employers may ask for GCSEs, or equivalent, in maths, English, science or design and technology.

Experience in general construction, scaffolding, roofing or electrical work may give you an advantage.

If you want to work as a lightning conductor engineer, you'll need maths skills and a basic understanding of electrical theory.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • You'll usually need a full driving licence, as you'll be expected to travel to jobs all around the country.
  • be able to cope with working at height
  • have a good level of fitness

More information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a steeplejack from Go Construct and the Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group.

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With experience and further training, you could become a:team manager; safety inspector; lightning systems test engineer; contracts manager

You might also go self-employed and run your own business.

You can find out more about how to become a steeplejack from Go Construct and the Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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