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The current Health and Safety recruitment market in construction and infrastructure is becoming increasingly complex and fragmented. Traditionally, the sector has followed broader economic trends, with buoyant periods lifting all areas of construction, and downturns creating a widespread slowdown.
However, today’s landscape tells a different story. Rather than a single trend, we’re seeing a clear divide between areas experiencing rapid growth and those facing caution and a lack of progress.
On one side, major infrastructure programmes such as HS2, Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and the water sector’s £104 billion AMP8 investment are driving strong and sustained demand for experienced Health and Safety professionals. The UK Government’s £725 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline has further bolstered long-term confidence in civil engineering, utilities, and complex fit-out work, prompting competition for top-tier talent.
Conversely, the introduction of the Building Safety Act has created new regulatory hurdles, particularly through its gateway system. This has slowed progress on many new residential developments and led to pauses in recruitment across parts of the supply chain. Yet, within Health and Safety, this regulatory shift has also generated increased demand. Specialists such as Principal Designers and professionals with Building Safety Act expertise are now highly sought after, as organisations work to ensure compliance and avoid delays under the new framework.
Looking ahead, the recent strengthening of the Building Safety Regulator’s role, aimed at streamlining approval processes, could unlock a backlog of delayed projects. If this leads to a wave of developments getting the green light, it may result in a sharp spike in hiring across the board. In the meantime, employers across all segments of the market are finding themselves competing for talent with companies operating in fast-growth sectors, driving up expectations around salary, flexibility, and long-term opportunity.
Salary Benchmarks
Based on our latest market insights, here’s a current guide to Health and Safety salary expectations in construction and infrastructure:
Director of Health and Safety: £110,000 - £160,000+: At this level, base salaries can vary significantly depending on the organisation’s size, number of employees, risk profile, geographic coverage, and annual turnover. Base salaries are also frequently supported by annual bonuses, Long Term Incentive Plan’s and share options.
Head of Health and Safety: £85,000 – £110,000: Salary varies depending on strategic vs. delivery focus and scope of leadership. The lower end typically applies to company turnover of £100 million or below.
Senior Health and Safety Manager: £75,000 – £85,000: Impacted by the size and complexity of the project or portfolio, multi-stakeholder experience attracts a premium. Likely managing one or more Advisors.
Health and Safety Manager: £60,000 – £75,000: Typically higher for major infrastructure, high-risk environments, or Tier 1 projects.
Senior Health and Safety Advisor: £55,000 – £60,000: Experience in civils, utilities, or large-scale delivery often pushes candidates into the upper end.
Health and Safety Advisor: £45,000 – £55,000: We’ve seen a marked shift from £45,000 being the baseline up to £50,000, with £55,000 typical for more experienced professionals or those with in-demand skill sets.
SHEQ Coordinator: £30,000 – £40,000: Administrative and compliance support positions; HSE qualifications are often desirable.
Director level Health and Safety roles
At Director level, we're seeing a wide range of salaries, often influenced by the size of the organisation, but not exclusively. In many cases, smaller contractors, particularly those in specialist sectors such as M&E, are willing to offer highly competitive packages to secure candidates with niche expertise. Their searches tend to be confined to a narrow talent pool, and this scarcity of supply can drive up salaries, even within more modestly sized firms.
These senior roles are also frequently supported by substantial bonuses or long-term incentive plans, reflecting the strategic importance and impact of these positions.
In addition to the base salary figures above, the majority of Health and Safety roles include a car or car allowance, and increasingly, hybrid working options, especially on long-term infrastructure frameworks.
How Employers can stay Competitive
Health and Safety talent is increasingly selective, and in many cases, fielding multiple offers. Candidates with infrastructure, major project, or client-side experience are especially in demand, often attracting top salaries and rapid interview processes.
Health and Safety professionals are now more focused than ever on employer brand, job stability, and project pipeline. Companies with unclear timelines, stop-start recruitment, or poor safety records are being bypassed in favour of those offering clear development pathways, training, and a demonstrable commitment to safety culture.
With the talent gap unlikely to ease in the near future, employers should take proactive steps to secure the professionals they need to:
Set clear and realistic salary expectations at the start of the process.
Understand what skill sets are available at each salary level.
Act decisively and communicate clearly throughout the recruitment process.
Offer visible progression opportunities, especially on multi-year projects or frameworks.
Work with a recruitment partner who understands the construction safety landscape and can help you navigate a highly competitive market.
Get in touch
If you're reviewing your current salary benchmarks or planning to build out your HSE function, feel free to reach out for a confidential conversation.
Contact Luke O'Driscoll, who heads up our Construction, Civil Engineering, and Infrastructure team
Luke.odriscoll@irwinandcolton.com
01923 432 683