The European construction market is active, competitive, and increasingly well-compensated for experienced professionals. Sustained investment in data centres, infrastructure, and commercial development is driving demand for skilled construction professionals across multiple markets simultaneously, and that competition for talent is pushing salaries upward.
Necto Selection's 2026 Construction Salary Survey captures what construction professionals are earning right now, across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Nordics, Benelux, and the Iberian Peninsula. The data spans all seniority levels, from junior professionals starting their careers to executive-level leaders overseeing major programmes.
Salaries across all European construction markets range from 32,000 euros to 228,000 euros, depending on role, seniority, and location. 62% of respondents expect their salary to increase in 2026. The market is moving. Here is what the data shows, region by region.
The Regional Picture: Where Salaries Stand Today
The Nordics currently lead Europe as the highest-paying region for construction professionals, with an average salary of 98,000 euros across all roles and seniority levels. The DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) follows closely at 95,000 euros on average, with Switzerland's compensation benchmarks contributing significantly to the regional figure. Ireland ranks third at 92,000 euros, reflecting a strong domestic market with significant demand across infrastructure, commercial, and data centre sectors.
The UK and Benelux both average 83,000 euros, with the UK's professional-grade construction roles showing steady demand and stable compensation. Benelux is notable for the strength of its data centre sector weighting, with 32% of Benelux respondents working in data centre construction, the highest proportion of any region surveyed.
What is consistent across all markets is the bonus culture: 82% of European construction professionals receive an annual performance bonus, making it by far the most common benefit in the sector. Average paid leave sits at 26 days across the continent, with the Nordics offering the most generous allowance at 31 days.
Ireland and the UK: The Home Markets
Ireland is one of the most confident construction markets in Europe right now. 67% of Irish construction professionals expect a salary increase in 2026, the highest proportion of any region surveyed. The market is being driven by infrastructure (39% of Irish respondents work in this sector), commercial development (20%), and a growing data centre pipeline (14%).
By seniority, Irish executive-level professionals earn an average of 174,000 euros, with a range from 140,000 to 195,000 euros. Manager-level professionals average 117,000 euros. Senior professionals sit at 74,000 euros, and mid-level roles average 61,000 euros. The top-paying positions in Ireland are Commercial Director and Head of Estimating at 175,000 euros average, followed by Operations Director at 170,000 euros and Construction Director at 160,000 euros.
The UK presents an equally positive picture. 64% of UK construction professionals expect a salary increase in 2026, with the market weighted toward residential (26%), data centre (22%), and infrastructure (20%) work. Manager-level professionals in the UK average 111,000 euros, senior professionals average 85,000 euros, and the Contracts Manager role, one of the most consistently in-demand positions across the country, averages 78,000 euros. Health insurance coverage is notably high in the UK at 90%, reflecting the benefit package expectations of the British market.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland: The DACH Premium
The DACH region is one of the strongest construction markets in Europe, and its compensation benchmarks reflect that. Professionals across Germany, Austria and Switzerland earn an average of 95,000 euros, second only to the Nordics, with a salary range that extends from 37,000 euros at junior level to 199,000 euros at senior executive level.
55% of DACH professionals expect salary growth in 2026, and the region's top-paying roles reflect the strength of its project pipeline. Construction Directors average 165,000 euros, Operations Directors average 155,000 euros, and Project Directors average 130,000 euros. Manager-level professionals earn an average of 88,000 euros across the region, ranging from around 70,000 euros in Germany and Austria to over 110,000 euros in Switzerland.
The DACH region also offers strong non-salary benefits: 80% of professionals receive an annual bonus, 58% have access to a company car or auto allowance averaging 1,200 euros per month, and pension coverage at 48% is among the highest in Europe outside the Nordics.
The Nordics and Benelux: Europe's Highest-Paying Markets
The Nordics stand out as the highest-compensating region in Europe for construction professionals. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland offer an average salary of 98,000 euros, with executive-level professionals earning an average of 175,000 euros, the highest of any region surveyed. The Nordics also lead on pension provision, with 72% of professionals receiving an employer-contributed retirement plan, and on paid leave, with an average of 31 days.
Benelux presents a different but equally compelling picture. The Netherlands and Belgium average 83,000 euros across all roles, with manager-level professionals earning 108,000 euros on average. One standout feature of the Benelux market is health insurance coverage: 100% of Benelux respondents receive employer-provided private health insurance, reflecting its status as a standard component of professional employment in the region.
Benefits, Bonuses and What Comes With the Salary
Across all European markets, the 2026 survey reveals a benefits landscape that extends well beyond base salary. 82% of construction professionals receive an annual performance bonus, typically structured as a percentage of salary tied to company performance. 44% have access to a company car or auto allowance, averaging 1,000 euros per month across the continent.
Health insurance provision varies significantly by region, reflecting the different national healthcare systems across Europe. The UK leads at 90%, while Ireland sits at 26%. Pension provision is highest in the Nordics at 72%. For professionals evaluating opportunities across different markets, understanding the full package, not just the base salary, is essential to making an accurate comparison.
What 2026 Looks Like and How You Can Shape the Data
The picture that emerges from the survey is one of a construction market that is active, well-compensated at professional grade, and broadly optimistic about 2026. 62% of respondents across all European markets expect their salary to increase this year. The Nordics are the exception, with 47% expecting an increase, reflecting recent constraints on Nordic wage growth. Ireland leads confidence at 67%.
The survey is still open. If you are a construction professional working anywhere in Europe, your data strengthens the benchmark and makes the results more useful for everyone who relies on them. Contribute your information in two minutes and receive immediate access to the full salary breakdown, segmented by role, seniority level, and location.
Read more about construction salaries and benefits here: https://nectoselection.com/salary-survey
Our consultants, Aaron Linden, Paddy McDade, and Shane McEntegart, are available to discuss what the data means for your career or your hiring plans. Reach out to us to start the conversation.
