Construction pay scale: how it works in Flanders

If you work or want to work in construction, the pay scale is the basis of your salary. It determines how much you earn at minimum for your role and experience. On this page we explain how that pay scale is structured, which categories exist, and how you can estimate your own pay. Then you can search specifically for a construction job in Flanders that suits you.

How is the pay scale structured?

The construction pay scale falls under joint committee PC 124. That committee negotiates the collective labour agreement (CLA) in which the minimum wages per category are set. Employers may pay more, but never less than this scale. The amounts apply to blue-collar workers, not white-collar employees. The scale is usually adjusted annually to the index, so your pay rises with the cost of living.

Every construction worker is placed in a pay category. That category depends on your role, your responsibilities, and sometimes your diploma or experience. For example, a team leader earns more than a starting labourer.

The pay categories in PC 124

Within PC 124 there are several categories, from unskilled worker to team leader or site manager. The exact names may differ per social secretariat, but this classification is the most common:

• Unskilled worker: entry-level role without specific training, mainly support tasks.
• Skilled worker: you have learned a trade, such as bricklayer, carpenter, or electrician, and work independently on your tasks.
• Team leader: you lead a small team and are responsible for daily planning on site.
• Site manager: you coordinate an entire site, monitor budget and planning, and are the point of contact for the client.

Your category is on your payslip, but also on your employment contract. Don't know which category you are in? Ask your employer or check your documents. For a new job, you can often see in our construction jobs by category which category is requested.

Which factors determine your pay?

Besides your category, a number of other things affect your final pay:

• Seniority: the longer you work in the sector, the higher your scale. Usually your pay increases after a number of years of service.
• Shift bonus: if you work in shifts or at night, you get a supplement on top of your base pay.
• Hazard or height bonus: for risky tasks such as roofing or working at great heights, an extra allowance applies.
• Region: in some regions there are small differences, although the scale is in principle the same for all of Flanders.

Want to know what you can earn in your region? Check our construction jobs by region and compare the offered wages.

How to find your pay scale?

You can find your pay scale on your payslip, but also in the CLA of PC 124. That CLA is available online through the social secretariats or trade unions. On our website, we show the applicable pay scale for every construction job, so you can immediately see what you can earn.

For school leavers and flexi-jobbers, separate rules sometimes apply. A flexi-jobber in construction receives a fixed hourly wage, regardless of category, because it concerns supplementary income. Read more about flexi-jobs in construction if you find that interesting.

Construction pay scale 2026 and indexations

Wages in construction are regularly indexed, usually based on the pivot index. When the index exceeds a certain threshold, wages rise automatically. As a result, the pay scale in 2026 may differ from 2025. The exact amounts can be found in the latest CLA, which you can download from the social secretariat or trade union.

When you apply, an employer usually states the gross monthly or hourly wage based on the applicable scale. With us, you can see the pay for each vacancy, so you won't face surprises.

From pay scale to a real construction job

Do you know your category and want to know which jobs match it? On our site you choose your role and region, and you immediately see the pay, hours, and distance to your door. That way you compare construction jobs based on what matters to you. Ready to take the step? Apply spontaneously and we will match you with a construction boss who suits you.