Thatcher
Lay and maintain thatched roofs using traditional materials — water reed, long straw, and combed wheat — preserving one of England's most distinctive building traditions.
High
Low
4–5 years via apprenticeship with a master thatcher
No formal qualification required; 4–5 year apprenticeship with a master thatcher is the standard route
common
What you do
Thatchers coat and repair roofs using natural plant materials, principally water reed (Norfolk reed), long straw, and combed wheat reed. The work involves stripping old coatwork, preparing and dressing material into bundles (yealms), carrying it up ladders to the roof, and fixing it in layers using hazel spars, liggers, and steel crooks. A full re-thatch of a cottage takes two to four weeks. Thatchers also carry out ridge work — the decorative and functional top of a thatched roof — using a variety of traditional patterns that vary by region. Much of the work is on Grade II listed properties, where planning restrictions require like-for-like materials and methods. Some thatchers specialise in new-build thatch for eco-homes and bespoke projects.
Why this career is resilient
Thatching is one of the UK's rarest heritage crafts — the National Society of Master Thatchers estimates only around 800–1,000 active thatchers in England. There are approximately 60,000 thatched properties in the UK, each requiring re-ridging every 10–15 years and full re-thatching every 20–40 years depending on material. Listed building consent requires traditional methods and materials. The craft cannot be mechanised: each roof pitch, valley, and dormer demands site-specific hand skills. The supply of skilled thatchers is declining faster than demand, creating strong pricing power for those in the trade.
A typical day
You arrive at a cottage site early and set up ladders and scaffolding. The morning is spent carrying bundles of water reed up to the roof and fixing them in courses, working from eaves to ridge, using a leggett to dress each layer flat and tight. After lunch you continue up the roof slope, fitting around dormers and chimney stacks. Late afternoon is spent tidying edges and cleaning up the site. In wet weather you may work in the yard preparing materials and sharpening tools.
Routes in
Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn: work with an employer and study part-time, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Typically funded by the government and your employer.
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Qualified thatchers typically work self-employed and earn £30,000–£50,000. Experienced master thatchers with a full order book earn £50,000–£70,000+. Day rates of £250–£400 are common. Work is seasonal (weather-dependent), with peak demand spring through autumn.
Training costs: Apprenticeship with a master thatcher: paid from day one but wages start low (£12,000–£16,000 in early years). No formal college fees. Tools: £300–£800 for a basic set (leggett, shearing hooks, eaves knife, spars). The main cost is the length of training — commitment to several years of lower earning while learning.