Blackburn is one of the best places to be a brickie, spark or plumber, as tradesmen living in the town are paid some of the highest hourly rates in the whole of the North West.

According to new research - based on the cost of living, the average day rate for a tradesman, and the price of a pint of lager - the best place for a builder to live is Blackburn.

With an average hourly rate of £51 and an average day rate of £195, the biggest town in East Lancashire has some of the highest earning builders when compared to other parts of the region.

Plumbers in Blackburn are also paid handsomely, with an average hourly rate of £49 and an average day rate of £231.

Only plumbers in Preston are paid more, with £53 per hour and £237 per day.

And when it comes to electricians, the best place to live, according to the data, is Lancaster, with Blackburn coming a close fifth.

Sparkies in Lancaster can earn around £33 and hour and £241 for a day's work, with electricians in Blackburn demanding £32 per hour or £222 per day.

The research was carried out by SkiphireUK, who scoured the length and breadth of Britain to find out more about the best and worst places to live as a tradesman.

From the average cost of living to the going day rate, price of a pint, chances of injury and more, the following places are the best to live in the North West if you're on the tools:

Builders

  • Blackburn £51 £195
  • Preston £50 £194
  • Stockport £32 £206
  • Tameside £32 £205
  • Bury £32 £203
  • Oldham £32 £201
  • Rochdale £32 £198
  • Trafford £31 £204
  • Manchester £31 £197
  • Chester £30 £206
  • Salford £30 £193
  • Wirral £29 £192
  • Warrington £28 £201
  • Liverpool £28 £190
  • Halton £27 £195
  • Knowsley £27 £183
  • Sefton £27 £190
  • Bolton £26 £191
  • Wigan £26 £183
  • St Helens £25 £175
  • West Lancashire £25 £175
  • Blackpool £23 £164
  • Lancaster £21 £196
smiling man plumber in uniform repairing toilet bowl using instrument kit looks happy professional repair service..

smiling man plumber in uniform repairing toilet bowl using instrument kit looks happy professional repair service..

Plumbers

  • Preston £53 £237
  • Blackburn £49 £231
  • Bolton £46 £238
  • Bury £46 £239
  • Stockport £43 £237
  • Trafford £42 £234
  • Tameside £42 £233
  • Manchester £41 £232
  • Salford £41 £231
  • Lancaster £39 £269
  • Oldham £38 £235
  • Rochdale £38 £237
  • Warrington £38 £228
  • Wigan £37 £226
  • Chester £37 £205
  • Halton £36 £220
  • St Helens £36 £218
  • West Lancashire £35 £221
  • Wirral £35 £220
  • Liverpool £35 £219
  • Sefton £35 £219
  • Knowsley £35 £216
  • Blackpool £32 £224
Generic image of a electrician..

Generic image of a electrician..

Electricians

  • Lancaster £33 £241
  • Trafford £33 £222
  • Warrington £33 £221
  • Tameside £32 £216
  • Blackburn £32 £222
  • Bolton £32 £219
  • Stockport £32 £216
  • Bury £32 £218
  • Manchester £32 £217
  • Salford £32 £216
  • Rochdale £32 £219
  • Sefton £31 £222
  • Liverpool £31 £216
  • Wirral £31 £219
  • Knowsley £31 £214
  • Macclesfield £31 £214
  • Oldham £31 £214
  • Halton £30 £212
  • Preston £30 £208
  • Blackpool £29 £208
  • West Lancashire £29 £208
  • St Helens £29 £205
  • Wigan £29 £202
  • Chester £28 £202