Should I Work for a Main Contractor or a Subcontractor?

It’s a question we hear fairly regularly from M&E candidates once they’ve got a bit of experience behind them.

And like most things in construction, there isn’t a clean answer.

Some people will tell you main contractors are the place to be because of the size of the projects, the salaries and the structure. Others will tell you subcontractors are where the real work happens and where you properly learn the trade.

Truthfully, there’s probably some validity in both.

A lot of people don’t even consciously choose one route or the other at first either. Careers naturally move in certain directions. You start on site, you follow opportunities, you work with people you trust, you chase a better package, a bigger project or a better commute. Then somewhere down the line you start asking yourself what type of environment you genuinely enjoy working in.

At which point, the real comparisons begin and candidates will look at the pros and cons of both main contractor and sub contractor work.

So let’s go through them…

The scale of projects can feel very different

Firstly, one of the biggest attractions of working for a main contractor is the scale and breadth of what you’re involved in.

You could be overseeing huge M&E packages on major projects worth hundreds of millions. Airports, towers, large mixed-use developments, landmark London schemes. The kind of projects people mention years later when talking about their careers.

On some developments, there may be multiple plots split between different main contractors, with several subcontractors underneath them all delivering specialist packages.

From the main contractor side, you’re often overseeing the wider operation. Multiple subcontractors, multiple stakeholders, different moving parts all happening at once. And for some people, that broader oversight is exactly what they enjoy.

Others prefer being closer to the specialist delivery side. The actual nuts and bolts of how things get built day to day. That’s usually where subcontractors become more appealing.

The day to day work is very different

This is probably the biggest thing candidates underestimate.

A lot of subcontractor environments are fast paced and heavily delivery focused. You’re closer to the problems, closer to the pressure and usually closer to the building process itself.

You’re driving packages forward because you have to. Delays cost money, so do mistakes and ultimately projects need moving.

Some people absolutely thrive in that environment.

Others prefer the broader coordination side that often comes with main contracting. Managing packages, dealing with clients, overseeing subcontractors, handling process and stakeholder management.

One of the comparisons made during our discussion internally was the difference between a really strong BIM Manager and a really strong Revit Coordinator.

Not everyone wants to move away from the technical side. Some people genuinely enjoy being deep in the coordination, solving problems and being heavily involved in the delivery side of projects. Others enjoy overseeing the bigger picture and managing wider teams and processes.

Neither is wrong. They’re just different skillsets.

Progression can look completely different too 

This was where the conversation got tasty.

Main contractors often have clearer structures. Defined levels, appraisals, development plans and visible progression ladders. Large businesses naturally tend to HR teams who create strong processes around career development.

You might join and immediately see the hierarchy mapped out in front of you.

Sometimes that’s the same with subcontractors, but often it can be pretty different.

The progression is often less formal but sometimes quicker if you’re good at what you do. If you come in, perform well and prove yourself, people notice quickly because the business is heavily focused around that specialist area.

One of the team made a really good point around this.

A main contractor may only have one Head of M&E or one senior lead sitting at the top of that division. Whereas a large M&E subcontractor might have numerous Project Directors, numerous senior operational leads and a much larger specialist structure because M&E is the entire business.

So while the progression might feel less “corporate”, there can sometimes be more room to grow within the specialism itself.

Again, it depends what motivates you.

The skills you develop can differ massively

There was an interesting example brought up around the collapse of different businesses in the market in recent years, and how the market reacted afterwards.

When Michael J Lonsdale went under in 2023, there was a huge rush from other subcontractors trying to bring those people in quickly because they already had direct specialist delivery experience.

Whereas when main contractor ISG did the same a year later, the demand around their staff was minimal. There’s still a perception in parts of the industry that some people coming purely from main contractor environments are heavily process driven and very strong on QA, health & safety and management, but haven’t spent as much time dealing with the realities of specialist delivery.

One story that came up was a subcontractor specifically wanting people with subcontractor experience because they wanted individuals who knew when “the wool was being pulled over their eyes” on projects.

That sounds harsh written down, but it’s a very real industry opinion.

At the same time, there are plenty of people on the main contractor side who would argue they develop stronger leadership, commercial awareness, stakeholder management and broader project understanding because of the scale and complexity they’re overseeing.

Both environments teach valuable skills, and again, the important takeaway is understanding which ones align more naturally with where you want your career to head.

Money wise, it’s not always as straightforward as people think

There are definitely levels where main contractors can pay more.

Construction Managers and Package Managers at major main contractors can command very strong salaries because of the scale of responsibility sitting with them.

But once you start moving further up the ladder, the gap can become less obvious.

Strong Project Directors and senior operational staff within successful subcontractors can earn extremely well too, especially when bonuses and project delivery incentives come into play.

A lot of the really senior people in the industry have moved between both environments throughout their careers anyway. So while salary always matters, it probably shouldn’t be the only thing driving the decision.

There’s also a personality side to all of this

We also hear from some candidates (and now clients) who say it felt nice being “at the top of the food chain” working for a main contractor rather than constantly chasing from the subcontractor side.

There’s definitely some truth in that too.

Certain people enjoy being client facing, overseeing projects from a higher level and sitting within larger corporate structures. Others love the pressure, pace and camaraderie that comes with specialist subcontracting environments.

Some people want structure and process, others want autonomy and visibility.

Some people enjoy overseeing the build, others enjoy being right in the middle of making it happen.

So… which route should you choose?

Truthfully, there probably isn’t a universal answer.

A lot of people start their careers just trying to learn, improve and move forward however opportunities present themselves. That’s the case in all industries, not just our beloved M&E.

But at some point, it’s worth stepping back and asking yourself what parts of the job you genuinely enjoy.

Do you enjoy being heavily involved in the technical delivery side?

Do you enjoy managing wider processes and bigger teams?

Do you prefer specialist environments or broader ones?

Do you enjoy the pressure of driving packages forward day-to-day or do you prefer coordinating projects from a wider viewpoint?

The answers to those questions usually tell you far more than whether somebody online says “main contractors are better” or “subcontractors are better”.

Because in reality, both routes can lead to brilliant careers in M&E construction. The important thing is understanding which environment brings the best out of you.

And sometimes that’s where a good conversation with people who know the market well can help.

And that’s where we come in, we are having these conversations every day. So if you’re trying to pinpoint any of your career aspirations, reach out to one of our team today!