Subby vs employee: what really changes once you’re on site

Being a subby versus being an employee is one of the biggest crossroads in a tradie’s career. On paper, employment looks safer. Subby life looks freer. But once you’re actually on site, the trade offs are very real. Income certainty versus upside. Security versus responsibility. And plenty of blokes get this call wrong because they only look at the money, not the risk.

The choice between security and control starts here.

Being employed as a tradie has its appeal for a reason. It offers certainty. You generally know what your income will look like week to week, which makes it easier to plan, budget and breathe a little. In a trade where income can swing fast, that predictability matters.

Employment also covers a lot of your downside. Sick leave, annual leave and carers leave soften the blow when life gets in the way. In the right company, there may be extras like tool allowances, bonuses or a company vehicle. You turn up, do the work, and most of the admin, tax and insurance load is handled for you. That structure takes pressure off, but it also means you’re operating inside someone else’s limits.

 Where employment starts to feel tight

That safety comes with trade-offs. Your earning potential is usually capped, and you have limited control over how your days or weeks are structured. You answer to a boss, operate within someone else’s systems, and progression often depends more on the business than on your individual output.

For some tradies, that ceiling is manageable. For others, it becomes frustrating, especially once skill and experience grow but pay stays largely fixed.

“The pay is steady. The ceiling usually is too.”

What Changes When You Go Subby

This is where subcontracting starts to look attractive. Higher rates. More flexibility. Fewer limits on paper. In reality, it also means stepping into a level of responsibility that didn’t exist before.

As a subby, you’re often operating as a sole trader. That means managing your own insurances, tax, administration, contracts and the constant task of finding and delivering work. Depending on the job, you may be responsible for materials or labour only, and super obligations can vary. The shift isn’t just about earning more. It’s about carrying more risk, and that risk shows up fast when work slows, payments drag or paperwork slips.

Which one actually works for you

Subby work can pay better if you’re good at what you do and can handle the added responsibility. It can also be a strong learning ground for tradies with business ambition, helping you understand how work is won, delivered and managed end to end. But being skilled on the tools doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to run even a small operation, and without preparation, the admin and pressure can take over quickly.

Employment suits tradies who value structure, certainty and a clear financial baseline. Subby work suits those willing to trade security for upside and carry the pressure that comes with it. Neither path is easy. The mistake is choosing one without understanding what it actually costs once you’re on site.