Engineer Salary Calculator UK
Calculate your take-home pay as a UK engineer after income tax and National Insurance. Covers civil, mechanical, electrical, software, and chemical engineering. Select your discipline, experience level, and region to see your net salary instantly.
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Engineering Salaries in the UK 2025: ONS Data and Industry Overview
Engineering is one of the most economically important professions in the United Kingdom, contributing over £480 billion to the UK economy annually according to Engineering UK. The sector employs approximately 5.5 million people in engineering roles, making it one of the largest employment sectors. However, the UK faces a persistent engineering skills shortage, with Engineering UK estimating a need for approximately 265,000 new engineering recruits each year to meet demand.
According to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024, engineering professionals earn a median annual salary of approximately £47,000, well above the overall UK median of £37,000 for full-time employees. However, this figure masks enormous variation between disciplines, seniority levels, sectors, and geographic location.
Engineering Salary by Discipline: Full 2025/26 Breakdown
Civil Engineering
Civil engineers design and oversee the construction of infrastructure — roads, bridges, tunnels, water systems, rail, and buildings. The sector is large and well-established in the UK, with employers ranging from global consultancies (Arup, AECOM, Mott MacDonald, Atkins) to specialist contractors and local authorities.
| Level | National Range | London Range |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | £28,000 – £32,000 | £32,000 – £38,000 |
| 1-3 Years | £32,000 – £42,000 | £38,000 – £48,000 |
| 3-5 Years | £38,000 – £50,000 | £45,000 – £58,000 |
| Chartered (CEng) | £55,000 – £80,000 | £65,000 – £95,000 |
| Director/Partner | £80,000 – £130,000 | £100,000 – £160,000+ |
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers work across manufacturing, aerospace, defence, automotive, and energy sectors. Key employers include Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, and GE. Manufacturing hubs in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the South West provide strong employment.
| Level | National Range | London Range |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | £27,000 – £32,000 | £30,000 – £36,000 |
| 3-5 Years | £35,000 – £48,000 | £42,000 – £55,000 |
| Chartered (CEng) | £50,000 – £75,000 | £58,000 – £85,000 |
| Principal/Director | £70,000 – £110,000 | £85,000 – £130,000 |
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers work in power generation, renewables, electronics, telecommunications, and transport electrification. The UK's push towards net zero has created significant demand for electrical engineers in offshore wind, EV infrastructure, and grid modernisation projects.
| Level | National Range | London Range |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | £28,000 – £34,000 | £33,000 – £40,000 |
| 3-5 Years | £38,000 – £52,000 | £45,000 – £62,000 |
| Chartered (CEng) | £52,000 – £80,000 | £62,000 – £95,000 |
| Principal/Director | £75,000 – £120,000 | £90,000 – £145,000 |
Software Engineering
Software engineers are the highest-paid engineers in the UK by median salary, driven by intense global demand and the ability to work for US-headquartered companies. London has become a major European tech hub, with salaries at major firms rivalling those in continental European cities. Outside London, strong tech clusters in Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Cambridge, and Leeds offer competitive salaries.
| Level | National Range | London Range |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | £32,000 – £45,000 | £40,000 – £60,000 |
| 1-3 Years | £42,000 – £58,000 | £52,000 – £72,000 |
| 3-5 Years | £50,000 – £75,000 | £65,000 – £90,000 |
| Senior (5-10 years) | £70,000 – £100,000 | £90,000 – £130,000 |
| Principal/Staff | £90,000 – £130,000 | £120,000 – £180,000+ |
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers work in oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, water treatment, and materials science. Major employers include BP, Shell, AstraZeneca, GSK, Unilever, and Ineos. The sector offers strong salaries, particularly in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.
| Level | National Range | London/Aberdeen Range |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | £30,000 – £38,000 | £35,000 – £44,000 |
| 3-5 Years | £42,000 – £58,000 | £50,000 – £68,000 |
| Chartered (CEng) | £60,000 – £90,000 | £70,000 – £110,000 |
Chartered Engineer Status: The CEng Premium
Achieving Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through a recognised Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) is one of the most effective ways to increase earning potential in traditional engineering disciplines. Chartership demonstrates:
- A master's degree level of knowledge and understanding (typically MEng or MSc)
- Competence and commitment assessed by peer engineers
- A commitment to ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Ethical practice and professional standards
The main institutions awarding CEng registration are:
- ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) for civil and structural engineering
- IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) for mechanical engineering
- IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) for electrical/electronic/IT engineering
- IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) for chemical and process engineering
- RAEng (Royal Academy of Engineering) for senior engineers across disciplines
In practical salary terms, CEng engineers typically earn £10,000 to £20,000 more per year than non-chartered engineers at equivalent experience levels. For consulting engineering firms, chartership is often a prerequisite for promotion to Associate or Senior Associate grades. In public sector roles (local authorities, Network Rail, Highways England), CEng is frequently required for technical leadership positions.
The Software vs Traditional Engineering Pay Gap
One of the most striking trends in UK engineering pay data is the growing divergence between software engineering and all other engineering disciplines. Several factors drive this:
- Global competition for talent: US tech companies recruit globally and are willing to pay far above UK market norms to attract talent. A UK software engineer can work remotely for a San Francisco company on a US salary.
- Scalability of software products: A single software engineer can create products used by millions, making the economic value of their work potentially enormous.
- Lower barriers to entry (no CEng required): Software engineering does not require formal professional chartership, meaning career progression can be faster.
- Equity compensation: Tech companies frequently offer stock options and RSUs, which can add £20,000 to £200,000+ to annual compensation at larger firms.
For graduates choosing between engineering disciplines, software engineering offers the highest immediate salary and fastest pay progression, but traditional engineering disciplines offer strong career stability, project variety, and in many cases greater job satisfaction in terms of building tangible physical infrastructure.
IR35 and Engineering Contractors: Day Rate Versus Salary
Many experienced engineers work as contractors rather than permanent employees, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, defence, nuclear, rail, and IT. Contractors typically charge a daily rate rather than earning a salary. As a rule of thumb, an equivalent contractor day rate can be estimated as:
Day Rate = Annual Salary ÷ 220 (working days per year)
For example, an engineer on a £60,000 salary might seek a contract rate of approximately £273 per day (£60,000 ÷ 220). In practice, contract rates include a premium of 15-30% over the salary equivalent to compensate for lack of employment benefits (pension, sick pay, holiday pay) and the additional complexity of running a limited company.
The IR35 rules (off-payroll working rules) affect how contractors are taxed. Since April 2021, medium and large private sector organisations must assess whether contractors working through limited companies are "inside" or "outside" IR35. Inside-IR35 contractors are taxed similarly to employees, reducing the tax advantage of contracting significantly. Outside-IR35 engagements remain tax-efficient but require genuine business independence.
Graduate Engineering Schemes at Major UK Employers
Many of the UK's largest engineering employers run structured graduate schemes that combine rotational placements, mentoring, and structured chartership support. Key schemes for 2025 include:
- Rolls-Royce: Graduate Engineering scheme offering approximately £32,000 to £36,000 with structured CEng pathway. Aerospace, nuclear, and marine roles.
- BAE Systems: Engineering graduate scheme starting around £30,000 to £35,000 across defence sectors including submarines, aircraft, and electronics.
- Arup: Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy with graduate roles from approximately £29,000 to £34,000 in structural, civil, and mechanical disciplines.
- Mott MacDonald: Infrastructure consultancy offering graduate roles from £28,000 to £32,000 with ICE-accredited training programmes.
- Network Rail: Civil and mechanical engineering roles from approximately £28,000 to £32,000 on a two-year graduate scheme.
- Amazon (AWS, fulfilment): Software engineering graduates starting at £45,000 to £60,000 in London with RSU grants on top.
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off in Engineering?
The return on a Master's degree (MSc or MEng integrated) varies significantly by discipline. In civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, an MEng (the integrated master's, 4 or 5 years) is effectively the standard for CEng eligibility and typically adds £2,000 to £4,000 to starting salary compared to a BEng graduate. Over a career, the chartership enabled by MEng can add £200,000 to £400,000 in cumulative salary.
In software engineering, a Master's degree has less clear impact on starting salary. Many of the highest-paid software engineers are BEng or BSc graduates, and some have no engineering degree at all. Bootcamp graduates and self-taught developers frequently earn equivalent or higher salaries than MSc graduates at the same experience level. Portfolio and demonstrated skills matter more than additional academic credentials in software.
Women in Engineering: The Pay Gap
Women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering, comprising approximately 16% of the engineering workforce (Engineering UK, 2024). The gender pay gap in engineering is complex. At graduate entry level, pay is largely the same between men and women on structured schemes. However, the gap widens with seniority, with women on average earning approximately 15% less than male engineers at mid-senior levels. This is partly explained by the lower proportion of women in the highest-paying sub-sectors (software, oil and gas, defence) and partly by structural factors including career breaks for childcare and part-time working patterns. Organisations such as the Women's Engineering Society (WES) and WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) campaign for improved representation and equal pay practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average engineer salary in the UK?
According to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024, the median full-time salary for engineering professionals in the UK is approximately £47,000 per year. However, this varies enormously by discipline: software engineers earn a median of around £55,000 to £65,000, while civil and mechanical engineers earn closer to £42,000 to £48,000 at the median. Graduate starting salaries range from £27,000 to £45,000 depending on discipline and employer. Chartered engineers (CEng) typically earn £10,000 to £20,000 more than non-chartered peers at equivalent levels of experience.
How much do software engineers earn in the UK?
Software engineers are among the highest-paid engineers in the UK. In 2025, graduate software engineers typically earn £32,000 to £45,000. Mid-level engineers with 3 to 5 years of experience earn £50,000 to £75,000. Senior software engineers earn £70,000 to £100,000, while principal and staff engineers at major companies can earn £100,000 to £180,000 or more. In London, salaries are typically 20 to 35% higher than national averages. US technology companies with UK offices — such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple — typically pay significantly above UK-headquartered employers at equivalent levels.
Does being a Chartered Engineer increase your salary?
Yes, significantly. Achieving Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through a Professional Engineering Institution (such as IMechE, ICE, IET, or IChemE) typically adds £10,000 to £20,000 to an engineer's annual salary compared to non-chartered peers with equivalent experience. Chartership signals professional competence, a commitment to CPD, and ethical practice. In civil engineering and the built environment, CEng is often required for senior roles and is essential for project leadership. In consulting, chartership is typically needed before promotion to Associate or Senior Associate grade. Many public sector bodies require CEng for technical leadership appointments.
What is the starting salary for a graduate engineer in the UK?
Graduate engineer starting salaries in 2025 range from approximately £27,000 for mechanical engineering roles at smaller employers to £60,000 or more at major technology companies for software engineers. Civil engineering graduates typically start at £28,000 to £32,000, mechanical at £27,000 to £32,000, and electrical at £28,000 to £34,000. Graduate schemes at large employers such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Arup, and Mott MacDonald typically offer £28,000 to £35,000 plus benefits. Software engineering graduates at Amazon, Google, or similar firms can start at £45,000 to £65,000 in London with equity grants.
Is engineering a well-paid career in the UK?
Engineering is above average in pay compared to the general UK workforce. The ONS ASHE median for all full-time employees is approximately £37,000, while engineering professionals earn around £47,000 median. Software engineering has diverged sharply upward, with senior engineers commanding salaries that rival medicine and law. For traditional engineers, pay is solid and grows steadily with chartership and experience — a chartered civil or mechanical engineer with 15 years of experience can expect to earn £60,000 to £90,000. The profession also offers strong job security, as engineers are needed across almost every sector of the economy.
How much do London engineers earn compared to the rest of the UK?
London engineers typically earn 20 to 35% more than equivalent engineers working elsewhere in the UK. A mid-level civil engineer earning £42,000 in the Midlands might earn £52,000 to £58,000 in London. For software engineering, the premium is even larger: a senior engineer earning £80,000 outside London might earn £100,000 to £125,000 in London. The South East (excluding London) typically pays 10 to 15% above the national average. Scotland, Wales, and the North generally pay at or slightly below the national median, though tech hubs in Edinburgh, Manchester, and Leeds have narrowed this gap considerably in recent years.