Basic median pay for professional engineers has increased by 2% year on year, according to research by the manufacturers’ organisation, EEF.
Its Professionals pay benchmark report, which surveyed 241 UK organisations to collect salary data for 5,986 managers and engineers, also found that average pay for engineering graduates has increased by 4% since 2015.
The research also found:
- Engineering graduates now earn £28,000 a year on average, compared to £26,890 in 2015.
- Average annual pay for professional engineers now stands at £32,699, and senior engineers can expect to earn £41,800 a year.
- Basic median pay for senior research and development engineers has increased by 28% between 2015 and 2016 to reach £37,109 a year.
- Pay levels for engineers are highest in the south east, where professionals take home £40,000 a year on average.
- The lowest earning region in the UK is the south west, where the median basic pay for engineers is £36,000.
Tim Thomas (pictured), director of employment and skills policy at EEF, said: “Engineering skills are in high demand and short supply, which is why they continue to command a premium and why employers are prepared to pay it.
“Offering an attractive salary remains the first line of defence for firms fiercely competing to attract and retain skilled workers vital to their business. It’s a key factor behind our sector’s reputation for offering well-paid, sustainable careers, but it also reinforces the need for employers to be fully aware of industry pay rates so that they can benchmark and position themselves accordingly.”