What can you earn as an electrical engineer in the UK? Learn how electrical engineer salaries differ depending on education, professional registrations, location, experience, industry, etc.
Electrical engineers are technical professionals who design, build, and maintain electric-powered devices, big and small, that industries and individuals use. These devices could include an electrical grid system, manufacturer鈥檚 machinery, satellite equipment, fibre optics, or microchips.
When choosing a career path, you may want to consider the different levels of electrical engineering salary and what factors impact maximising an upward trajectory towards higher earnings.听
According to Indeed, the average base salary for an electrical engineer in the United Kingdom is 拢42,619 per year as of June 2025 []. Electronics and electrical tools have become integral parts of life for business and pleasure. Millions of people rely on the engineering behind these systems every day. Nevertheless, several factors can determine the electrical engineer鈥檚 salary.听
What you can expect to earn as an electrical engineer can depend on your experience, education, industry, city, and company factors. Negotiating with potential employers is also possible鈥攅specially if you have the specialised skills they seek.听
Your electrical engineer career path typically starts with education or training, such as a university degree, college diploma, or completion of an apprenticeship. University degrees in electromechanical engineering, building services engineering, applied physics, aeronautical engineering, and mechatronics are suitable programmes for a career in electrical engineering. The entry requirements for these degrees are usually 2 to 3 A levels or the equivalent.
A Level 4 and 5 Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at college is an acceptable qualification to apply for engineering positions. You will need 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma, or relevant experience to get into the Level 4 or 5 course.
An apprenticeship is another path to becoming a qualified engineer. These programs usually take between four and six years to complete. To enter an apprenticeship, you need four or five GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels.听
A bachelor's, master's, or doctorate can help you qualify for a higher salary. For instance, the average salary for a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEng) degree holder in the UK is 拢44,000, according to Payscale [].
Once you have been on the job for a few years, you may want to seek professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), or Chartered Engineer (CEng).听
Glassdoor | PayScale | Talent.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Engineering Technician (EngTech) | 拢33,312 | 拢31,000 | 拢36,279 |
Incorporated Engineer (IEng) | 拢36,987 | 拢36,000 | 拢44,848 |
Chartered Engineer (CEng) | 拢44,068 | 拢54,000 | 拢40,200 |
These registered titles can help you advance your career and salary as you demonstrate competence and commitment to the field. As outlined in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC), each registration title requires engineers to meet standards in five broad areas []:
Knowledge and understanding
Design, development, and solving engineering problems
Responsibility, management, and leadership
Communication and interpersonal skills
Professional commitment聽聽
You need not have an accredited engineering degree to be eligible for registration. Professional registration is open to those who can demonstrate professional competence, work within professional codes, and participate actively.
Your years of experience can pay off in terms of salary. According to Payscale, electrical engineers earn the following average salaries based on experience level in the UK [闭:听
1 year: 拢27,724
1鈥4 years: 拢31,833
5鈥9 years: 拢38,941
10鈥19 years: 拢43,124
20+ years: 拢43,361
After years of working in electrical engineering, you may be qualified to work as an electrical engineering manager. In this role, you are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating activities of engineering teams, therefore earning more. The average salary of electrical engineering managers is 拢47,239 per year, according to Payscale [].
Electrical engineers can work in many industries, including:
Aerospace
Automotive
Chemical
Construction
Defense
Electronics
Consumer goods
Marine
Materials and metals
Oil and gas
Pharmaceuticals
Power generation
Rail
Telecommunications
Utilities
In addition to this, corporations, nonprofit organisations, and governmental agencies also hire electrical engineers.
While supply and demand play a role in determining which industry pays the most for electrical engineers, a 2025 report found that engineers in the following industries have the highest salaries in the UK []:
Rail/civil and structural: 拢74,093
Chemical and pharma/medical: 拢73,061
Oil and gas: 拢69,184
Materials: 拢67,183
Aerospace: 拢63,257
Another critical variable determining electrical engineers' salaries is the company's size. Larger corporations tend to pay more, as their balance sheets allow for flexibility in pay structure.听
Employers can also pay employees more if the company is more stable. A formalised performance review process can also help you achieve salary increases.
When considering companies, look beyond the initial salary offer. Once you've shown your worth, you may have opportunities to earn more.听
As with all professions, some companies pay better than others. As of June 2025, Glassdoor lists the following as popular UK companies that hire electrical engineers and their average salaries []:
Arup: 拢37,000
Mott MacDonald: 拢41,000
SSE: 拢51,000
BAE Systems: 拢36,000
AECOM: 拢36,000
Babcock International Group: 拢41,000
Tata Steel: 拢41,000
CDE Group: 拢30,000
AtkinsR茅alis: 拢39,000
CBRE: 拢40,000
Location can impact your salary as well. Cost of living variables can factor in based on your region, too. According to Indeed, in June 2025, the top locations for electrical engineering pay in the UK are [闭:听
West London: 拢52,378
Bradford: 拢43,349
Winsford: 拢43,246
Avonmouth: 拢42,661
Droitwich: 拢42,493
Doncaster: 拢41,832
Derby: 拢41,794
Ware: 拢40,546
Dudley: 拢40,192
Different jobs within the electrical engineering career path also pay differently. Your job title sometimes determines your salary. Some examples of average salaries for different job titles in this profession include:
Controls engineer: 拢41,214
Project engineer: 拢39,428
Test engineer: $36,398
Design engineer: 拢34,311聽
Electrical engineer: 拢36,289
Communications engineer: 拢31,619聽
Systems engineer: 拢45,815聽
Aeronautical engineer: 拢35,926
Electronics engineer: 拢37,531聽
*All salaries were sourced from Glassdoor in June 2025.
To increase your salary as an electrical engineer, completing a bachelor鈥檚 degree or a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is a great start. In the meantime, you can augment your CV by specialising in specific skills that can set you apart in the job market. An online course can also help you determine what interests you most to focus your training, education, and experience on an enjoyable and lucrative career.听
For example, Energy Production, Distribution, and Safety, a specialisation course on 糖心vlog官网观看, may establish the foundation for a job in the energy industry. Introduction to Electronics on 糖心vlog官网观看 can provide the basics of electronics to prepare you for more in-depth work.
Indeed. 鈥, https://uk.indeed.com/career/electrical-engineer/salaries.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Degree=Bachelor_of_Engineering_(BEng_%2F_BE)%2C_Electrical_Engineering_(EE)/Salary.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
Engineering Council. 鈥, https://www.engc.org.uk/standards-guidance/standards/uk-spec/.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Electrical_Engineer/Salary.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Electrical_Engineering_Manager/Salary.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
The Engineer. 鈥, https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/salary-report/the-engineer-salary-survey-2025." Accessed 19 June 2025.
Glassdoor. 鈥. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/uk-electrical-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,22.htm?clickSource=searchBtn/.鈥 Accessed 19 June 2025.
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