Civil engineers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£50,602
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 90% of Civil engineers work full-time
- 13% are self-employed
- 94% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Civil engineers pay in the UK
The typical civil engineers in the UK earns a median salary of £50,602 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of civil engineers earnings fall between £39,138 and £64,249 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced civil engineers.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £52,874. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical civil engineers actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 13% of Civil engineers are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: civil engineers pay ranges from £39,722 in North East up to £56,066 in West Midlands, a difference of £16,344 (41%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see civil engineers pay in West Midlands, Civil engineers vs Architect or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for civil engineers at £56,066 — 11% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £39,722.
UK median £50,602
| Region | Median payUK median £50,602 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £56,066 | £56,066 | £52,178 | +11% |
| South West | £55,472 | £55,472 | £57,430 | +10% |
| Scotland | £54,668 | £54,668 | £51,830 | +8% |
| South East | £54,499 | £54,499 | £58,223 | +8% |
| London | £51,769 | £51,769 | £55,746 | +2% |
| North West | £49,238 | £49,238 | £53,551 | -3% |
| East Midlands | £49,156 | £49,156 | £48,719 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £48,160 | £48,160 | £48,552 | -5% |
| East of England | £46,953 | £46,953 | £45,824 | -7% |
| Wales | £41,581 | £41,581 | £46,292 | -18% |
| North East | £39,722 | £39,722 | £44,325 | -22% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £56,066 | £56,066Mean £52,178 | +11% |
| South West £55,472 | £55,472Mean £57,430 | +10% |
| Scotland £54,668 | £54,668Mean £51,830 | +8% |
| South East £54,499 | £54,499Mean £58,223 | +8% |
| London £51,769 | £51,769Mean £55,746 | +2% |
| North West £49,238 | £49,238Mean £53,551 | -3% |
| East Midlands £49,156 | £49,156Mean £48,719 | -3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £48,160 | £48,160Mean £48,552 | -5% |
| East of England £46,953 | £46,953Mean £45,824 | -7% |
| Wales £41,581 | £41,581Mean £46,292 | -18% |
| North East £39,722 | £39,722Mean £44,325 | -22% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£50,602); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local civil engineers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow civil engineers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for civil engineers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Compare with…
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