Mechanical engineers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£50,594
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 91% of Mechanical engineers work full-time
- 9% are self-employed
- 97.1% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Mechanical engineers pay in the UK
The typical mechanical engineers in the UK earns a median salary of £50,594 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 mechanical engineers earnings fall between £38,491 and £62,290 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced mechanical engineers.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £54,255. 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 mechanical engineers actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: mechanical engineers pay ranges from £38,478 in Scotland up to £58,105 in North West, a difference of £19,627 (51%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see mechanical engineers pay in North West, Mechanical engineers vs Architect or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
North West is the highest-paying region for mechanical engineers at £58,105 — 15% above the UK median. Scotland is lowest at £38,478.
UK median £50,594
| Region | Median payUK median £50,594 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | £58,105 | £58,105 | £56,985 | +15% |
| London | £57,850 | £57,850 | £60,123 | +14% |
| East of England | £51,905 | £51,905 | £57,194 | +3% |
| South West | £51,657 | £51,657 | £49,389 | +2% |
| South East | £48,248 | £48,248 | £55,107 | -5% |
| East Midlands | £47,373 | £47,373 | £48,086 | -6% |
| West Midlands | £44,874 | £44,874 | £59,011 | -11% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £44,774 | £44,774 | £49,029 | -12% |
| Wales | £44,386 | £44,386 | £51,635 | -12% |
| North East | £43,402 | £43,402 | £45,505 | -14% |
| Scotland | £38,478 | £38,478 | £45,668 | -24% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| North West £58,105 | £58,105Mean £56,985 | +15% |
| London £57,850 | £57,850Mean £60,123 | +14% |
| East of England £51,905 | £51,905Mean £57,194 | +3% |
| South West £51,657 | £51,657Mean £49,389 | +2% |
| South East £48,248 | £48,248Mean £55,107 | -5% |
| East Midlands £47,373 | £47,373Mean £48,086 | -6% |
| West Midlands £44,874 | £44,874Mean £59,011 | -11% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £44,774 | £44,774Mean £49,029 | -12% |
| Wales £44,386 | £44,386Mean £51,635 | -12% |
| North East £43,402 | £43,402Mean £45,505 | -14% |
| Scotland £38,478 | £38,478Mean £45,668 | -24% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£50,594); ‘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 mechanical engineers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow mechanical engineers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for mechanical 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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