How much does a Mechanical engineers earn in the UK?
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 £36,641 in North East up to £58,105 in North West, a difference of £21,464 (59%). 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. North East is lowest at £36,641.
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% |
| 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% |
| East Midlands | £42,666 | £42,666 | £44,073 | -16% |
| Scotland | £38,478 | £38,478 | £45,668 | -24% |
| North East | £36,641 | £36,641 | £39,866 | -28% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| East Midlands £42,666 | £42,666Mean £44,073 | -16% |
| Scotland £38,478 | £38,478Mean £45,668 | -24% |
| North East £36,641 | £36,641Mean £39,866 | -28% |
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
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Compare with…
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a mechanical engineer earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for a mechanical engineer in the UK is £50,594, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data. Most mechanical engineers earn between £38,491 and £62,290 per year.
- What is the median mechanical engineer salary?
- The median mechanical engineer salary in the UK is £50,594 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all mechanical engineers earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- How much do senior mechanical engineers earn?
- The top 25% of mechanical engineers in the UK earn more than £62,290 per year (75th percentile, ONS ASHE 2025). The bottom quarter earn up to £38,491 annually.
- Which UK region pays mechanical engineers the most?
- North West has the highest median mechanical engineer salary at £58,105 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has mechanical engineer pay changed in recent years?
- Median mechanical engineer pay rose from £46,417 in 2024 to £50,594 in 2025 — a 9% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average mechanical engineer salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) mechanical engineer salary in the UK is £54,255 per year. The mean is higher than the median of £50,594 because high earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).
Related roles in Engineering Professionals
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →