Electrical Engineer Salary: Your 2025 Guide

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’s 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. 

How much do electrical engineers make?

According to Indeed, the average base salary for an electrical engineer in the United Kingdom is £41,755 per year as of November 2024 [1]. 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’s salary. 

Factors affecting salary

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—especially if you have the specialised skills they seek. 

Education

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. 

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 £44,000, according to Payscale [2].

Professional registrations

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). 

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 [3]:

• Knowledge and understanding

• Design, development, and solving engineering problems

• Responsibility, management, and leadership

• Communication and interpersonal skills

• Professional commitment  

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.

Level of experience 

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 [4]: 

• 1 year: £28,000

• 1–4 years: £31,000

• 5–9 years: £39,000

• 10–19 years: £42,000

• 20+ years: £44,000

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 £47,239 per year, according to Payscale [5].

Industry

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 2022 report found that engineers in the following industries have the highest salaries in the UK [6]:

• Manufacturing: £65,340

• Energy/renewables/nuclear: £62,709

• Chemical and pharma/medical: £61,331

• Oil and gas: £58,714

• Telecom/utilities/electronics: £58,682

Company size

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. 

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. 

As with all professions, some companies pay better than others. As of November 2024, Glassdoor lists the following as popular UK companies that hire electrical engineers and their average salaries [7]:

• Arup: £36,000

• Mott MacDonald: £41,000

• SSE: £48,000

• BAE Systems: £37,000

• AECOM: £36,000

• Babcock International Group: £44,000

• Tata Steel: £42,000

• SLB: £48,000

• AtkinsRéalis: £39,000

• ChapmanBDSP: £30,000

Location

Location can impact your salary as well. Cost of living variables can factor in based on your region, too. According to Indeed, in November 2024, the top locations for electrical engineering pay in the UK are [1]: 

1. West London: £54,447

2. London: £46,683

3. Glasgow: £44,983

4. Chelmsford: £43,992

5. Bradford: £43,266

6. Doncaster: £42,419

7. Derby: £41,446

8. Stoke on Trent: £40,962

9. Dudley: £38,112

Job title variations

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: £40,980

• Project engineer: £39,125

• Test engineer: $36,099

• Design engineer: £33,092 

• Electrical engineer: £36,289

• Communications engineer: £32,113 

• Systems engineer: £45,614 

• Aeronautical engineer: £35,812

• Electronics engineer: £37,531 

*All salaries were sourced from Glassdoor in November 2024.

Electrical engineer salary: Next steps

To increase your salary as an electrical engineer, completing a bachelor’s 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. 

For example, Energy Production, Distribution, and Safety, a specialisation course on Coursera, may establish the foundation for a job in the energy industry. Introduction to Electronics on Coursera can provide the basics of electronics to prepare you for more in-depth work.