10 High-Paying Engineering Jobs in the UK

The engineering field is vast, covering disciplines from electrical engineering to construction to software engineering. As an engineer, you could work for a diverse group of companies, including AstraZeneca, Unilever, Tate & Lyle, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, and AECOM [1].

A recent report released by EngineeringUK, a not-for-profit organisation focusing on increasing the number of young people going into tech and engineering careers, shows that engineers in the UK tend to earn higher-than-average incomes relative to regional averages [2]. The organisation projects a 2.8 per cent growth in engineering jobs by 2030, which is higher than the national average expected for all occupations (2.3 per cent) [2].

Explore 10 high-paying engineering jobs in the UK and the qualifications you'll need to get them. Find out about salaries and daily tasks for each position, and learn how to enter the field.

What is engineering?

Engineering is solving real-world problems by using principles of science and maths. As an engineer, you'll define a problem and use your technical skills to provide a solution. Examples of the type of work you might do in this role include the following:

• Design products

• Develop new technologies to improve automation and advance renewable energy

• Identify the causes of machine malfunctions

• Test products to ensure they work as designed

• Supervise operations in a factory

10 high-paying engineering jobs

You can take many different career paths in the field of engineering, but some engineering jobs pay better than others. Explore 10 high-paying engineering jobs you might pursue in the UK.

*All base annual salary data comes from Glassdoor as of November 2024. 

1. Computer hardware engineer

Average salary in the UK: £37,972 

Requirements: Degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related field; strong understanding of maths and computer parts and systems 

Computer hardware engineers design and build computer hardware like chips, circuit boards, outer casings, processors, and routers. As a computer hardware engineer, you'll also create the blueprints for your designs, test the products you build, and have input on installation.

2. Software engineer

Average salary in the UK: £48,694 

Requirements: Degree in computer science or information technology; a solid background in computer programming [6]

Software engineers design and develop computer programs and applications or update existing programs and applications. This could involve writing software to perform certain tasks, so consider mastering at least one programming language, such as JavaScript. 

3. Chemical engineer

Average salary in the UK: £35,853

Requirements: Degree in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, or process engineering

Chemical engineers design and build products from raw materials. Important considerations for this process include health, safety, and cost. Common industries you may work in as a chemical engineer include energy, foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, or plastics. 

4. Biomedical engineer

Average salary in the UK: £32,759 

Requirements: Degree in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering

Biomedical engineers design and build equipment and devices related to health care. As a biomedical engineer, you might work on prosthetic implants, artificial organs, surgical instruments, and medical equipment. Many biomedical engineers work in research and development, while others work in health care, manufacturing, or academia.

5. Petroleum engineer

Average salary in the UK: £54,332 

Requirements: Degree in petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field

Petroleum engineers design and develop safe ways to extract oil and natural gas from below the Earth’s surface with an aim to limit environmental effects. As a petroleum engineer, you could perform duties such as designing drilling equipment or determining the best technique for extracting oil and natural gas. 

6. Electrical engineer

Average salary in the UK: £38,025 

Requirements: Degree in electrical engineering or related engineering field

Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment, often working with a team that might include architects, product designers, other engineers, manufacturers, sales managers, and marketers. As an electrical engineer, you can find work in many industries including telecommunications, electronics, hardware and software development, and manufacturing.

7. Data engineer

Average salary in the UK: £47,930 

Requirements: Degree in computer science, information technology (IT), software engineering, or maths and knowledge of programming languages

Data engineers collect data, create databases to organise, transform, and analyse data. As a data engineer, you can work in any industry, as most businesses rely on data analytics services.

8. Materials engineer

Average salary in the UK: £34,862 

Requirements: Degree in materials engineering, materials science, applied chemistry, or applied physics [8]

Materials engineers develop and test materials to be used for products in a wide range of industries. As a materials engineer, you might research the properties of different elements, explore ways to combine them, and design processes for using them to create or modify various products. 

9. Industrial engineer

Average salary in the UK: £35,473 

Requirements: Degree in industrial engineering or a related field of study, strong interest and knowledge in science and maths

Industrial engineers work to optimise processes related to the production of goods or materials. By creating or improving processes as an industrial engineer, you'll help your employer boost productivity, improve quality, save time, and cut costs. 

10. Aerospace engineer

Average salary in the UK: £37,730 

Requirements: Degree in aerospace engineering, avionics, or a related field

Aerospace engineers research, design, develop, and test prototypes for aerial machines like aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. As an aerospace engineer, you'll ensure that the products you design and develop align with engineering principles and safety requirements.

How to obtain a high-paying engineering job

To become an engineer, you'll typically need a degree in your respective engineering field. Additional ways to improve your marketability for a high-paying job include the following:

• Earning a master's degree or doctorate

• Completing an engineering apprenticeship

• Getting experience by working in an entry-level engineering job

• Joining a professional engineering organisation

• Applying for professional qualifications

Advance your engineering career with Coursera

High-paying engineering jobs in the UK highlight the demand for specialised skills and the opportunities advanced qualifications can unlock. Learning more about different engineering careers can help you decide which path you may want to take. If you're still unsure whether a career in engineering fits into your life plan, you can learn more about the field by enrolling in an online course like Introduction to Engineering Mechanics from the Georgia Institute of Technology on Coursera. Or, supplement your existing experience and start building your resume with a specialised certificate programme like IBM's AI Engineering Professional Certificate.