Electrical Engineer Salary UK: What the Latest ONS Data Shows

If you're an electrical engineer or considering the profession, understanding the electrical engineer salary landscape is crucial. The most authoritative source is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). For 2025, the provisional data for SOC 2020 unit group 2123 (electrical engineers) shows a median full-time annual salary of £60,303. This means half of full-time electrical engineers earn more than this, half earn less. The lower quartile (25th percentile) stands at £43,003, and the upper quartile (75th percentile) at £73,899.

These figures reflect basic pay including allowances but excluding overtime, bonuses, and unpaid leave. They are based on employer-reported PAYE data for a 1% sample of employees, so they are reliable for benchmarking.

Hourly Rate Conversion

To convert the annual median to an hourly rate, assume a typical full-time working week of 37.5 hours (common in engineering) and 52 paid weeks per year. The calculation is:

£60,303 ÷ (37.5 × 52) = approximately £30.92 per hour.

This is significantly above the UK median hourly wage for all full-time employees (£19.67 in April 2025) and well above the National Living Wage (£12.21 for those aged 21+ from April 2025). However, your actual hourly rate may differ if your contract specifies different hours, if you work unpaid overtime, or if you receive London weighting or shift allowances.

Use our hourly calculator to convert your own hourly rate to annual salary, or see salary data for other occupations.

Regional Differences in Electrical Engineer Pay

Where you work in the UK makes a big difference to your electrical engineer salary. According to ONS data compiled by Salary Scout, the regional median annual pay for electrical engineers varies by up to 61%:

• London: £62,697 (5% above UK median)
• North West: £61,782
• East of England: £61,766
• Scotland: £59,276
• South East: £56,004
• South West: £54,986
• North East: £49,250
• Wales: £48,495
• East Midlands: £47,373
• West Midlands: £44,414
• Yorkshire and the Humber: £38,985

London offers the highest pay, partly due to higher living costs and competition for talent. Yorkshire and the Humber is the lowest-paying region, though still above the national median for all occupations. If you are considering relocation, factor in both salary and cost of living.

Seniority and Professional Registration

Experience and professional qualifications strongly influence earnings. The lower quartile of £43,003 typically represents newer entrants or those without chartered status. The upper quartile of £73,899 reflects senior engineers, often with Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration through the Engineering Council. Achieving CEng can boost your earning potential and is recognised by employers across sectors.

Take-home pay on the median of £60,303 (assuming no pension sacrifice) is approximately £45,533 after Income Tax and National Insurance in England for 2026/27. With a 5% salary sacrifice pension, take-home falls to about £43,784. These figures are based on current tax bands and thresholds.

How to Use This Information

When negotiating a salary or evaluating a job offer, consider the full package: base pay, overtime rates, London weighting, pension contributions, and bonus potential. Use the ONS data as a benchmark, but remember that actual pay depends on your specific employer, sector (e.g., power generation, manufacturing, consulting), and location.

For a quick conversion of your hourly rate to annual salary, try our Hourly to Salary tool. You can also explore more salary articles for other professions.

FAQs

What is the average electrical engineer salary in the UK? According to ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data, the median full-time electrical engineer salary is £60,303 per year. The middle half of earners fall between £43,003 and £73,899.

How does location affect electrical engineer pay? Location has a significant impact. London pays the highest median at £62,697, while Yorkshire and the Humber pays the lowest at £38,985. Regional demand and cost of living drive these differences.

What is the hourly rate for an electrical engineer? Based on the median annual salary of £60,303 and a 37.5-hour week, the approximate hourly rate is £30.92. Actual hourly pay depends on your contract and overtime arrangements.

Disclaimer: Hourly-to-salary figures assume a steady contracted week with no unpaid overtime, bonus, tips or salary sacrifice. Annual ≈ hourly × hours/week × 52. Actual pay depends on rota, holiday pay method, London weighting and overtime rules. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance.