Understanding the project engineer salary landscape in the UK

If you're a project engineer or considering a career in engineering project management, knowing how your hourly rate translates into an annual salary is essential for negotiating job offers, planning your finances, or comparing roles across different regions. This article uses the latest official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) to give you a clear picture of the project engineer salary in the UK, and explains how to convert between hourly and annual figures.

What the latest ONS ASHE data shows

The ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 2127 – Engineering project managers and project engineers – provides the most authoritative snapshot of earnings in this field. The median gross annual salary stands at £52,451, with a median hourly rate of £26.77. The mean (average) annual salary is slightly higher at £56,925, indicating that higher earners pull the average up.

To give you a sense of the full distribution:

• 10th percentile (entry-level or lower-paid): £34,918 per year (£18.45 per hour)
• 25th percentile (lower quartile): £42,911 per year (£21.83 per hour)
• 75th percentile (upper quartile): £66,671 per year (£33.78 per hour)
• 90th percentile: approximately £70,364 per year (£35.65 per hour)

These figures are for full-time employees only, defined by ONS as working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25 for teaching professions). The data is based on a 1% sample of employee jobs drawn from HMRC PAYE records, so it is highly reliable but provisional for 2025.

Another source citing the same ONS data reports a median annual salary of £53,064 for this occupation, with the middle 50% earning between £43,175 and £67,463. Small differences like this can arise from rounding or different treatment of the data, but both point to a median around £52,500–£53,000.

Converting hourly rates to annual salary for project engineers

The standard conversion used across the UK salary market is:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × contracted hours per week × 52 weeks

For a typical full-time project engineer working 37.5 hours per week (common in engineering and construction), the calculation is:

• At median hourly rate (£26.77): 26.77 × 37.5 × 52 = £52,201.50 (close to the ONS median)
• At 10th percentile (£18.45): 18.45 × 37.5 × 52 = £35,977.50
• At 75th percentile (£33.78): 33.78 × 37.5 × 52 = £65,871

If your contract specifies different hours – for example, 40 hours per week – simply adjust the multiplier. Use our hourly calculator to quickly convert any hourly rate to annual, monthly, or weekly figures.

Remember that this conversion assumes a steady contracted week with no unpaid overtime, and that you are paid for 52 weeks of the year (including paid holiday). Actual annual earnings may differ if you work overtime, receive bonuses, or have salary sacrifice arrangements.

Regional variations and London weighting

Project engineer salaries vary significantly across the UK. The ONS ASHE data provides regional breakdowns, though some figures are suppressed where sample sizes are small. Available median annual salaries for this occupation include:

• East Midlands: £58,303
• North West: £55,767
• West Midlands: £51,569
• South East: £50,238
• South West: £48,988
• Yorkshire and The Humber: £48,838
• Wales: £46,626

For London, only the median hourly rate is published: £31.74 per hour. This is significantly higher than the national median of £26.77, reflecting the higher cost of living and market rates in the capital. If you are considering a role in London or the South East, factor in commuting costs, housing, and any London weighting allowance offered by your employer.

How the National Living Wage compares

For context, the National Living Wage (NLW) for employees aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025 (rising to £12.71 in 2026/27). At 37.5 hours per week, that equates to an annual salary of approximately £23,809.50 (2025 rate). Even the lowest-paid project engineers (10th percentile at £18.45 per hour) earn well above the NLW, reflecting the skilled nature of the role.

Using our tools to calculate your own figures

Whether you are negotiating a new role or checking your current pay, our salary data section provides benchmarks across many occupations. You can also use the Hourly to Salary converter to see how your rate stacks up against national averages. For more detailed articles on UK pay scales, visit our salary articles or topics page.

Important caveats

• ASHE 2025 figures are provisional and may be revised.
• Annual salary data is for employees who have been in the same job for at least a year; it includes pay affected by absence.
• Hourly rates exclude overtime, but weekly and annual figures may include overtime pay.
• The data covers employee jobs only – self-employed contractors are not included.
• Actual take-home pay depends on tax, National Insurance, and other deductions. The Income Tax Personal Allowance is £12,570 per year (2025/26).

Always check your employment contract for exact terms, including overtime rules, London weighting, and holiday pay. For official guidance, refer to GOV.UK.

Summary

The median project engineer salary in the UK is around £52,500 per year or £26.77 per hour according to the latest ONS ASHE data. By understanding the conversion between hourly and annual pay, and being aware of regional differences, you can make informed decisions about your career and earnings. Use our tools to benchmark your own salary and explore further resources on this site.