South: EEF report shows increase in engineering graduates’ pay

The latest industry pay benchmarking report by the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, shows a 4% increase in engineering graduates’ pay. The pay for professional engineers has also increased by 2% year-on-year. 

The annual report shows that engineering graduates can now expect to earn £28,000 a year on average. In comparison, according to the latest data from HESA, the average professional graduate salary is £22,984 a year. This means that engineering graduates now earn over £5,000 or 22% a year more than other UK graduates, a figure that reinforces engineering’s reputation for being a well-paid career.  

This trend continues with both senior engineers and engineers earning more than the average UK worker. The report shows that an engineer can expect to earn £32,699 a year, while a senior engineer can expect £41, 800. In contrast, the national average pay in the UK according to ONS is £27,607 a year.

The 2016 data shows, however, that professionals’ pay can differ by as much as 10% depending on the region. The highest earning region is the South East where professionals’ take home £40,000 a year on average. In comparison, the lowest earning region is the South West where the median basic pay for engineers is £36,000 a year.

As well as region, the report also identifies how pay varies across types of engineering role and specific skills sets. It shows that, in the last year, senior research and development engineers have seen the biggest premium attached to their skills, enjoying a 28% hike in basic median pay.

Tim Thomas, director of employment and skills policy at EEF, said: “Engineering skills are in high demand and short supply, which is why they continue to command a premium and why employers are prepared to pay it.”

The 2016 data is based on responses from over 240 companies, covering salary data for almost 6,000 managers and engineers across Great Britain.