The term ‘engineer’ is applied in a wide range of contexts, from nearly all engineering disciplines to even non-engineering trades such as construction. It may also be used as part of the title for someone who works as a vehicle race engineer for a driver, or other forms of motorsports, safety engineer or reliability engineer. However mechanical engineers are particularly involved in the design and analysis of engines, power tools, machines and mechanical equipment.
The average salary for mechanical engineers in the UK is £36,000 annually. While this may seem like a large gap between the median and mean salaries, it’s important to remember that while the median is representative of the middle point where half of all salaries fall below it and half fall above it, the mean is indicative of what all respondents have reported earning in total. That means that those with higher salaries are likely skewed upwards by those at the top end of the spectrum—and thus, there are likely more people who are earning less than this amount than there are who are earning more than this amount. This article also examine senior mechanical engineer salary uk, mechanical engineering qualifications uk.
Mechanical Engineer Salary In Uk
£37,132
/ Annual
Based on 10000 salaries
The average mechanical engineer salary in the United Kingdom is £37,132 per year or £19.04 per hour. Entry level positions start at £31,228 per year while most experienced workers make up to £50,000 per year.
Median
£37,132
Low
£31,228
High
£50,000
The average salary for a mechanical engineer is £35,801 per year in United Kingdom.
senior mechanical engineer salary uk
The average senior mechanical engineer salary in the United Kingdom is £46,938 per year or £24.07 per hour. Entry level positions start at £40,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to £62,483 per year.
mechanical engineering qualifications uk
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could do a higher national diploma or degree in subjects like:
- mechanical engineering
- electromechanical engineering
- mechatronics
- engineering manufacturing
The Engineering Development Council has information on accredited courses.
You should try to get some work experience during your course through things like:
- internships
- summer or Easter vacation schemes
- a year placement in industry
- a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) ambassador scheme
This will help you to make contacts and gain work skills that will be useful when you start applying for graduate jobs.
Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics
College
You could do a Level 4 and 5 Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at college before looking for work.
You can get work experience and make contacts in the industry, through year in industry schemes like those run by the Engineering Development Trust.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course
Apprenticeship
You could do a higher or degree apprenticeship to become a mechanical engineer.
Some relevant apprenticeships include:
- Manufacturing engineer degree apprenticeship
- Electro-mechanical engineer higher apprenticeship
- Power and propulsion gas turbine engineer higher apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a mechanical engineering technician and do further training on the job to qualify as an engineer.
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- maths knowledge
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of physics
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
