Aerospace engineers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time aerospace engineers in the UK earned a median £55,839 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 43% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 33rd of 382 occupations on this measure.
The mean, £64,942, is 16% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
Since 2021 the median has risen 36.7% (from £40,858), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 41,700 people in this line of work, 23% of them in South West.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | – | – | – | – | £906.40 | – |
| 30th percentile | – | £973.30 | £27.14 | – | £950.80 | £27.74 |
| 40th percentile | £53,451* | £1,007.20 | £28.94 | £50,184* | £984.70 | £28.92 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £55,839* | £1,096.90 | £30.05 | £55,817* | £1,076.20 | £30.07 |
| 60th percentile | – | £1,166.70* | £30.64 | £59,943* | £1,145.90* | £30.68 |
| Mean | £64,942* | £1,233.30 | £32.56 | £62,880* | £1,206.40 | £32.58 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £40,858 | £840.80 | £21.91 | £40,854 | £840.20 | 25* |
| 2022 revised | £42,871 | £853.50 | £22.69 | £42,539 | £845.70 | 16* |
| 2023 revised | £46,379* | £982.00 | £25.31 | £46,427* | £976.90 | 12* |
| 2024 revised | £54,504* | £972.10 | £26.32 | £52,431* | £955.20 | 10* |
| 2025 provisional | £55,839* | £1,096.90 | £30.05 | £55,817* | £1,076.20 | – |
Aerospace engineers by region
UK: 41,700 (± 7,900), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South West | 9,600* | ± 3,500 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What aerospace engineers do
Aerospace engineers research develop and design aircraft, spacecraft and their components. (ONS SOC 2020, 2126)
Also covers: aeronautical engineer (professional), aerospace engineer (professional), aircraft designer, avionics engineer, aircraft surveyor, avionics designer, design surveyor, designer (aerospace), stress engineer, aeronautical stress engineer, aerospace design engineer, aerospace systems engineer, aircraft design engineer, aircraft engineer (professional), aircraft stress engineer, aviation engineer (professional), avionics systems engineer and design engineer (aerospace) (25 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Conceives and develops engineering designs from product ideas in aerospace engineering
- Organises and plans projects, arranges work schedules, carries out inspection work and plans maintenance control
- Analyses test data; undertakes research and advises on all aspects of aircraft, spacecraft and their systems
- Ensures that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards
- Inspects completed aircraft maintenance work to certify that it meets standards and the aircraft is ready for operation
Job holders in this unit group usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field. Qualified aircraft engineers need a licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority or equivalent.
Related
Engineering professionals (median £51,082) · Production and process engineers · Engineering project managers and project engineers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026