Civil engineers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time civil engineers in the UK earned a median £51,366 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 32% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 49th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £39,802 and £65,000.
Median full-time pay: women £43,035 a year, men £52,510 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 70,000 employee jobs, 93% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 21.9%, from £42,121, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 94,100 people in this line of work, 18% of them in Scotland.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £32,149 | £635.50 | £16.04 | £30,939 | £611.80 | £16.12 |
| 20th percentile | £38,473 | £719.40 | £17.99 | £36,796 | £688.00 | £18.03 |
| 25th percentile | £39,802 | £766.80 | £19.38 | £39,138 | £745.50 | £19.75 |
| 30th percentile | £41,472 | £812.50 | £20.56 | £40,609 | £785.70 | £20.65 |
| 40th percentile | £46,707 | £895.60 | £22.52 | £45,506 | £880.10 | £22.70 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £51,366 | £990.40 | £24.86 | £50,602 | £971.40 | £25.04 |
| 60th percentile | £56,089 | £1,111.20 | £28.03 | £55,149 | £1,076.00 | £28.54 |
| 70th percentile | £61,989 | £1,238.50 | £31.25 | £61,659 | £1,220.00 | £31.71 |
| 75th percentile | £65,000 | £1,285.80 | £33.03 | £64,249 | £1,272.60 | £33.19 |
| 80th percentile | £67,002 | £1,361.30 | £35.16 | £66,862 | £1,330.50 | £35.06 |
| Mean | £54,163 | £1,050.00 | £26.58 | £52,874 | £1,021.10 | £26.67 |
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 | £42,121 | £810.00 | £20.27 | £41,582 | £800.90 | 71 |
| 2022 revised | £44,491 | £864.90 | £21.67 | £43,804 | £861.10 | 73 |
| 2023 revised | £45,514 | £870.40 | £22.07 | £43,767 | £852.00 | 83 |
| 2024 revised | £50,209 | £907.70 | £22.79 | £49,001 | £894.30 | 75 |
| 2025 provisional | £51,366 | £990.40 | £24.86 | £50,602 | £971.40 | 70 |
Civil engineers by region
UK: 94,100 (± 11,900), April 2025 to March 2026. 8 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 17,300* | ± 4,800 |
| South East | 12,700* | ± 4,500 |
| West Midlands | 11,700* | ± 4,500 |
| South West | 9,900* | ± 3,600 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What civil engineers do
Civil engineers undertake research and design, direct construction and manage the operation and maintenance of civil and mining engineering structures. (ONS SOC 2020, 2121)
Also covers: building engineer, civil engineer (professional), highways engineer, petroleum engineer, public health engineer, site engineer (building construction), structural engineer, aquaculture engineer, assistant engineer, borough engineer, borough surveyor, city engineer, city surveyor, civils inspector, colliery engineer, contractor's engineer, county engineer and county surveyor (91 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Undertakes research and advises on soil mechanics, concrete technology, hydraulics, water and waste water treatment processes and other civil engineering matters
- Determines and specifies construction methods, materials, quality and safety standards and ensures that equipment operation and maintenance comply with design specifications
- Designs foundations and earthworks
- Designs structures such as roads, dams, bridges, railways, hydraulic systems, sewerage systems, industrial and other buildings and plans the layout of tunnels, wells and construction shafts
- Organises and plans projects, arranges work schedules, carries out inspection work and plans maintenance control
- Organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems
Civil engineers usually possess an accredited three or four year degree in civil engineering or engineering science or an accredited Higher National Diploma or Certificate. The status of ‘incorporated engineer’ is obtained upon the completion of further training at work and associate membership of a chartered engineering institution. The status of ‘chartered engineer’ is achieved through the completion of postgraduate training and full membership of a chartered engineering institution.
Related
Engineering professionals (median £51,082) · Mechanical engineers (professional) · Electrical engineers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026