Quality control and planning engineers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time quality control and planning engineers in the UK earned a median £43,592 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £4,553 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 105th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £35,425 and £54,194.
Median full-time pay: women £42,971 a year, men £43,977 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 55,000 employee jobs, 95% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 13.9%, from £38,258, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 35,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £29,718 | £574.90 | £15.10 | £27,724 | £556.50 | £15.13 |
| 20th percentile | £33,178 | £677.50 | £17.48 | £31,411 | £649.10 | £17.46 |
| 25th percentile | £35,425 | £698.60 | £18.34 | £33,423 | £682.50 | £18.36 |
| 30th percentile | £37,430 | £730.00 | £19.31 | £36,174 | £709.60 | £19.31 |
| 40th percentile | £40,152 | £795.90 | £20.71 | £39,564 | £784.00 | £20.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £43,592 | £853.80 | £22.34 | £42,511 | £845.20 | £22.46 |
| 60th percentile | £47,517 | £925.50 | £24.20 | £46,837 | £917.50 | £24.32 |
| 70th percentile | £52,974 | £1,012.40 | £26.46 | £52,567 | £1,005.80 | £26.57 |
| 75th percentile | £54,194 | £1,069.90 | £27.74 | £53,813 | £1,042.80 | £27.75 |
| 80th percentile | £58,962* | £1,092.10 | £28.81* | £58,354* | £1,088.90 | £28.71 |
| Mean | £46,756 | £919.10 | £23.81 | £45,418 | £891.90 | £23.79 |
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 | £38,258 | £736.00 | £19.00 | £36,379 | £724.70 | 66 |
| 2022 revised | £40,039 | £773.70 | £20.48 | £39,005 | £752.20 | 61 |
| 2023 revised | £40,005 | £787.00 | £21.16 | £38,915 | £766.60 | 64 |
| 2024 revised | £41,265 | £812.60 | £21.63 | £40,375 | £785.80 | 63 |
| 2025 provisional | £43,592 | £853.80 | £22.34 | £42,511 | £845.20 | 55 |
Quality control and planning engineers by region
UK: 35,700 (± 7,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What quality control and planning engineers do
Quality control and planning engineers plan production schedules, work sequences, and manufacturing and processing procedures to ensure accuracy, quality and reliability. (ONS SOC 2020, 2481)
Also covers: planning engineer, quality assurance engineer, quality control officer (professional), quality engineer, clothing technologist, garment technician, garment technologist, group planner, industrial radiologist, mine planner, offshore planner, planning officer, process planner, progress engineer, project controller, QC analyst, quality consultant and radiologist (industrial) (30 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Devises inspection, testing and evaluation methods for bought-in materials, components, semi-finished and finished products
- Ensures accuracy of machines, jigs, fixtures, gauges and other manufacturing and testing equipment
- Prepares work flow charts for individual departments and compiles detailed instructions on processes, work methods and quality and safety standards for workers
- Analyses plans, drawings, specifications and safety, quality, accuracy, reliability and contractual requirements
- Prepares plan of sequence of operations and completion dates for each phase of production or processing
- Oversees effective implementation of adopted processes, schedules and procedures
Quality control and planning engineers usually possess an accredited university degree. After qualifying, periods of appropriate training and experience are required before membership of a chartered engineering institution is achieved. Incorporated engineers possess an accredited university degree, BTEC/SQA award or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 4. All routes are followed by periods of appropriate training and relevant experience.
Related
Quality and regulatory professionals (median £47,634) · Quality assurance and regulatory professionals · Environmental health professionals · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026