SOC 2125 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals

Production and process engineers Salary

Median salary £47,711 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £48,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For production and process engineers, £47,946 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +23% versus the national average. Experienced production and process engineers (top 25%) earn over £58,527.

About this role

Production and process engineers apply engineering principles to design, develop, test and maintain systems, structures or processes. They use mathematical and scientific knowledge to solve technical problems and deliver solutions that meet safety, performance and cost requirements.

Key responsibilities

Designing and developing engineering solutions to meet specifications
Conducting technical analysis, testing and quality assurance
Managing engineering projects and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams
Ensuring compliance with engineering standards and safety regulations
Preparing technical documentation and reports

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a BEng or MEng degree in the relevant engineering discipline. Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through the relevant institution (IMechE, IET, ICE, etc.) is the professional standard.

Career outlook

Strong demand, particularly in renewable energy, infrastructure, defence and advanced manufacturing. Engineering skills shortages persist across the UK.

Key skills

Technical problem-solving CAD/CAE software Project management Analytical thinking Attention to safety standards

Common industries

Manufacturing
Construction
Energy
Aerospace
Automotive
Telecommunications

Data coverage

SOC code 2125

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 53,000

Median Salary

£47,711

Mean Salary

£50,261

Jobs (000s)

53k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £39,425Median: £47,711P75: £58,527

P10: £29kP25: £39kMedian: £48kP75: £59kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£29,105

0-2 years

Mid Level

£39,425

3-7 years

Senior

£58,527

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +101% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +26.8%Real growth: -8.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 1.7%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£47,711

Full-time Only

£47,946

Full-time premium: +£235

Production and process engineers salary: common questions

How much do production and process engineers earn in the UK?

Production and process engineers earn a median of £47,946 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £39,425 and £58,527.

Is £47,946 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for production and process engineers?

Entry-level production and process engineers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £39,425, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £29,105.

Have production and process engineers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median production and process engineers pay has risen from £38,328 to £47,946 — +25% in cash terms, or -9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for production and process engineers?

Male production and process engineers earn a median £47,762 and female production and process engineers £46,939 — a gap of +2.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).