Reed’s 2026 engineering and manufacturing salary guide delivers a comprehensive analysis of average salaries and benefits across the UK engineering sector. Drawing on data from 18 million job postings on Reed.co.uk since 2017, this guide highlights key pay trends and insights, helping you benchmark salaries for your engineering and manufacturing teams or understand what you should be earning in the industry.
Packed with expert market insights and a detailed look at regional variations, this guide equips you with everything you need to plan for the year ahead. Whether you’re hiring, negotiating, or shaping your talent strategy, our 2026 salary guide provides the knowledge to make informed, strategic decisions that keep your business competitive.
The skills gap in engineering and manufacturing is a well-documented and persistent challenge. However, the industry is responding with innovative and socially conscious initiatives aimed at building a sustainable talent pipeline. Employers are increasingly recognising that they cannot simply wait for qualified individuals to appear, they must actively participate in creating them.
Engineering and Manufacturing Expert, Reed
Who is the 2026 engineering and manufacturing salary guide designed for?
Our salary guide is tailored for:
Employers looking to attract engineering and manufacturing talent by benchmarking salaries against industry standards.
Growing businesses and startups setting competitive pay structures for technical and production roles.
Organisations focused on retention, ensuring current salaries and benefits align with market expectations.
Graduates and early-career professionals seeking clarity on salary expectations in engineering and manufacturing careers.
Engineers, technicians, and production specialists wanting to confirm their earnings match regional averages.
Professionals planning a relocation, with insights into local job markets and salary trends across the UK.
Jobseekers preparing for interviews or negotiations, armed with accurate, up-to-date salary data for their sector.
Are you an employer looking for engineering and manufacturing salary benchmarking insights?
In today’s highly competitive engineering and manufacturing sector, offering attractive and fair salaries is essential to securing talent for your business. Reed’s 2026 engineering and manufacturing salary guide draws on insights from 18 million job postings since 2017, delivering the most accurate salary benchmarks and forward-looking predictions for the year ahead.
Don’t let your business fall behind. Use our guide to:
Benchmark pay for critical engineering and manufacturing roles across all UK regions.
Understand benefits trends and emerging market pressures.
Build competitive remuneration packages that attract, engage, and retain the best professionals.
Stay ahead of the curve - download the guide and futureproof your talent strategy for 2026 and beyond.
Navigating your salary expectations in engineering and manufacturing can be complex – but we make it simple.
Our guide helps you discover exactly what you could, or should, be earning, while providing insights into emerging roles, in-demand skills, and future trends to help you grow your career for long-term success.
Whether you’re exploring the average salary for a field service engineer in London or a systems engineer in Wales, this guide delivers accurate, region-specific data and expert analysis. Use it to benchmark your worth, plan your next move, and negotiate with confidence.
One of the most pressing skills gaps is the scarcity of professionals with manual machining expertise. As technology advances and younger generations gravitate towards design or CNC-based roles, traditional hands-on engineering skills are becoming a dying breed. In contrast, the demand for skilled CNC machinists is exceptionally high, and those with these abilities are snapped up quickly. We're also seeing a notable surge in the electronics field, driven by everything from PCB assembly to the development of batteries for electric vehicles.
Regional Director - North West, Reed
What roles are included in Reed’s engineering and manufacturing salary guide 2026?
Our latest salary and benefits guide gives you clear insights into pay and perks for some of the most in-demand engineering and manufacturing, including:
Mechanical design engineer
Production manager
CNC programmer
Design manager
Process engineer
Quality inspector
Project manager
Process engineer
Maintenance technician
Why download the UK’s most trusted engineering and manufacturing salary guide?
Our 2026 salary guide is your essential resource for navigating the fast-changing engineering and manufacturing landscape. Here’s why it’s a must-have:
Accurate and reliable data: Built on insights from millions of job postings over nine years, it’s the most comprehensive and trusted source for salary benchmarking in engineering and manufacturing roles.
Regional insights: Access detailed salary trends across 12 UK regions to make informed decisions - whether you’re hiring, relocating, or negotiating.
Futureproof your talent strategy: With salary projections for 2027, you can stay ahead of market changes and plan effectively for emerging skills and roles.
Tailored for everyone: Whether you’re an employer, jobseeker, graduate, or startup, this guide is designed to meet your needs in the engineering and manufacturing sector.
Visual clarity: Engaging charts and graphics make it easy to spot key salary shifts, benefits trends, and industry insights at a glance.
How can Reed’s engineering salary guide assist with benefits and rewards benchmarking?
At the end of 2025, we conducted our annual survey of 5,000 UK workers to understand how they feel about their salaries, benefits, role and responsibilities, as well as job satisfaction and market trends.
Some key findings include:
20% of professionals feel unhappy with their current salary.
The overwhelming reason for salary dissatisfaction is that pay hasn't kept pace with the cost of living.
26% of respondents have £100 or less leftover each month after essential bills, with seven per cent stating their entire salary goes to essentials.
To switch jobs, individuals expect a substantial average pay increase of £12,139.55.
On average, men earn £48,367.15, while women earn £33,852.12, a difference of over £14,500.
And women have significantly less disposable income, with an average of £626.61 left over monthly compared to £983.38 for men.
Younger workers (25-34) are most willing to sacrifice benefits for higher pay…
… while older workers (55+) are significantly less willing to do so, suggesting they value their existing benefits more.
See all the results from our survey and use this guide to make informed decisions on salaries and benefits in the UK engineering and manufacturing sector for 2026.
Download your copy now.
