2026 Salary Survey highlights continued salary growth for professionally registered engineers and technicians

The Engineering Council has been pleased to partner with The Engineer on its annual Salary Survey, which has been published today. It reveals that professionally registered engineers and technicians continue to command significantly higher salaries than their non-registered peers.

Professional registration is still an important career choice for many engineers and technicians, with over 40 per cent of respondents choosing to pursue it. Registration is particularly strong in the energy sector (70%) and in rail, civil and structural engineering sector (65%). The academia and manufacturing sectors present significant potential for increased engagement.

Results from this year’s survey show that although registered professionals earn £9,000 more on average than those who are not, only 23% of respondents associate registration with higher pay. This is an opportunity for the profession to highlight the value of registration.

Commenting on the findings, Engineering Council CEO, Paul Bailey, said: 

"I was pleased to note that 43% of respondents were professionally registered, an indication perhaps of the way that registered engineers and technicians tend to be highly engaged and committed to advancing the profession.

"Encouragingly, the data shows that those respondents who are professionally registered, ie those who have demonstrated a commitment to responsible engineering, ethical behaviour, and professional standards, earn, on average, £9,000 more than their non-registered peers. However, it is interesting that less than a third of respondents believe that professional registration increases earning potential. This is a perception that the Engineering Council and the wider profession need to address, as ethical, competent, and trustworthy engineers remain essential to the long-term wellbeing of both people and the planet."

The 2026 survey, conducted between January and mid-March this year, received 652 responses from engineering professionals working across 12 sectors. The responses indicate steady pay growth, stable job satisfaction and a rising appetite for career change and international mobility.

It reveals that more than half of respondents are happy in their current role. It also highlights growing interest in new career paths, with 71% saying they would consider moving into a different sector, and 48% of respondents are open to working overseas. 

Click here to read more and download the full report.

Editor’s notes:

Professional registration is a benchmark for trust and confidence, and it demonstrates that industry-relevant and internationally recognised standards of competence and commitment have been met.

The Engineering Council holds the national register of almost 215,000 engineers and technicians professionally registered as:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng)
• Engineering Technician (EngTech)
• Information and Communication Technology Technician (ICTTech)
• Chartered Engineer HRB
• Incorporated Engineer HRB
• Engineering Technician HRB

To become professionally registered, individuals must first join a professional engineering institution licensed by the Engineering Council. Further information on professional registration and its benefits is available on the Engineering Council website.