Official pay data
Updated 15 October 2026
Salary guide
Official annual estimates for the whole country, mapped to the closest published occupation.
United Kingdom · gross annual earnings estimate
25th percentile
£39,802
Median
£51,366
75th percentile
£65,000
This ASHE benchmark covers full-time employee jobs, not self-employed income or part-time jobs. ASHE gross earnings include basic pay, overtime, incentive pay such as bonuses and commissions, shift premiums, and other cash pay. They are before deductions, exclude payments in kind, and are not take-home pay or the whole benefits package. Compare the benchmark with an offer on the same working-hours and annual-pay basis.
This is a country-level occupation benchmark, not a local offer estimate. Pay can differ by location, employer, duties, and working pattern.
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. Mapped to Civil engineers; the occupation is broader than the page role. Figures are estimates, not advertised salaries.
This national benchmark is a useful starting point for a Civil Engineer because the mapped occupation covers planning, designing and managing construction projects. It is a benchmark for the occupation, though, not a price tag for one project, employer or responsibility mix.
Benchmark fit
The benchmark maps directly to Civil engineers (2121). It fits work centred on planning, design and management of construction projects and technical solutions, including infrastructure and built-environment work.
Do not treat the benchmark as interchangeable with architecture. Architects work from early requirements and feasibility through design development, technical information and construction coordination; that is a related but different occupation.
Role scope
Civil Engineers plan, design and manage construction projects across infrastructure and built-environment settings.
Understand client needs, analyse data and produce design plans. · Assess project risks and environmental impact, then monitor construction work. · Coordinate teams and budgets while delivering technical solutions within cost, time and resource limits.
Design plans and technical solutions for construction projects.
Read the range
When comparing an offer with the benchmark, check what the job actually owns. A Civil Engineer role may focus on analysis and design plans, or also include risk assessment, construction monitoring, team coordination and budget management. Those are scope differences to clarify with the employer, not salary bands. If the post centres on building design or commercial cost control, compare the [Architect salary benchmark](/uk/salaries/architect) or [Quantity Surveyor salary benchmark](/uk/salaries/quantity-surveyor) before deciding which occupation is the closer fit.
One quarter of employees earn below this figure.
Half of employees earn below this figure and half above it; it is not the arithmetic midpoint of the displayed range.
One quarter of employees earn above this figure.
Location
Supplementary regional medians are available alongside the national benchmark.
| Region | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Not published | £45,651 | Not published |
| London | Not published | £52,970 | Not published |
| North East | Not published | £39,722 | Not published |
| North West | Not published | £48,087 | Not published |
| Scotland | Not published | £55,172 | Not published |
| South East | Not published | £55,451 | Not published |
| South West | Not published | £58,827 | Not published |
| Wales | Not published | £41,581 | Not published |
| West Midlands | Not published | £57,522 | Not published |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | Not published | £48,751 | Not published |
Use the national figure as the main comparison. A local offer can differ by location, employer, duties and working pattern.
Beyond salary
Compare the offer on the same annual pay and working-hours basis as the benchmark. Then separate fixed pay from any conditional cash payments and review benefits on their own terms.
Ask for the annual basic-pay figure and the contracted working hours used to earn it.
If overtime, bonuses, commission or shift premiums are offered, ask how they are calculated, whether they are guaranteed and what conditions apply.
Check the terms of any pension, health cover, leave or equity separately, because non-cash benefits are not part of the cash-earnings comparison.
Offer review
Compare roles
Architects shape building projects from early requirements and feasibility through design development, technical information and construction coordination. Architect is a related occupation with a different dataset relationship from Civil engineers (2121).
Compare salary guideQuestions
Source
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. The figures cover Civil engineers (2121) and full time employee jobs. Updated 15 October 2026. This broad occupation benchmark may not match every Civil Engineer vacancy.
Put the benchmark to work
Use the salary range as context. Tailor your CV around the experience that supports your target level.
