Civil Engineer Salaries in United Kingdom

The average salary for a Civil Engineer is £40,720 per year in United Kingdom. Salaries estimates are based on 1496 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Civil Engineer employees in United Kingdom.

The highest salary for a Civil Engineer in United Kingdom is £49,845 per year.

The lowest salary for a Civil Engineer in United Kingdom is £33,579 per year.

Civil engineering salaries can become high with experience, reflecting the field's significant barriers to entry. Civil engineers with chartered engineer status or incorporated engineer status may be able to progress into senior management. There are many opportunities for civil engineers to work overseas, where they may be able to command higher salaries. This could include international development projects. Consulting and freelance opportunities are often available to experienced civil engineers with teaching skills.

To progress in your career as a civil engineer, first you’ll need to be properly licensed and certified. After completing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, you will need to pass the Engineering Council's professional review process, which includes the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.

You’ll still need four years of experience in the field to qualify for your professional engineer licence and progress in your career.

Join a professional engineering institution, such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), to enhance your credibility and professional standing. This will also provide you with access to valuable resources and networking opportunities within the industry.

To potentially earn more, consider specialising in a high-demand area such as environmental engineering or geotechnical engineering. Pursue managerial roles such as construction manager, and look at higher-paying industries such as oil and gas or construction.

When looking for civil engineer jobs and discussing your salary as a civil engineer, either with a current or future employer, make sure you highlight your skills that are most in demand in the field, such as project design, consulting, problem-solving, collaboration, surveying, cost estimation, and experience using AutoCAD and CAD software. Recall concrete examples of how you implemented these skills in projects that you think your employer would find valuable.

Additionally, ensure you have an understanding of typical civil engineer salaries in your area, so that you have a solid baseline to draw from when you're negotiating the salary you would find acceptable.

About 69.63% of Civil Engineer professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional £1,690 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Civil Engineer in United Kingdom as a good salary.

Civil Engineer professionals in United Kingdom have a wide total pay range, between £28,380 and £60,512 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of £40,720 following the average career path of a Civil Engineer.