All Graduate Salaries Compared
| Degree | Starting | Mid-Career | Take Home/Mo (Start) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | £32,000 | £55,000 | £2,213 |
| Medicine | £32,398 | £65,000 | £2,237 |
| Law | £25,000 | £45,000 | £1,793 |
| Engineering | £28,000 | £48,000 | £1,973 |
| Accounting & Finance | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Economics | £28,000 | £50,000 | £1,973 |
| Nursing | £29,970 | £38,000 | £2,092 |
| Architecture | £24,000 | £42,000 | £1,733 |
| Marketing | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Teaching | £31,650 | £43,607 | £2,192 |
| Psychology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| English & Humanities | £22,000 | £32,000 | £1,613 |
| Business Management | £25,000 | £42,000 | £1,793 |
| Maths & Statistics | £28,000 | £55,000 | £1,973 |
| Art & Design | £20,000 | £30,000 | £1,493 |
| Biology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| Chemistry | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Physics | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Pharmacy | £33,000 | £45,000 | £2,273 |
| Dentistry | £33,000 | £55,000 | £2,273 |
Career Outlook for Engineering Graduates
Engineering graduates are in strong demand across mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical disciplines. The UK faces an engineering skills gap, with an estimated 124,000 additional engineers needed annually. Major infrastructure projects (HS2, nuclear energy, offshore wind) provide long-term employment security. Chartership through relevant institutions (IMechE, IET, ICE) significantly boosts career progression and earning potential.
Typical First Roles and Career Paths
Common first roles include graduate design engineer, project engineer, site engineer, systems engineer, and technical consultant. Many engineering firms offer structured graduate programmes with rotational placements across different departments. Companies like Rolls-Royce, Arup, BAE Systems, and Atkins recruit hundreds of engineering graduates annually.
Tips for Engineering Graduates
An MEng degree is preferred over BEng for chartered engineer status, which is a key milestone for career progression. Work towards chartership from day one — it typically adds £5,000-£10,000 to your salary. Engineering offers excellent international mobility, with UK qualifications recognised globally. See civil engineer salary guide for one example of progression.
Student Loan Repayments
Engineering graduates on £30,000 repay approximately £25/month on Plan 2. With consistent salary growth in engineering, repayments increase steadily but the loan is manageable relative to earning potential.