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Average Aircraft Mechanic Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom earns about 34,900 GBP a year. That's 50% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 19,400 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 57,800 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an aircraft mechanic make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
34,900 GBP
2,908 GBP per month
Lowest reported
19,400 GBP
1,616 GBP per month
Highest reported
57,800 GBP
4,816 GBP per month

A typical aircraft mechanic working in United Kingdom brings home around 2,908 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 19,400 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 57,800 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior aircraft mechanic working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the aircraft mechanic salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How aircraft mechanic pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom earn less than 37,300 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 25,400 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 45,600 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of aircraft mechanics sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 19,400 GBP. The highest stretch to 57,800 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

19,400
Low
37,300
Median
57,800
High
25,400
25th
45,600
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Aircraft mechanic pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical aircraft mechanic salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    21,400 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +28% from previous
    27,300 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +34% from previous
    36,700 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +21% from previous
    44,500 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +14% from previous
    50,800 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +2% from previous
    51,900 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 34%. That is the point at which a aircraft mechanic typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Aircraft mechanic pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving aircraft mechanic pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average aircraft mechanic salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    31,300 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +44% from previous
    45,200 GBP

Aircraft mechanic gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom earn an average of 37,300 GBP a year, while female aircraft mechanics earn around 33,300 GBP. That works out to a 12% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Aircraft Mechanic gender pay gap

11%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 37,300 GBP
Women 33,300 GBP

Pay raises for an aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 11% every 14 months, which works out to roughly 9% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Aircraft mechanic bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

32%

32% of aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an aircraft mechanic a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary. The remaining 68% of aircraft mechanics reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Aircraft mechanic: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Aircraft mechanic salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Aircraft mechanic pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Bristol
  • London
  • Somerset
  • Glasgow
  • Birmingham
  • Edinburgh
  • Sheffield
  • Portsmouth
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion71,700 GBP76,000 GBP35,000-116,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion50,600 GBP49,300 GBP26,500-80,800 GBP
BristolCity45,000 GBP45,300 GBP23,000-67,500 GBP
LondonCity44,700 GBP47,200 GBP19,300-71,800 GBP
SomersetCity44,300 GBP41,500 GBP23,400-68,900 GBP
GlasgowCity43,500 GBP45,000 GBP19,300-67,900 GBP
BirminghamCity43,500 GBP45,300 GBP20,000-68,200 GBP
EdinburghCity43,400 GBP39,500 GBP21,300-64,200 GBP
SheffieldCity42,700 GBP45,700 GBP22,300-68,500 GBP
PortsmouthCity42,000 GBP45,200 GBP20,200-64,600 GBP
LeicesterCity41,500 GBP39,800 GBP23,400-64,800 GBP
ManchesterCity41,500 GBP41,500 GBP23,000-65,400 GBP
BrightonCity41,400 GBP37,800 GBP24,400-63,500 GBP
PeterboroughCity41,300 GBP37,800 GBP20,200-62,100 GBP
BradfordCity41,100 GBP41,100 GBP20,000-61,800 GBP
LeedsCity40,700 GBP42,300 GBP20,500-63,400 GBP
CardiffCity40,600 GBP42,600 GBP21,100-64,900 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity40,300 GBP36,900 GBP21,100-63,200 GBP
LiverpoolCity40,200 GBP39,000 GBP21,400-64,900 GBP
YorkCity39,800 GBP39,800 GBP20,400-62,500 GBP
NottinghamCity39,700 GBP36,800 GBP22,300-61,800 GBP
NewcastleCity39,600 GBP35,300 GBP23,000-58,500 GBP
DerryCity39,500 GBP37,200 GBP18,600-57,100 GBP
CoventryCity39,500 GBP42,300 GBP19,200-65,500 GBP
DerbyCity39,400 GBP35,600 GBP17,800-58,200 GBP
NorwichCity39,100 GBP39,600 GBP20,300-61,400 GBP
ArmaghCity39,100 GBP33,300 GBP22,600-56,900 GBP
SwanseaCity38,000 GBP37,100 GBP23,200-60,000 GBP
PlymouthCity38,000 GBP41,500 GBP20,300-64,300 GBP
BelfastCity38,000 GBP41,300 GBP18,900-62,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity38,000 GBP38,100 GBP23,000-58,800 GBP
LisburnCity37,200 GBP37,300 GBP15,700-54,100 GBP
HartlepoolCity37,100 GBP38,700 GBP19,200-57,100 GBP
AberdeenCity36,800 GBP36,600 GBP20,200-59,000 GBP
LincolnCity36,700 GBP39,800 GBP19,100-60,400 GBP
DurhamCity36,500 GBP37,900 GBP16,100-56,800 GBP
StirlingCity36,500 GBP34,700 GBP19,000-56,100 GBP
WolverhamptonCity36,200 GBP39,700 GBP15,700-60,000 GBP
DundeeCity35,600 GBP35,200 GBP19,400-57,100 GBP
StrontianCity35,500 GBP35,500 GBP15,300-52,000 GBP
RiponCity35,400 GBP35,400 GBP15,700-51,300 GBP
OxfordCity35,400 GBP36,800 GBP19,300-56,600 GBP
SalisburyCity35,400 GBP30,200 GBP17,100-52,600 GBP
NewportCity35,400 GBP38,000 GBP15,700-60,400 GBP
CambridgeCity35,300 GBP33,500 GBP19,200-55,700 GBP
ExeterCity35,000 GBP35,000 GBP19,000-57,200 GBP
CanterburyCity35,000 GBP38,700 GBP16,000-57,100 GBP
ChesterCity35,000 GBP33,600 GBP20,200-54,200 GBP
PooleCity34,800 GBP36,000 GBP20,300-55,200 GBP
BangorCity34,700 GBP36,700 GBP16,100-54,100 GBP
GloucesterCity34,400 GBP30,300 GBP19,200-51,800 GBP
NewryCity34,300 GBP33,000 GBP17,100-55,400 GBP
TruroCity34,000 GBP33,000 GBP16,800-53,300 GBP
WinchesterCity34,000 GBP35,500 GBP19,100-51,800 GBP
WakefieldCity34,000 GBP30,700 GBP18,600-51,400 GBP
KirkwallCity34,000 GBP36,400 GBP15,500-55,400 GBP
WalesRegion34,000 GBP30,600 GBP17,900-53,300 GBP
InvernessCity33,300 GBP32,200 GBP18,800-51,300 GBP
St DavidsCity33,000 GBP33,000 GBP18,800-52,300 GBP
WellsCity33,000 GBP35,300 GBP16,300-53,600 GBP
AbingdonCity32,900 GBP34,400 GBP14,200-52,000 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion32,900 GBP34,000 GBP15,100-53,300 GBP
StromnessCity32,200 GBP34,000 GBP14,000-51,600 GBP

Aircraft Mechanic in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an aircraft mechanic make per month in United Kingdom?

    An aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom earns about 2,908 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 34,900 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom start near 19,400 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 57,800 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 25,400 and 45,600 GBP.

  • Is the median aircraft mechanic salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 37,300 GBP, higher than the average of 34,900 GBP. Half of aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom earn around 12% more than women on average (37,300 vs 33,300 GBP a year).

  • Do aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 32% of aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary.

  • Do aircraft mechanics earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an aircraft mechanic about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do aircraft mechanics in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An aircraft mechanic in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 11% every 14 months, equivalent to roughly 9% a year.