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Average Computer Engineer Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A computer engineer in United Kingdom earns about 58,600 GBP a year. That's 16% 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 26,500 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 90,000 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 a computer engineer make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
58,600 GBP
4,883 GBP per month
Lowest reported
26,500 GBP
2,208 GBP per month
Highest reported
90,000 GBP
7,500 GBP per month

A typical computer engineer working in United Kingdom brings home around 4,883 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 26,500 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 90,000 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 computer engineer 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 computer engineer salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How computer engineer 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 computer engineers in United Kingdom earn less than 58,500 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 38,000 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 76,000 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of computer engineers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 26,500 GBP. The highest stretch to 90,000 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.

26,500
Low
58,500
Median
90,000
High
38,000
25th
76,000
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Computer engineer pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a computer engineer 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 computer engineer salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    32,900 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +32% from previous
    43,500 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +37% from previous
    59,800 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +22% from previous
    72,700 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +8% from previous
    78,500 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +6% from previous
    83,400 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 37%. That is the point at which a computer engineer 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.

Computer engineer pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving computer engineer 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 computer engineer salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    43,500 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +33% from previous
    57,900 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +53% from previous
    88,300 GBP

Computer engineer 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 computer engineers in United Kingdom earn an average of 57,400 GBP a year, while female computer engineers earn around 54,100 GBP. That works out to a 6% 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.

Computer Engineer gender pay gap

6%

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

Men 57,400 GBP
Women 54,100 GBP

Pay raises for a computer engineer 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 12% every 17 months, which works out to roughly 8% 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

Computer engineer 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.

33%

33% of computer engineers in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a computer engineer 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 67% of computer engineers 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

Computer engineer: 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

Computer engineer salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Computer engineer 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
  • London
  • Manchester
  • Sheffield
  • Bristol
  • Liverpool
  • Somerset
  • Plymouth
  • Glasgow
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion109,700 GBP112,700 GBP52,800-171,300 GBP
ScotlandRegion83,700 GBP83,700 GBP39,800-128,200 GBP
LondonCity68,400 GBP74,100 GBP30,200-108,200 GBP
ManchesterCity67,800 GBP71,400 GBP33,200-109,000 GBP
SheffieldCity67,600 GBP67,900 GBP32,600-102,700 GBP
BristolCity66,700 GBP66,200 GBP30,700-102,700 GBP
LiverpoolCity66,400 GBP63,200 GBP34,900-100,700 GBP
SomersetCity65,700 GBP61,700 GBP35,000-103,600 GBP
PlymouthCity64,900 GBP58,600 GBP31,700-94,300 GBP
GlasgowCity64,900 GBP63,900 GBP32,900-97,900 GBP
BirminghamCity64,800 GBP68,800 GBP31,300-103,600 GBP
LeicesterCity64,300 GBP60,700 GBP33,600-98,100 GBP
LeedsCity63,200 GBP64,300 GBP33,600-99,900 GBP
EdinburghCity63,100 GBP63,100 GBP29,400-95,200 GBP
BelfastCity62,600 GBP63,000 GBP30,800-95,100 GBP
WolverhamptonCity62,500 GBP65,800 GBP29,000-95,600 GBP
CardiffCity62,500 GBP57,000 GBP32,900-94,100 GBP
BrightonCity62,500 GBP62,600 GBP30,100-97,200 GBP
CoventryCity62,100 GBP58,600 GBP30,700-92,900 GBP
YorkCity62,100 GBP65,500 GBP26,900-95,100 GBP
NottinghamCity61,800 GBP61,800 GBP32,900-98,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity61,700 GBP61,700 GBP29,400-94,300 GBP
BradfordCity61,700 GBP65,100 GBP27,300-99,100 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity61,400 GBP61,400 GBP30,700-92,500 GBP
NewcastleCity61,400 GBP61,800 GBP29,300-95,000 GBP
PooleCity60,700 GBP54,600 GBP32,300-90,900 GBP
SwanseaCity60,700 GBP63,500 GBP27,300-95,500 GBP
DerbyCity60,700 GBP54,900 GBP32,300-93,100 GBP
AberdeenCity60,600 GBP66,000 GBP31,300-95,400 GBP
DundeeCity59,800 GBP61,700 GBP31,200-96,000 GBP
OxfordCity59,500 GBP58,500 GBP29,100-91,200 GBP
PeterboroughCity58,800 GBP56,600 GBP30,600-91,500 GBP
ChesterCity58,600 GBP56,100 GBP30,800-88,400 GBP
HartlepoolCity58,600 GBP58,400 GBP26,400-91,000 GBP
ArmaghCity58,600 GBP58,500 GBP26,200-87,400 GBP
GloucesterCity58,500 GBP60,000 GBP26,500-91,700 GBP
StirlingCity58,200 GBP51,300 GBP30,100-84,800 GBP
CambridgeCity57,800 GBP57,800 GBP28,900-89,900 GBP
ExeterCity57,800 GBP62,500 GBP26,900-91,200 GBP
LincolnCity57,800 GBP55,600 GBP30,100-86,800 GBP
NewryCity57,100 GBP54,100 GBP31,200-86,800 GBP
NewportCity57,100 GBP62,600 GBP26,600-89,200 GBP
PortsmouthCity56,900 GBP61,500 GBP27,300-92,100 GBP
CanterburyCity55,700 GBP52,800 GBP26,300-85,100 GBP
TruroCity55,700 GBP51,900 GBP26,500-85,500 GBP
DurhamCity55,200 GBP59,000 GBP26,400-86,800 GBP
BangorCity55,200 GBP52,300 GBP29,900-83,700 GBP
WalesRegion55,200 GBP55,200 GBP27,400-83,100 GBP
LisburnCity55,100 GBP54,100 GBP29,600-83,800 GBP
DerryCity54,900 GBP54,900 GBP26,500-84,300 GBP
NorwichCity54,900 GBP58,600 GBP28,800-86,100 GBP
WakefieldCity53,600 GBP50,700 GBP26,200-78,700 GBP
AbingdonCity52,300 GBP52,300 GBP29,900-83,700 GBP
SalisburyCity52,300 GBP54,100 GBP27,400-83,000 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion52,300 GBP54,300 GBP26,100-83,300 GBP
KirkwallCity52,000 GBP47,200 GBP28,800-79,700 GBP
StrontianCity51,900 GBP54,600 GBP22,800-83,800 GBP
WinchesterCity51,300 GBP50,000 GBP29,600-80,800 GBP
InvernessCity50,600 GBP49,100 GBP28,800-80,900 GBP
StromnessCity50,600 GBP57,200 GBP22,400-83,200 GBP
WellsCity50,300 GBP48,600 GBP25,800-77,300 GBP
RiponCity50,000 GBP53,500 GBP23,300-80,900 GBP
St DavidsCity49,700 GBP51,100 GBP23,500-80,200 GBP

Computer Engineer in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a computer engineer make per month in United Kingdom?

    A computer engineer in United Kingdom earns about 4,883 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 58,600 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a computer engineer in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level computer engineers in United Kingdom start near 26,500 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 90,000 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 38,000 and 76,000 GBP.

  • Is the median computer engineer salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 58,500 GBP, lower than the average of 58,600 GBP. Half of computer engineers in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for computer engineers in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a computer engineer in United Kingdom earn around 6% more than women on average (57,400 vs 54,100 GBP a year).

  • Do computer engineers in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 33% of computer engineers in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary.

  • Do computer engineers earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

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

  • How often do computer engineers in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A computer engineer in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 17 months, equivalent to roughly 8% a year.