Mechanical Engineering

Salary Starting salaries for mechanical engineers and for those on graduate training schemes are in the range of £20,000 to £28,000. With experience this can increase to between £25,000 and £35,000. At a mid-level for lead or principle engineers salaries are around £35,000 to £50,000. When a senior level is reached, such as chief engineer, salaries of £45,000 to £60,000+ can be achieved. Salaries vary from company to company and some sectors attract higher salaries, according to demand. Income figures are intended as a guide only. Working hours Working hours typically include regular extra hours, but not usually weekends or shifts. Self-employment and freelance work are possible for qualified engineers with a good track record and experience. Short-term contract or consulting work is also possible, often arranged through agencies. What to expect The work is mainly office-based with regular visits to plants, factories, workshops or building sites. Factory production areas can be noisy. Women are currently underrepresented within chartered engineering, although there are initiatives in place to try and encourage more women into the industry, such as WISE and Women's Engineering Society (WES). Opportunities are usually available in towns and cities that have a strong manufacturing or research base, or in regions where there is a local facility that supports specialist engineering. Work is often to deadlines, particularly in consultancy work. Dress code can vary from smart for office-based work to a hard hat and overalls when working on site. Travel within a working day is frequent. Absence from home overnight and overseas work or travel may be required, depending on the employer and nature of the business. There are many opportunities to work abroad, particularly throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. It is possible to gain professional recognition in other European countries and chartered engineers can apply for European engineer status (Eur Ing).