Automation engineer salary in the UK
Advertised pay is £60,000 at the median (ITJobsWatch, 27 October 2026).
Checked 28 October 2026. 412 jobs live now. We never estimate pay.
The figures
Published figures, with sources
| What it measures | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The median pay advertised for automation engineer roles was £60,000, from 481 permanent adverts in the six months to 27 October 2026 (against 228 in the period ITJobsWatch compares it with). Advert-based, IT-category sample. | ITJobsWatch (opens in a new tab) | 27 October 2026 |
What changes pay
What changes an automation engineer's pay
- Shift patternNights, rotating shifts and on-call usually carry a premium over days-only work, and an advert's headline pay may or may not include it.
- RegionLondon and the South East pay more than the North and the Midlands for most engineering roles. Compare like with like: the same hours and the same region.
- SectorPharmaceuticals, energy and nuclear often pay more than general manufacturing, and the platform or qualification the job needs matters too. Automation titles cover a wide range, from machine builders to process plants, and advertised pay moves with the platform (Siemens, Rockwell) and the industry.
Live jobs
412 jobs: industrial automation and controls jobs
A job card shows pay only when the advert states it.
Senior Control Systems Engineer - Simulink, KO2 Embedded Recruitment Solutions LTD, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield, £80,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
- Hybrid
Graduate Automation Engineer (Building Management Systems), Ernest Gordon Recruitment, Whiteinch, Glasgow, £30,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
Access Control Engineer, Contek Recruitment Solutions Ltd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, £40,000 to £45,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
Control Systems Engineer, Archangel Lightworks Ltd, UK
- Licensed visa sponsor. This employer is on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. That does not mean this job is sponsored. Ask the employer.
Control Systems Engineer, Russell Taylor Group Ltd, UK, £60,000 a year
Controls Engineer, Vectis Recruitment Limited, UK, £45,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the median salary for an automation engineer in the UK?
Advertised pay is £60,000 at the median (ITJobsWatch, 27 October 2026). The ONS median covers all full-time employees in the occupation group, and the advertised figure covers the adverts ITJobsWatch counted, so the two will not match.
Why do automation engineer salaries differ so much between jobs?
Pay moves with shift pattern (nights and rotating shifts pay a premium), region (London and the South East pay more than the North and the Midlands for most engineering roles), sector (pharmaceuticals, energy and nuclear often pay more than general manufacturing) and the qualifications and platforms the job needs. Automation titles cover a wide range, from machine builders to process plants, and advertised pay moves with the platform (Siemens, Rockwell) and the industry.
How do I compare an automation engineer offer with these figures?
Compare like with like: the same hours (the ONS median is for full-time work), base pay without overtime and allowances, and the same region. A job card on EDWartens shows pay only when the advert states it, and we never estimate it.
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