jobfacts

Civil engineers

SOC 2020 2121

Civil engineers undertake research and design, direct construction and manage the operation and maintenance of civil and mining engineering structures.

Also calledBuilding services engineerStructural engineerFlood risk engineerNrswa highways inspectorEngineering inspectorEngineerand 89 more titles
Typical full-time pay£51,4002025 Provisional
People in the job94,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month2,200↑ 13%on last year · 80th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time civil engineers earn between £39,800 and £65,000 a year.

What full-time civil engineers earn, 2025
£51,400 typical£32,100lowest 10%£39,80025%£67,000top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£39,800–£65,000)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£32,100
Lowest 20% earn less than£38,500
25%£39,800
Median£51,400
75%£65,000
Top 20% earn more than£67,000
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £51,400
South West!£58,800
West Midlands!£57,500
South East!£55,500
Scotland!£55,200
London!£53,000
Yorkshire and The Humber!£48,800
North West!£48,100
East of England!£45,700
Wales!£41,600
North East!£39,700
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £51,400
South West£58,800 (small sample)
West Midlands£57,500 (small sample)
South East£55,500 (small sample)
Scotland£55,200 (small sample)
London£53,000 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£48,800 (small sample)
North West£48,100 (small sample)
East of England£45,700 (small sample)
Wales£41,600 (small sample)
North East£39,700 (small sample)
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £45,500
  • 2024 £50,200
  • 2025 Provisional£51,400
↑ 13% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 2,200 jobs for civil engineers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,721
Jul 20262,221
Jun 20262,372
May 20262,263
Apr 20262,148
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,636
Jan 20262,675
Dec 20251,724
Nov 20252,360
Oct 20252,285
Sept 20252,282
Aug 20251,937
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20252,535
Apr 20251,788
Mar 20252,198
Feb 20252,155
Jan 20252,063
Dec 20241,395
Nov 20242,011
Oct 20241,897
Sept 20242,030
Aug 20241,820
Jul 20242,010
Jun 20242,049
May 20242,305
Apr 20242,134
Mar 20242,001
Feb 20241,935
Jan 20242,446
Dec 20232,273
Nov 20232,202
Oct 20232,368
Sept 20232,302
Aug 20232,548
Jul 20232,643
Jun 20233,384
May 20233,191
Apr 20232,740
Mar 20233,200
Feb 20233,450
Jan 20233,601
Dec 20223,110
Nov 20223,609
Oct 20223,479
Sept 20223,060
Aug 20223,047
Jul 20223,531
Jun 20223,741
May 20223,909
Apr 20222,998
Mar 20223,695
Feb 20223,379
Jan 20223,557
Dec 20212,923
Nov 20212,707
Oct 20212,911
Sept 20212,783
Aug 20212,933
Jul 20213,459
Jun 20213,034
May 20213,827
Apr 20213,482
Mar 20213,589
Feb 20212,155
Jan 20212,261
Dec 20202,147
Nov 20202,115
Oct 20202,207
Sept 20201,894
Aug 20201,840
Jul 20201,624
Jun 20201,592
May 20201,262
Apr 20202,032
Mar 20203,161
Feb 20203,192
Jan 20203,152
Dec 20192,422
Nov 20193,231
Oct 20193,327
Sept 20193,096
Aug 20193,075
Jul 20193,740
Jun 20193,576
May 20193,036
Apr 20192,302
Mar 20192,848
Feb 20192,698
Jan 20193,135
Dec 20181,942
Nov 20182,386
Oct 20182,540
Sept 20182,668
Aug 20182,153
Jul 20182,264
Jun 20182,353
May 20182,435
Apr 20182,227
Mar 20182,709
Feb 20182,281
Jan 20182,871
Dec 20171,898
Nov 20172,325
Oct 20172,419
Sept 20172,213
Aug 20172,401
Jul 20172,387
Jun 20172,743
May 20172,949
Apr 20172,931
Mar 20173,418
Feb 20172,815
Jan 20173,461
Is there a shortage of civil engineers?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedUsual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
35%against 27% for all jobs
DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,275
Manchester309
Bristol, City of251
Birmingham250
Leeds215
Glasgow City214
City of Edinburgh117
Belfast112
Cardiff103
Newcastle upon Tyne97
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where civil engineers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 318 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from France, India, Netherlands, ranking it 50th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of civil engineers
6.6%!
30%!
21%
20%!
17%!
6.5%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–246.6% (small sample)
25–3430% (small sample)
35–4421%
45–5420% (small sample)
55–6417% (small sample)
65+6.5% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent70%
Higher education below degree10%
A levels or equivalent!11%
GCSEs or equivalent!5%
Other qualifications!1.7%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent70%
Higher education below degree10%
A levels or equivalent11% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent5% (small sample)
Other qualifications1.7% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: engineering activities and related technical consultancy (19%), construction of other civil engineering projects nec (18%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (9.8%), construction of roads and motorways (4.4%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
70%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
4
from level 6, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
2½ to 5 years
typically

Routes in

Building services engineer

You can get into this job through:

University

You could study for a degree accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Courses include:

  • building services engineering
  • architectural engineering
  • mechanical engineering and building services

You could also do a related degree like:

  • electrical engineering
  • construction and the built environment
  • environmental engineering
  • sustainable construction

You could apply to join a company as a graduate trainee after you finish your course.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths

College

You could take a course, which might help you to get a trainee technician position in a building services engineering company.

Courses include:

  • building services
  • mechanical engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a:

  • Building Services Engineering Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Building Services Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Building Energy Management Systems Controls Engineer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Building Services Design Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More about this route
Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

  • have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • are in care or have been in care
  • are in prison or have been in prison

Other ways in

Work your way up

You might be able to start as a building services technician. You could then complete qualifications on the job, or part time with a training provider, to become an engineer.

Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got qualifications and experience in engineering from any industry.

For example, you might have experience in electrical, mechanical, environmental or energy engineering.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) for study resources, industry news and professional development courses.

Further information

You can get more details about careers in building services from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for building services engineer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Structural engineer

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a degree or postgraduate course in:

  • structural engineering
  • architectural engineering
  • civil and structural engineering

You might have an advantage if you do a course that includes an internship or a year in industry placement. Your university careers service can advise on how to find relevant work experience.

You can find accredited courses through the Engineering Council.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

College

You could do a college course in civil engineering. This might help you to find work as a trainee structural engineer. You'll then need to do more training on the job to qualify.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Civil Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship and take professional training afterwards to qualify as a structural engineer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

You could start as a civil engineering technician and study for a degree qualification while you're working.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

If you're 9 to 18 years old, you can do 'taster' days and short residential programmes with the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).

This will give you an idea of what it's like to study and work in engineering.

Professional and industry bodies

You can become a member of The Institution of Structural Engineers.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in structural engineering from:

  • The Institution of Structural Engineers
  • Go Construct
  • This is Engineering

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for structural engineer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

4 for this job
Level 6About 5 yearsDegree

Building services engineer

You gain
Building Services Engineering degree accredited by the Engineering Council
Leads to
Engineering Council in partnership with The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Employers may ask for
Whilst individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships, employers will work with their chosen training provider to agree…
Details on Skills England
Level 7About 2½ yearsDegree

Geotechnical engineer

You gain
Master's in geotechnical engineering
Leads to
The Institution of Civil Engineers
Employers may ask for
Typically, an honours degree in a relevant subject for example, engineering, science, geoscience or mathematics. Practical experience will also be taken into…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • undertakes research and advises on soil mechanics, concrete technology, hydraulics, water and waste water treatment processes and other civil engineering matters
  • determines and specifies construction methods, materials, quality and safety standards and ensures that equipment operation and maintenance comply with design specifications
  • designs foundations and earthworks
  • designs structures such as roads, dams, bridges, railways, hydraulic systems, sewerage systems, industrial and other buildings and plans the layout of tunnels, wells and construction shafts
  • organises and plans projects, arranges work schedules, carries out inspection work and plans maintenance control
  • organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Working with ideas and solving problems

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, research, engineering and technology professionals, a group of 28 jobs that includes civil engineers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 18%about 394,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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