Professional qualification can boost engineers' salaries by up to £9,000, survey reveals

Professionally qualified engineers make more money than their non-qualified counterparts, a recent survey by The Engineer revealed.

On average, professional qualifications can boost earning potential by up to £9k per year.

Across the various sectors, engineers working in rail and civil, and structural are the second most likely to be professionally registered, at 65%.

Engineers working in these sectors have average salaries of about £69k. More specifically:

• Junior engineers can expect to earn about £37k;
• Senior engineers will have salaries around £62k; and
• Directors on average earn £125k.

Many employers have professional qualification as a "soft requirement" to grant promotions, explained Conchita Munar, who's a Chartered Engineer. 

"Most employers understand that a Chartered Engineer has shown the required skills and knowledge to be a senior engineer," she said.

Not just about the money

As well as having a higher earning potential, civil engineers and technicians have highlighted how professional qualifications have benefitted their careers and development.

“Obtaining my Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional qualification helped me learn more and gain respect in the field,” said Monica Chandran.

Chandran reflected on how EngTech proves that she has the skills and knowledge to meet the industry’s high standards, which could open more opportunities for her.

Already, it’s given her the chance to work on complex projects “that make a real difference in the world”.

Chinwe Odili, a Chartered Engineer (CEng), agreed, noting that, “[being professionally qualified] demonstrates to society, my employers, clients and really, to myself, that I have enhanced my competencies and that I’m a committed professional”.

For Odili, it’s given her the chance to take on more responsibility for high-value work.

“It creates more opportunities to take on other dynamic roles and make progress in my career,” she said.

Growth in professionally qualified members

As the ICE sees continued growth in professionally qualified members, the results highlight the significant value that the institution offers in transforming the careers of civil engineers and technicians.

“The uplift in salary potential is testament to the value of obtaining an ICE professional qualification,” said Joanna Horton, ICE chief membership officer.

“The significant proportion of professionally registered engineers within the sector reflects its strength and promising career prospects.”