Engineering, manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Engineering and manufacturing jobs: careers, pay and the ways in
From maintenance and machining to robotics, automation and 3D printing: 21 careers with ONS pay and the real ways in. Electrical engineer has the highest median here at £60,303, and 16 of the 21 have a documented route that does not need a degree (ONS ASHE 2025). Upload your CV and we score live adverts against your skills; it works for any other job too.
Updated
Who this guide is for
We wrote it for four groups of people. Pick yours for a guide that starts where you are.
- Leaving the forcesEx-military technicians and engineersMaintenance, electrical, electronics and aircraft trades lead into civilian maintenance, automation and advanced manufacturing roles.Jobs for ex-military
- Starting outGraduates and early-career engineersWhere an engineering degree or degree apprenticeship leads in advanced manufacturing, with ONS pay ranges.Graduate engineering jobs
- Moving upTechnicians and operators moving into automationFrom maintenance, CNC or electrical work into automation, robotics and AI-enabled production, and the apprenticeships that get you there.Robotics and automation jobs
- ExperiencedCommercial, operations, service and product peopleProduction management, quality, projects, field service, technical sales and data roles in advanced manufacturing.See these careers
21 careers at a glance
The change column compares each career's ONS full-time median with the UK full-time median for all employees, £39,039. Where careers share an ONS group they share its figure.
| Job | UK median pay | Change vs UK full-time median | Degree usually needed | Apprenticeship (lowest level listed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance fitter | £40,760 | +£1,721 | No | Level 3, 36 months |
| Engineering technician | £44,843 | +£5,804 | No | Level 3, 42 months |
| Electrical or electronics technician | £35,126 | −£3,913 | No | Level 3, 42 months |
| Field service engineer | £41,662 | +£2,623 | No | Level 3, 36 months |
| CNC machinist | £35,718 | −£3,321 | No | Level 2, 12 months |
| 3D printing technician | £35,221 | −£3,818 | No | Level 3, 36 months |
| Automation technician | £40,760 | +£1,721 | No | Level 3, 42 months |
| Automation engineer | £47,946 | +£8,907 | Yes | Level 6, 42 months |
| Robotics engineer | £48,776 | +£9,737 | Yes | Level 6, 48 months |
| Mechatronics engineer | £48,776 | +£9,737 | Yes | Level 6, 48 months |
| Embedded software engineer | £56,914 | +£17,875 | No | None listed |
| Mechanical engineer | £51,110 | +£12,071 | No | Level 6, 42 months |
| Electrical engineer | £60,303 | +£21,264 | No | Level 6, 42 months |
| Electronics engineer | £52,518 | +£13,479 | No | Level 6, 36 months |
| Additive manufacturing engineer | £48,776 | +£9,737 | Yes | None listed |
| Manufacturing engineer | £47,946 | +£8,907 | No | Level 4, 42 months |
| Quality engineer | £43,592 | +£4,553 | No | Level 4, 42 months |
| Production manager | £58,640 | +£19,601 | No | Level 6, 42 months |
| Project engineer | £53,064 | +£14,025 | Yes | Level 6, 42 months |
| Technical sales engineer | £37,924 | −£1,115 | No | None listed |
| Data analyst | £38,572 | −£467 | No | Level 3, 24 months |
Sources: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a; Skills England apprenticeship standards (retrieved 29 September 2026), published . Full-time medians unless marked. Pay covers the whole ONS unit group behind each job.
Each career in detail
For each career: what the work is, the realistic way in, whether you need a degree, and the ONS figure with its caveats.
Maintenance, machining and technician roles
Roles with documented routes that do not need a degree, through apprenticeships, college courses or experience.
FromHands-on technical workToMaintenance fitter
The backbone of any factory: planned maintenance, breakdowns and fault finding on production machinery. Multi-skilled maintenance, electrical and mechanical, leads naturally towards automation work.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Maintenance and operations engineering technician, level 3, typically 36 months
- Apprenticeship: Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline, level 3, typically 48 months
- Apprenticeship: Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline, level 3, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live maintenance fitter jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 5223 "Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians", not only maintenance fitter roles.
FromHands-on technical workToEngineering technician
Builds, tests and maintains equipment alongside engineers in manufacturing, energy and defence. ONS codes commissioning engineers and wind turbine technicians to the same pay group.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Engineering technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Mechatronics maintenance technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live engineering technician jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 3113 "Engineering technicians", not only engineering technician roles.
FromHands-on technical workToElectrical or electronics technician
Tests, services and repairs electrical and electronic equipment and control panels from schematics: a natural first step into electronics, controls and automation.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Engineering technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Mechatronics maintenance technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live electrical or electronics technician jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 3112 "Electrical and electronics technicians", not only electrical or electronics technician roles.
FromHands-on technical workToField service engineer
Installs, services and repairs machines at customers' sites, so it suits people who like variety, fault finding on the spot and dealing with customers.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Electrical, electronic product service and installation engineer, level 3, typically 36 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 5246 "Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers", not only field service engineer roles. ONS codes service engineers to electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers (5246), so the pay figure covers that whole group.
FromHands-on technical workToCNC machinist
Sets up and runs computer-controlled machine tools to make precision parts from drawings. Setting and programming skills lead on to CAM programming, inspection and automation.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Machining technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Engineering operative, level 2, typically 12 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 5221 "Metal machining setters and setter-operators", not only CNC machinist roles.
FromHands-on technical workTo3D printing technician
Prepares files, runs and maintains 3D printers and finishes printed parts: one of the newer ways into advanced manufacturing.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Engineering technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Digital engineering technician, level 3, typically 36 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live 3D printing technician jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 3120 "CAD, drawing and architectural technicians", not only 3D printing technician roles. ONS codes 3D printing technicians with CAD, drawing and architectural technicians (3120), so the pay figure covers that whole group.
Automation, robotics and embedded systems
The Industry 4.0 core. Technicians can move in through automation maintenance; the engineering roles usually need a degree or a degree apprenticeship.
FromMaintenance, electrical or technician workToAutomation technician
Keeps robots and automated lines running: fault finding, planned maintenance and changes to PLC programs. The next step for maintenance and electrical technicians who want to specialise.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Automation and controls engineering technician, level 4, typically 48 months
- Apprenticeship: Mechatronics maintenance technician, level 3, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Engineering maintenance technician - dual discipline, level 3, typically 48 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 5223 "Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians", not only automation technician roles. ONS codes an automation engineer who maintains automated equipment to metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians (5223), so the pay figure covers that whole group, including maintenance fitters.
FromMaintenance, electrical or technician workToAutomation engineer
Designs, programs and commissions the PLC, drive and operator-screen systems behind automated machines and lines.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Control systems engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: Yes
Live automation engineer jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2125 "Production and process engineers", not only automation engineer roles. ONS codes professional automation and control engineers with production and process engineers (2125), so the pay figure covers that whole group. The National Careers Service lists automation engineer as another name for a robotics engineer.
FromMaintenance, electrical or technician workToRobotics engineer
Designs and programs robot cells, from choosing the robot and tooling to proving the program safe and handing it to production.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Robotics engineer - degree, level 6, typically 48 months
- Apprenticeship: Electro-mechanical engineer, level 6, typically 60 months
- Apprenticeship: Advanced robotics engineer, level 7, typically 36 months
- Degree usually needed: Yes
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2129 "Engineering professionals n.e.c.", not only robotics engineer roles. ONS codes robotics engineers to engineering professionals not elsewhere classified (2129), a broad group, so the pay figure covers all of it.
FromMaintenance, electrical or technician workToMechatronics engineer
Works across mechanical, electrical and control engineering on machines that combine all three, such as packaging lines and automated test rigs.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Electro-mechanical engineer, level 6, typically 60 months
- Apprenticeship: Robotics engineer - degree, level 6, typically 48 months
- Degree usually needed: Yes
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2129 "Engineering professionals n.e.c.", not only mechatronics engineer roles. ONS codes mechatronics engineers to engineering professionals not elsewhere classified (2129), a broad group, so the pay figure covers all of it.
FromMaintenance, electrical or technician workToEmbedded software engineer
Writes the software inside machines, sensors and connected devices: the software side of Industry 4.0.
- Way in
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2134 "Programmers and software development professionals", not only embedded software engineer roles. ONS codes embedded software engineers with all programmers and software development professionals (2134), so the pay figure covers that whole group.
Engineering and design
Professional engineering roles. Degree apprenticeships are a paid alternative to a full-time degree.
FromAn engineering degree or apprenticeshipToMechanical engineer
Designs machines, parts and equipment in CAD and proves them with calculations and tests before they are built.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Electro-mechanical engineer, level 6, typically 60 months
- Apprenticeship: Product design and development engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Manufacturing engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live mechanical engineer jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2122 "Mechanical engineers (professional)", not only mechanical engineer roles.
FromAn engineering degree or apprenticeshipToElectrical engineer
Designs and looks after power distribution, motor control and the electrical side of machines and plant.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Electrical and electronic engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Electro-mechanical engineer, level 6, typically 60 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live electrical engineer jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2123 "Electrical engineers", not only electrical engineer roles.
FromAn engineering degree or apprenticeshipToElectronics engineer
Designs and tests circuit boards, sensors and the electronics inside connected products.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Electrical and electronic engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree), level 6, typically 36 months
- Apprenticeship: Product design and development engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live electronics engineer jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2124 "Electronics engineers (professional)", not only electronics engineer roles.
FromAn engineering degree or apprenticeshipToAdditive manufacturing engineer
Decides what to 3D print and how: designing for additive manufacturing, choosing materials and machine settings, and proving parts meet the specification.
- Way in
- Degree usually needed: Yes
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2129 "Engineering professionals n.e.c.", not only additive manufacturing engineer roles. ONS codes additive manufacturing and 3D printing engineers to engineering professionals not elsewhere classified (2129), a broad group, so the pay figure covers all of it.
Manufacturing, quality and operations
Roles that improve, check and run production, and deliver the projects that change it.
FromProduction or engineering experienceToManufacturing engineer
Improves how products are made: line layouts, tooling, new equipment and fixing the causes of defects. Continuous improvement experience from the shop floor counts here.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Manufacturing engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Apprenticeship: Engineering manufacturing technician, level 4, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live manufacturing engineer jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2125 "Production and process engineers", not only manufacturing engineer roles. ONS codes production, process and continuous improvement engineers to production and process engineers (2125). A manufacturing engineer working at technician level is coded to engineering technicians (3113), which pays less.
FromProduction or engineering experienceToQuality engineer
Stops defects reaching customers: inspection plans, audits against standards such as ISO 9001, and root cause investigations when something goes wrong.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Engineering manufacturing technician, level 4, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2481 "Quality control and planning engineers", not only quality engineer roles. ONS codes professional quality engineers to quality control and planning engineers (2481). A quality engineer working at technician level is coded to quality assurance technicians (3115), which pays less.
FromProduction or engineering experienceToProduction manager
Runs a factory's output day to day: people, plans, quality, safety and cost. The National Careers Service describes starting as an engineering technician or quality control officer and moving up through training and promotion.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Manufacturing manager (integrated degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Live production manager jobsNational Careers Service profile
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 1121 "Production managers and directors in manufacturing", not only production manager roles.
FromProduction or engineering experienceToProject engineer
Delivers engineering projects such as new production lines, equipment installs and plant upgrades, keeping design, suppliers, budget and installation on track.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Product design and development engineer (degree), level 6, typically 42 months
- Degree usually needed: Yes
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 2127 "Engineering project managers and project engineers", not only project engineer roles.
Commercial and data roles
For experienced people who want to use their technical knowledge with customers or with data.
FromEngineering or manufacturing experienceToTechnical sales engineer
Sells engineering products, equipment and services by understanding what the customer needs and specifying the right solution. It suits engineers and technicians who like working with customers.
- Way in
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 3552 "Business sales executives", not only technical sales engineer roles. ONS codes sales engineers with business sales executives (3552), so the pay figure covers that whole group.
FromEngineering or manufacturing experienceToData analyst
Turns production, quality and machine data into decisions. Connected machines and sensors make more of that data available in modern factories.
- Way in
- Apprenticeship: Data technician, level 3, typically 24 months
- Apprenticeship: Data analyst, level 4, typically 24 months
- Apprenticeship: Data scientist (integrated degree), level 6, typically 36 months
- Degree usually needed: No
Source: ONS ASHE 2025, Table 14.7a, published . Full-time median, UK. Covers the whole ONS unit group 3544 "Data analysts", not only data analyst roles.
What Industry 4.0 means for jobs
Industry 4.0 is the name for connecting machines, sensors and data in production. In practice that means robots and collaborative robots on the line, automated equipment run by PLCs and operator screens, 3D printing for parts and tooling, sensors that report how machines are running, and software, including AI, that uses the data to catch defects or plan maintenance before a breakdown.
It creates work at every level:
- Keeping it running: maintenance engineers and automation technicians who can fault-find across mechanical, electrical and control systems.
- Designing and programming it: automation, robotics, mechatronics and embedded software engineers.
- Making things with it: CNC machinists, 3D printing technicians and additive manufacturing engineers.
- Running and improving production: manufacturing and quality engineers, production managers and data analysts.
When you upload your CV we look for these skills by name, including PLC programming, robot programming, SCADA and HMI, industrial automation, additive manufacturing, machine vision, IoT, and preventive and predictive maintenance, so the match reflects them.
Search live jobs
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Free and funded training
These are the main free and funded ways to train in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes.
Skills Bootcamps (free, up to 16 weeks)
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over in England. They are free if you take the course yourself rather than through your employer, and you are guaranteed a job interview with an employer at the end. If you claim Universal Credit, you can keep claiming while you study.
Subjects include technical skills such as engineering, and digital skills such as data.
Find a Skills Bootcamp on the official National Careers Service course finder.
Source: Department for Education, Skills for Careers: Skills Bootcamps; DWP JobHelp: Skills Bootcamps, published checked 28 September 2026.
Apprenticeships at any adult age
GOV.UK's only age rule is that you are 16 or over. You must live in England and not be in full-time education, and you can already hold a degree. You are an employee earning a wage, at least 20% of your normal working hours go on training, and relevant experience can shorten it. Your employer and training provider must not ask you to pay towards the training or assessment.
Check the pay before you apply. An employer can pay the apprentice rate of £8 an hour in your first year, even if you are 19 or over. After the first year you are entitled to the minimum wage for your age: £12.71 an hour at 21 and over from April 2026.
Source: GOV.UK, Become an apprentice; Apprenticeship funding rules August 2026 to July 2027 (paragraph 220); National Minimum Wage rates, published checked 28 September 2026.
Free Courses for Jobs (level 3 and some level 2)
If you are 19 or over and earn below £25,750, or are unemployed, you can get a level 3 qualification free in England, or a level 2 in construction, engineering or manufacturing. Subjects include accounting, business management, digital, health and social care, and teaching and lecturing. Local rules can differ, so ask the provider.
Source: GOV.UK, Free courses for jobs (DWP), published .
Advanced Learner Loans (level 3 to 6)
For a level 3, 4, 5 or 6 course at an approved college or provider in England, if you are 19 or over on the first day. There is no credit check and it does not depend on your income. You repay once you earn over the threshold, and interest runs from the first payment. For level 3, ask about an Adult Skills Fund grant first, which you do not repay. Level 4 to 6 courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 move to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Source: GOV.UK, Advanced Learner Loan, published checked 28 September 2026.
Other careers
Not in engineering? Our guides for other jobs, and the CV match itself, work for any background.
Common questions
Short answers, each with its source. Pay figures are ONS ASHE 2025 full-time medians unless stated.
Which engineering and manufacturing jobs pay the most?
Of the 21 careers in this guide, electrical engineer has the highest ONS full-time median, £60,303, and 16 pay more than the UK full-time median of £39,039 (ONS ASHE 2025). A median covers everyone in the ONS group, from new starters to people with decades of experience, so it is not a starting salary.
Can I get into engineering without a degree?
Yes. 16 of the 21 careers here have a documented route below degree level, through an apprenticeship, a college course or experience. The best paid of them at the ONS median is electrical engineer at £60,303 (ONS ASHE 2025). Professional roles such as robotics engineer usually need a degree, but degree apprenticeships let you earn while you get one.
What is Industry 4.0?
It is the name for bringing connected, data-driven technology into production: robots and collaborative robots, automated lines run by PLCs, 3D printing (additive manufacturing), sensors that report how machines are running, and software, including AI, that uses that data to spot defects or plan maintenance. The jobs are the people who design, program, run and maintain it.
What does a maintenance engineer earn in the UK?
ONS codes maintenance engineers and fitters to metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians (SOC 2020 unit group 5223), which had a full-time median of £40,760 in 2025 (ONS ASHE 2025). The figure covers the whole group, including automation technicians who maintain automated equipment.
How do I move from maintenance into automation?
Build on fault finding with PLC, drives and robot skills, then look at automation technician roles. Skills England's Automation and controls engineering technician apprenticeship is level 4 and typically takes 48 months, and an apprenticeship is open at any adult age in England. Our robotics and automation guide has the full set of routes.
Are there engineering apprenticeships for adults?
Yes. GOV.UK's only age rule is that you are 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education, and you can already hold a degree. Your employer and training provider must not ask you to pay for the training. Check the pay: employers can pay the apprentice rate of £8 an hour in your first year.
Does MatchMySkillset only work for engineering jobs?
No. Our guides focus on engineering, manufacturing and Industry 4.0, but the CV match works for any job: we pick out your skills and score live UK adverts in any field against them.
Where does the pay data come from?
From the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a, published on 23 October 2025: median gross annual pay for full-time employees in the UK. ONS publishes the 2026 figures on 22 October 2026, and we will update the page then.
How we worked this out
Pay is the median gross annual pay for full-time employees in the UK from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (provisional, Table 14.7a, published 23 October 2025). It covers the tax year ending 5 April 2025, for employees who had been in the same job for more than a year. A median is the midpoint for everyone in the job, from new starters to people with decades behind them, so it is not a starting salary.
The change column compares each career's full-time median with the UK full-time median for all employees, £39,039. Each career is placed in the SOC 2020 unit group the ONS coding index gives for its title: for example ONS codes a professional automation engineer with production and process engineers (2125), and an automation engineer who maintains equipment with maintenance fitters and technicians (5223).
- Each job is matched to an ONS SOC 2020 unit group using the ONS coding index. Where several jobs share a group, the figure covers all of them, and the card says so.
- ONS does not publish a figure when the estimate is too uncertain (a coefficient of variation over 20%) or could identify people. We say "not published" rather than fill the gap.
- ASHE counts employees only. It says nothing about self-employed earnings, such as private tutoring or consultancy.
- "Degree usually needed" is our judgement from the entry routes that ONS and the National Careers Service describe. "No" means a documented route exists below degree level, not that nobody in the job has a degree.
- Apprenticeships are Skills England standards approved for delivery on 29 September 2026. They apply in England. Durations are Skills England's typical figures, and relevant experience can shorten them.
- ONS publishes ASHE 2026 on 22 October 2026. We will update these figures when it does.
Sources
- ONS, Earnings and hours worked, occupation by four-digit SOC: ASHE Table 14 (2025 provisional), published 23 October 2025.
- ONS, SOC 2020 Volume 2: the coding index (version 14), retrieved 29 September 2026.
- National Careers Service job profiles (routes into each career), retrieved 29 September 2026.
- Skills England, apprenticeship standards, retrieved 29 September 2026.
- GOV.UK, Become an apprentice, checked 28 September 2026.
- GOV.UK, Free courses for jobs, updated 29 July 2025.
- Department for Education, Skills for Careers: Skills Bootcamps, checked 28 September 2026.