Engineering jobs are in high demand and usually offer above-average salaries. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace and industry. Most roles require a qualification, which can be obtained through a university degree or a diploma gained during an apprenticeship.
Controls Engineer salary in United Kingdom
A Controls Engineer salary range in United Kingdom can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Controls Engineer in United Kingdom can expect to see an entry level salary range of £59,336 to £131,703 per year, based on 8,719 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Controls Engineer in United Kingdom can make a salary range of £56,764 to £123,071 with at least 5 years of experience, based on 3,316 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in United Kingdom where a Controls Engineer gets the highest compensation are Food Management Search, SMA, Inc. and Los Alamos National Security, LLC. Bigger companies typically pay 35.00% more than smaller companies for a Controls Engineer.
Recent salaries shared by Controls Engineer
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Controls Engineer
|
7-9 years
£62K - £72K/yr
Bristol, England
submitted on Jun 15, 2026
£62K - £72K/yr
Controls Engineer
|
7-9 years
£49K - £57K/yr
Westerham, England
submitted on May 28, 2026
£49K - £57K/yr
Controls Engineer
|
15+ years
£51K - £59K/yr
Stratford-upon-Avon, England
submitted on May 6, 2026
£51K - £59K/yr
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Controls Engineer
|
4-6 years
£38K/yr
(£38K • £0)
London, England
submitted on Jan 27, 2026
£38K/yr
£38K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
10-14 years
£78K/yr
(£78K • £0)
Kidlington, England
submitted on Jan 24, 2026
£78K/yr
£78K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
4-6 years
£46K/yr
(£46K • £0)
Kidlington, England
submitted on Jan 6, 2026
£46K/yr
£46K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
1-3 years
£23K/yr
(£23K • £0)
Winfrith Newburgh, England
submitted on Dec 18, 2025
£23K/yr
£23K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
15+ years
£65K/yr
(£65K • £0)
Bristol, England
submitted on Dec 3, 2025
£65K/yr
£65K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
4-6 years
£42K/yr
(£42K • £0)
Birmingham, England
submitted on Nov 21, 2025
£42K/yr
£42K • £0
Controls Engineer
|
1-3 years
£40K/yr
(£40K • £0)
Banbury, England
submitted on Nov 11, 2025
£40K/yr
£40K • £0
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Frequently asked questions about Controls Engineer salaries
The average salary for Controls Engineer is £43,429 per year or £21 per hour, with top earners making up to £63,266 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from £35,840 (25th percentile) to £52,827 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 405 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Controls Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Controls Engineer is £52,827 per year, £4,402 per month or £25 per hour.
The lowest salary for Controls Engineer is £35,840 per year, £2,987 per month or £17 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Controls Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at £41,278 per year (estimate) and goes up to £52,002 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Are you looking to boost your profile as a controls engineer? The first obvious strategy would be to pursue a master's or PhD in electrical engineering or computer engineering. If that is not a viable option there are plenty of other ways to improve your skills. Position yourself as an expert in the most common coding languages in your company or speciality area; examples include Codesys, MATLAB, Simulink, C/C++, and Python. You can also learn more about plant automation programs such as DeltaV.
Look for high-demand industries such as manufacturing, energy, and aerospace, with a demand for controls engineers, as these are more likely to offer higher salaries. Research the industries that are currently in demand and focus on building skills that are specific to those industries.
If you're a current or aspiring controls engineer, negotiating is all about demonstrating your worth to the company. If you have professional engineering experience — either in controls or a related field, such as electrical or mechanical engineering — explain how your skills and expertise enable you to exceed performance standards in the new position. Do the same for your plant automation, computer programming, and control systems software skills.
How much does a controls engineer make when they achieve successful salary negotiation? It varies based on how your experience and current salary compare to the local standard for controls engineer jobs, but you can often ask for 15% to 20% increase.
About 69.42% of Controls Engineer professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional £2,152 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Controls Engineer in United Kingdom as a good salary.
Controls Engineer professionals in United Kingdom have a wide total pay range, between £30,231 and £63,266 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of £43,429 following the average career path of a Controls Engineer.