Controls Engineer jobs in the UK

Live controls engineer roles plus reconciled 2026 salary data by region.

32832 live controls engineer roles

Controls Engineer salary by region (2026)

RegionSalary range (median)
East of England (indicative)
6 live adverts
£50,000 – £80,000 (midpoint £66,250)
London (indicative)
no live adverts yet: baseline range
£50,000 – £72,000 (midpoint £61,000)
Midlands
8 live adverts
£56,250 – £75,000 (£60,000 · 25th–75th pct)
North West (indicative)
4 live adverts
£45,000 – £70,000 (midpoint £58,000)
Scotland (indicative)
1 live advert
£45,000 – £60,000 (midpoint £55,000)
South West (indicative)
8 live adverts
£40,000 – £62,500 (midpoint £52,750)
Wales (indicative)
6 live adverts
£33,000 – £60,000 (midpoint £52,500)
North East (indicative)
5 live adverts
£43,500 – £55,000 (midpoint £51,000)
Yorkshire (indicative)
3 live adverts
£32,500 – £70,000 (midpoint £38,500)
South East
9 live adverts
£34,370 – £45,000 (£38,500 · 25th–75th pct)

Methodology: medians reconcile live advertised UK salaries for this role and region; 25th–75th percentiles are shown only where at least 5 live salaried listings back them. They are measured or omitted, never interpolated. Rows marked indicative are anchored to our curated 2026 baseline ranges until enough live data accrues. Listings advertising an implausible annual figure (a mislabelled hourly or daily rate) are excluded rather than converted, because converting one means guessing the hours behind it.

Market view. Multi-vendor PLC experience (Siemens, Rockwell, Mitsubishi), SCADA, and functional-safety knowledge raise salaries quickly. Contract day rates in this discipline are particularly strong, often exceeding the permanent equivalent in cash terms.
Full salary guides →

FAQs

What does a controls engineer earn in the UK?

Indicatively £44,000–£72,000 for permanent roles; contract day rates are typically higher in cash terms.

Which PLC skills pay best?

Multi-vendor capability across Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley and Mitsubishi, plus SCADA and functional safety.

Is controls engineering better as contract or permanent?

Both are strong; contract often pays more in cash but permanent offers stability and benefits. The right choice depends on IR35 status and your circumstances.

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