Mechanic: salary in the UK
ONS occupation: Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (SOC 5231)
About £30,910 a year after tax (England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2026/27)
median salary a year, full-time, +2% on last year
£3,170 a month About £2,576 a month after tax 102 thousand full-time jobs
Gross pay before tax, including bonuses, commission and overtime. Not included: benefits in kind such as a company car. About the data
Pay range
The dark part is the middle half of full-time employees (25% to 75%); the light bar runs from 10% to 90%. ONS doesn't publish the highest or lowest salary, and x means a figure wasn't published.
Pay by year
The median went from £28,271 in 2021 to £38,042 in 2026 (+35%); for all full-time employees in the UK it changed by +31% over the same years.
Figures by year
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | £18,007 | £22,875 | £28,271 | £32,989 | x |
| 2022 | £18,677 | £23,825 | £30,000 | £34,983 | x |
| 2023 | x | £26,000 | £32,287 | £37,945 | x |
| 2024 | £22,503 | £27,810 | £35,492 | £42,097 | x |
| 2025 | £24,448 | £29,963 | £37,305 | £44,571 | £52,588 |
| 2026 | £24,815 | £31,203 | £38,042 | £47,424 | £57,157 |
ONS figures for each year, not adjusted for inflation. Years before 2021 used a different occupation classification, so they can't be compared. Earlier years are ONS's revised figures; the latest is provisional.
Half of full-time employees in this occupation earn less than £38,042 a year and half earn more. That is 7% less than the median for all full-time employees in the UK (£40,911).
The middle half earn between £31,203 and £47,424; the middle 80% between £24,815 and £57,157.
Ranked by median, it is number 173 of the 362 occupations with a published figure.
At the median salary, take-home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance is about £2,576 a month in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and £2,572 in Scotland.
Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (P10) | £24,815 | £2,068 |
| 20th | £29,351 | £2,446 |
| 25th (P25) | £31,203 | £2,600 |
| 30th | £32,637 | £2,720 |
| 40th | £35,151 | £2,929 |
| Median (50th) | £38,042 | £3,170 |
| 60th | £41,378 | £3,448 |
| 70th | £45,783 | £3,815 |
| 75th (P75) | £47,424 | £3,952 |
| 80th | £49,746 | £4,146 |
| 90th (P90) | £57,157 | £4,763 |
Men and women
| Median | Mean | Jobs (thousands) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | £38,129 | £40,168 | 99 |
| Women | x | £35,932 | x |
Take-home pay at the median
| Where you live | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| England, Wales, NI | £30,910 | £2,576 |
| Scotland | £30,864 | £2,572 |
After Income Tax and National Insurance for 2026 to 2027, with the standard tax code and no pension or student loan. Work out your own take-home pay · Take-home pay on £38,000
Job titles in this occupation
ONS codes these 133 job titles to SOC 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians. Pay figures are for the whole occupation, not for each title.
- Adjuster
- Auto electrical engineer
- Auto electrical technician
- Auto electrician
- Auto mechanic
- Auto technician
- Automobile electrician
- Automobile engineer
- Automobile fitter
- Automotive engineer
- Automotive technician
- Bay operator
- Brake lining fitter
- Bus and coach engineering technician
- Bus engineer
- Bus mechanic
- Car fitter
- Car mechanic
- Car stripper
- Car technician
- Car tester
- Cycle repairer
- Diagnostic technician
- Diesel engine fitter
- Diesel engineer
- Diesel fitter
- Diesel mechanic
- Electrical installation technician
- Engine reconditioner
- Fitter
- Fitter-mechanic
- Fleet engineer
- Fuel injection engineer
- Garage attendant
- Garage engineer
- Garage fitter
- Garage handyman
- Garage mechanic
- Gearbox reconditioner
- Greaser
- Hgv engineer
- HGV fitter
- HGV mechanic
- HGV technician
- Lgv engineer
- LGV fitter
- Light vehicle technician
- Lorry mechanic
- Lubrication attendant
- Lubrication bay attendant
- Maintenance electrician
- Maintenance engineer
- Maintenance fitter
- Maintenance hand
- Maintenance man
- Maintenance technician
- Mechanic
- Mechanic and mot tester
- Mechanical engineer
- Mechanical fitter
Show all 133 titles
- Met technician
- Mobile mechanic
- Mobile technician
- Mot examiner
- MOT inspector
- Mot tester
- Motor bike mechanic
- Motor cycle mechanic
- Motor engineer
- Motor fitter
- Motor mechanic
- Motor mechanic and driver
- Motor mechanic-fitter
- Motor repair engineer
- Motor repairer
- Motor stripper
- Motor technician
- Motor vehicle fitter
- Motor vehicle technician
- Motorbike technician
- Motorcycle engineer
- Motorcycle mechanic
- Motorcycle technician
- Motorsport technician
- Oiler and greaser
- Overhauler
- Patrol
- Patrolman
- Psv fitter
- Reception engineer
- Reception mechanic
- Repairer
- Road patrol
- Road patrolman
- Roadside assistance operator
- Roadside mechanic
- Roadside patrol
- Roadside technician
- Scout
- Semi-skilled mechanic
- Service bayman
- Service engineer
- Service hand
- Service man
- Service mechanic
- Service technician
- Servicer
- Staff motor engineer
- Technical adviser
- Technical engineer
- Technician
- Technician-mechanic
- Tractor repairer
- Trailer fitter
- Transmission engineer
- Transport engineer
- Transport fitter
- Truck fitter
- Tuner
- Unit adjuster
- Van fitter
- Van mechanic
- Vehicle breakdown engineer
- Vehicle electrician
- Vehicle engineer
- Vehicle maintenance technician
- Vehicle mechanic
- Vehicle mechanical fitter
- Vehicle patrol mechanic
- Vehicle service engineer
- Vehicle technician
- Vehicles diesel engineer
- Vehicles fitter
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Source: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2026 provisional, Table 14.7a (full-time employees, gross annual pay, UK, tax year ending 5 April 2026). Provisional figures may be revised.