Mechanical engineers vs Plant and Machine Operatives Salary (2025)

How do Mechanical engineers and Plant and Machine Operatives salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown.

Mechanical engineers earns £16,056 more per year (47% higher)

Mechanical engineers

£49,999
per year
vs

Plant and Machine Operatives

£33,943
per year

Detailed Comparison

MetricMechanical engineersPlant and Machine OperativesDifference
Median Annual£49,999£33,943+£16,056
Mean Annual£53,850£36,343+£17,507
Monthly£4,167£2,829+£1,338
Weekly£962£653+£309
Hourly£24.04£16.32+£7.72

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileMechanical engineersPlant and Machine Operatives
10th (Entry)£31,219£24,081
25th£40,001£27,885
50th (Median)£49,999£33,943
75th£62,548£40,998
90th (Senior)£0£0
Advertisement

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Mechanical engineers or a Plant and Machine Operatives?
A Mechanical engineers earns more. The median salary for a Mechanical engineers is £49,999, whilst a Plant and Machine Operatives earns £33,943 — a difference of £16,056 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Mechanical engineers and a Plant and Machine Operatives?
The difference is £16,056 per year. Mechanical engineers is the higher-paid role.
Should I become a Mechanical engineers or a Plant and Machine Operatives?
From a salary perspective, Mechanical engineers offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

More Comparisons