Quality Engineer
Salary
Average Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Varies by role and employer
Contract-specific
Quality engineer salary in the UK: 2026 guide
Salary sources checked: 18 October 2026. Figures are annual GBP amounts before tax. This page distinguishes a general careers benchmark from an individual employer example; it does not claim a verified UK nuclear-sector mean or median.
General career benchmark
The National Careers Service quality control officer profile lists £25,000 starter to £40,000 experienced. This is a related quality-control profile across sectors, not a nuclear quality engineer pay range. Quality inspection, assurance, specialist engineering and management roles should be compared separately.
Source: National Careers Service Quality control officer
Published employer example
UKAEA's Electrical Quality Systems Team Leader advert publishes £57,117 inclusive of a £5,800 specialist allowance. It is a specialist electrical quality leadership example, not a typical quality engineer salary.
Source: UKAEA Electrical Quality Systems Team Leader employer advert
Published adverts can close or change. Use the linked example to understand the package and responsibilities, then check the employer's current vacancies.
Compare the full package
Check basic salary, allowances, bonus, pension, paid leave, hours, site attendance and travel. Compare roles at a similar level and on similar employment terms. An annual salary divided by working hours is not a contractor market rate.
A qualification or training course alone does not guarantee a salary increase. Choose development around a specific requirement of your target role.
Plan your next step into nuclear
Interested in Quality Engineer? Start by comparing your experience with the role's requirements, then choose the next step that fits your situation.
Explore the Quality Engineer job description
Review Quality Engineer skills and entry requirements
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Starting Salary
Entry-Level Salary
Depends on entry route
Entry-Level Hourly Rate
Contract-specific
Compare the pay of your actual entry route. An assistant, apprentice, graduate and experienced hire can have different responsibilities and employment terms. The salary examples above are not guarantees for every entrant.
Check advertised pay and progression directly with the employer, including any training, allowance or shift requirements.
Highest Paid
No universal ceiling; compare current specialist and leadership adverts.