Market data · August 2026
Salary Guide
TechWaves Recruitment specialises exclusively in the UK battery, EV and clean-energy job market. This guide brings together current UK salary data across every specialism we recruit for — from graduate engineer to Head of Engineering — reflecting market rates as of August 2026. For a precise, live read on a specific role, book a free 15-minute call.
Battery Engineering
| Level | Standard employer | At a gigafactory |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate / Junior | £35,000 – £50,000 | up to £55,000 |
| Mid (3–5 years) | £55,000 – £85,000 | up to £95,000 |
| Senior (6–10 years) | £85,000 – £120,000 | up to £135,000 |
| Lead / Principal | £120,000 – £150,000 | up to £165,000 |
| Head of Battery | £150,000 – £180,000+ | £200,000+ with equity |
| Contract (day rate) | £600 – £950 | £700 – £1,000 outside IR35 |
By specialisation: Cell Chemistry Engineer £55,000–£120,000; Pack Engineer £55,000–£110,000; Materials Scientist (Battery) £45,000–£100,000. PhD-qualified cell chemistry specialists and BMS algorithm engineers typically sit at the top of the mid/senior bands.
EV Engineering
| Role | UK average | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain Engineer | £50,143 | £37,688 – £66,713 |
| Controls Engineer | £54,282 | £50,575 – £58,813 |
| Embedded Software Engineer — Junior | — | £30,000 – £47,000 |
| Embedded Software Engineer — Mid | — | £47,000 – £60,000 |
| Embedded Software Engineer — Senior | — | £60,000 – £75,000+ |
| Embedded Software Engineer — Principal | — | £81,000 – £100,000+ |
The Midlands (Coventry, Birmingham, East Midlands) is a notably competitive market for automotive embedded and controls roles, with senior salaries of £55,000–£71,000 driven by the concentration of automotive and industrial automation employers in the region.
EV Charging
| Role | UK average / range |
|---|---|
| EV Charging (general) | £44,959 average (£34,000 – £52,000) |
| EV Charging Technician | £37,000 – £40,000 |
| EV Charging Infrastructure Engineer | £35,686 – £57,150 (up to £71,665 with experience) |
| Head of EV Charging | £71,000 – £78,000 |
Hydrogen
| Role | UK average / range |
|---|---|
| Fuel Cell Engineer | £33,192 average (£25,284 – £39,000) |
Hydrogen engineering salary data is currently thinner than other sectors — figures above lean toward technician-level roles. Senior fuel cell and electrolysis systems engineers command materially more; get in touch for a live market check on a specific hydrogen role.
Energy Storage (BESS)
| Role | UK average / range |
|---|---|
| Energy Storage Engineer | £51,911 average (£38,000 – £60,000 base; up to £66,856 top) |
Gigafactory & Manufacturing
Gigafactory roles typically command a premium of 10–20% over standard-employer battery engineering salaries at every level (see the Battery Engineering table above) — reflecting the scale, urgency and scarcity of talent involved in ramping up a large-scale production facility.
Executive & Leadership
Head of Battery / Head of Engineering roles across the sector typically range £150,000–£180,000+ in base salary, rising to £200,000+ with equity at gigafactory or high-growth start-up employers. CTO, COO and founding-team compensation varies significantly by company stage and equity structure — get in touch for a tailored benchmark for a specific leadership search.
Sources
Materials Science Jobs (Battery Engineer Jobs UK 2026); Indeed UK (Powertrain Engineer salaries); Reed.co.uk (Average Controls Engineer Salary UK); Platform Recruitment (Embedded Software & Electronics Engineer Salaries UK 2026); Glassdoor UK (EV Charging salaries; Energy Storage Engineer salaries); Check-a-Salary/ONS (Fuel Cell Engineer UK salary).